(Credit: PCMag/Microsoft)
Many of Windows 11’s best security features aren’t active by default. That includes Memory Integrity protection, which uses hardware-dependent methods to prevent malware from infecting OS processes. In a good move for security, Microsoft is about to enable this Core Isolation feature on “all eligible” Windows 11 PCs. However, doing so will also likely slow down some older Windows 11 PCs.
In other news, Windows 11’s big September update is out, which includes the option to move the taskbar. The release adds plenty of other features, too. Microsoft separately announced a new desktop experience called Project Zenith that “represents Windows at its best.” Despite its splashy unveiling, Project Zenith is more about making the OS less irritating for developers than adding any groundbreaking capabilities.
Read on for a look at what’s actually happening to your Windows 11 PC’s performance in October, all that's new and notable in the September update, and why Microsoft’s Project Zenith should be a bigger deal for everyone.
Memory Integrity Protection: A Security Win, But Older PCs Might Suffer
Microsoft says a Windows Update in October will “expand memory integrity protection across all eligible devices.” Note that this feature might already be active on your PC. To check, head to Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation Details and look for the Memory integrity setting.
As mentioned, Memory Integrity protection guards low-level Windows processes against malware by running trust checks in hardware-based virtual environments. Microsoft’s documentation says it works best with Intel Kabylake or AMD Zen 2 or later processors. The company further explains, “Older processors rely on an emulation of these features, called Restricted User Mode, and will have a bigger impact on performance.” For reference, Intel released the first Kabylake chips in 2016, while AMD released the first Zen 2 models in 2019.
When I tested the impact of the Memory Integrity protection setting on a modern desktop PC with an AMD Ryzen 9 9900X CPU by running benchmarks in Doom: The Dark Ages, I couldn't find a difference with it on or off. But if you have an older Windows 10-era PC you upgraded to Windows 11, you might notice a slowdown, especially in online games and other demanding apps. Some modern PC games make you enable Memory Integrity protection; the Vanguard anti-cheat software Riot Games employs for League of Legends and Valorant requires it, for example. The extent of performance decrease will depend on your computer’s CPU and the app in question, but I encourage you to run some benchmarks if you’re unsure. If this feature slows down your PC, you can always turn it off in the Windows Security app after Microsoft enables it in October.
If you have a PC with a relatively recent CPU, I doubt you will notice a slowdown. I encourage you to keep Memory Integrity active unless you have a really defensible reason to deactivate it.
Patch Tuesday Brings Long-Awaited Taskbar Fixes
Microsoft released a major update for Windows 11 on Sept. 8. This month’s Patch Tuesday feature drop includes the movable taskbar, a more configurable Start menu, and an optional Bing-free search experience. Unfortunately, you might not see these features on your PC immediately after installing the update. These features are going through Microsoft’s usual “gradual rollout” process, so they may take weeks to appear on your PC.
Beyond the headline features, the patch notes for this update, also known as KB5124008, mention a faster File Explorer experience and a variety of other small design and performance improvements. You might notice smoother switching between virtual desktops and updated progress indicators, for example.
Microsoft will likely launch Windows 11’s 26H2 update in October, but it will be a smaller enablement package. Most of Windows 11’s big new features for 2026 have already arrived in updates like this one over the last few months.
Project Zenith Removes Distractions (for Developers)
Project Zenith “represents Windows at its best,” according to Microsoft’s Logan Iyer, vice president of Windows Platform + Developer. This isn't a new version of Windows, but rather “a ready-to-code, distraction-free Windows experience.” AMD announced the first Project Zenith PCs at IFA 2026 in Berlin.
I was able to test a similar experience when I got my hands on an Nvidia RTX Spark-powered Surface Laptop Ultra at Build several months ago. On these devices, Windows gets a variety of developer-focused tweaks. For example, by default, File Explorer shows file extensions and hidden files, the OS blocks various tips to reduce distractions, and the keyboard-focused PowerToys Command Palette launcher is active. You can apply many of these tweaks to any PC via Microsoft’s Windows Developer Config project, available on GitHub. Or, you can simply customize Windows yourself. Unlike Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs, which come with exclusive AI features, Project Zenith machines look to streamline Windows as much as possible.
Many knowledge workers and average PC users would benefit from a more distraction-free OS experience and would also like to see “Windows at its best” on new PCs, so I hope this thinking extends into the development of Windows 11 itself. Is it time for Microsoft to bring back Signature Edition PCs with clean OS installs? I think many people would be receptive.
Ask Our Expert: When Will My PC Get the New Taskbar?
Do you have a question about Windows? I’m here to share my knowledge! You can submit your question here, and I may answer it in an upcoming Windows Guide newsletter. If you’re not subscribed to the newsletter, head here to sign up, and check your inbox each week for the latest Windows updates from me. Now, on to this week’s question!
A reader asks: “When will I be able to put the taskbar at the top of my screen?”
Hi, thanks so much for asking this! With most operating systems, you could simply install the latest update and access the new feature. Unfortunately, Microsoft makes this much more complex.
The company’s “gradual rollout” process means I can’t say exactly when you’ll have access. You may already have this feature on your PC as you’re reading this. Or, you might have to wait weeks or even months before Microsoft turns it on. Microsoft slowly activates features like this in waves to avoid problems.
Windows Insider builds have a Flags page that lets you toggle features if you don't want to wait, but that system doesn't exist for the stable version of Windows. Technical users might want to experiment with the third-party ViVeTool to forcibly enable specific features, but this could lead to OS problems down the road. I don’t recommend using it.
Ultimately, I can’t tell you exactly when you’ll be able to move your taskbar. That’s a shame, and it’s a major problem with Windows. Assuming you’ve visited Settings > Windows Update and installed any available updates, I encourage you to keep checking the Settings > Personalization > Taskbar page over the days and weeks ahead. It should only be a matter of time before it appears.
About Our Expert
I've been writing about technology for more than 15 years and using it in earnest for over twice as long. As a member of PCMag's software team, I focus on Windows coverage, but also write about other key desktop operating systems and system apps. (I used Windows 3.1 upon its release and have followed every subsequent release closely).
Prior to joining PCMag, I wrote for How-To Geek starting in 2011, and my articles amassed over a billion page views. I went on to run the publication as editor-in-chief for four and a half years. I have also contributed to Computerworld, Fast Company, PCWorld, Reader's Digest, The New York Times, and many other outlets about everything from AI to PC hardware to Windows. I founded and ran my own direct-to-reader Windows-focused newsletters, Windows Intelligence and The Windows ReadMe, working in partnership with Thurrott.com.
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