What Windows 11 Virtualization Based Security Does to Gaming Performance

How VBS Impacts Your Gaming Performance

VBS affects gaming because it uses system resources for security checks in the background while you play. The result can be lower frame rates, stuttering and longer loading times in demanding games. Most systems lose roughly 5 to 10 percent, though some hardware takes a heavier hit.

Gamers usually notice the extra load in a few ways:

• Lower Frame RatesYour games render fewer images per second, so fast-moving action looks less smooth.
• Game StutteringYou may see sudden pauses or hiccups when you turn quickly or enter a new area in the game world.
• Longer Loading TimesLevels and saved games can take a few extra seconds to load because the processor is busy with background tasks.

Independent tests put the loss at around 5 to 10 percent while the feature is active. On a high-end PC you will probably still get playable speeds, but you are giving up performance you paid for. On an older or mid-range PC, the same loss can turn a smooth game into a choppy one. The impact also varies from game to game. Games that lean heavily on the processor tend to show it most.

Before you change anything, note your current frame rate in one or two games you play often. Use the same scene or built-in benchmark each time. That gives you a fair comparison afterwards.

How to Check If Virtualization Based Security Is Running

The built-in System Information tool shows whether VBS is running, and the check takes only a few seconds. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button on your taskbar 🖥️.
2. Type System Information into the search 🔍 box and press Enter. The System Information window opens.
3. Make sure System Summary is selected in the left pane. The right pane now shows a long list of details about your computer.
4. Scroll down the right pane until you find the item named Virtualization-based security. It sits well down the list, so keep scrolling.
5. Read the value next to it. If it says Running, VBS is active and may be affecting your game speeds. If it says Not enabled, your system is already running without it and you can skip the rest of the steps below.

If the item is missing entirely, or the value shows that virtualization is not supported, your hardware or firmware can’t run VBS and there is nothing to turn off.

How to Turn Off Virtualization Based Security

The usual way to turn VBS off is to disable Memory integrity in the Windows Security app. You find it under the core isolation settings. The change needs a restart before it takes effect and your frame rates come back.

Memory integrity is one of the protections that VBS provides. It blocks malicious or badly written drivers from running in the most trusted part of Windows. Turning it off lowers that protection, so only do it if you accept the trade-off. You can turn it back on at any time with the same steps.

1. Click the Start button and open the Settings app (the gear icon).

   

2. Click Privacy & security in the left-hand menu.
3. Click Windows Security near the top of the list.

   

4. Click the Open Windows Security button. A new window appears.
5. Click Device security on the left side of the window.
6. Find the Core isolation section and click the Core isolation details link. The Core isolation page opens with the Memory integrity switch.
7. Click the Memory integrity switch to turn it Off. This step requires administrator privileges, so approve the prompt if Windows asks. If the switch is greyed out, a work or school policy is probably managing it, and only an administrator can change it.
8. Close the windows and restart your 🔄 computer so the change applies completely.

After the restart, open System Information again and check Virtualization-based security. If it now says Not enabled, VBS is off. Launch the same game and scene you tested earlier and compare your frame rates and overall smoothness.

If it still says Running, VBS is being kept on by something else, such as another policy or setting on the PC. In that case, try the BIOS method further down. To undo the change, go back to the same page, turn Memory integrity on and restart.

Unique Angle: The Hidden Conflict Between Anti-Cheat Software and VBS

Anti-cheat software and VBS can conflict because both try to work deep inside the operating system at the same time. That double layer of low-level security makes your processor work harder. The clash can show up as unexpected game crashes, freezing screens, severe lag spikes and lower frame rates in online multiplayer games.

If your favorite online game crashes to the desktop for no clear reason, turn off Memory integrity using the steps above and play again. If the crashes stop, the conflict was the cause. Also make sure the game and its anti-cheat software are fully updated, because a patch may fix the problem without any change to your security settings. If the crashes continue with Memory integrity off, the cause is something else.

Unique Angle: Hardware-Level Virtualization Settings in Your BIOS

Many motherboards keep virtualization enabled at the hardware level. To stop it completely, you have to restart, enter the BIOS menu and turn the setting off by hand. Treat this as a last resort.

1. Restart your computer.
2. As it starts, press the key shown on the screen to enter the BIOS setup menu. Common keys are Delete, F2 and F12. It varies by manufacturer, so watch the startup screen or check your motherboard manual.
3. Look through the menus for a setting named Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel processors) or AMD-V or SVM Mode (AMD processors). The menu it lives in, often an advanced or CPU settings page, differs between boards.
4. Set it to Disabled, then save your changes and exit. The PC restarts into Windows.

That also stops you from running virtual machines and some programming tools, such as emulators and Windows Subsystem for Linux, so only use this method if you don't need them. To undo it, go back into the BIOS and set the option to Enabled.

Summary

VBS protects your PC from malware, but it often slows games down and can cause stuttering. Turning off Memory integrity in Windows Security and, if needed, checking the virtualization settings in your BIOS can win back lost frames. If you saw performance drops, the change can make your games run noticeably faster. Compare your before and after numbers, and keep the protection on if you see no real gain.