**Windows 11 Hack: Unlock Higher SSD Speeds with New Microsoft NVMe Driver**
**Warning:** Before attempting to modify your registry, please note that this process carries risks such as data loss and potential issues with Windows booting. A full backup is essential, and it's recommended to create an image backup of the system for added safety.
Microsoft has recently introduced a new native NVMe driver for Windows Server 2025, which can be activated via a registry key. This update promises massive IOPS gains, lower latency, and higher CPU efficiency – essentially a free performance boost. The native NVMe driver no longer converts all NVMe commands into SCSI commands, unlike Microsoft's stock driver.
**Activating the Native NVMe Driver on Windows 11**
Resourceful developers have discovered a way to activate this driver on Windows 11 by adding three specific registry values. To do so:
1. **Open Command Prompt as Administrator**: Right-click on the Start icon and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or open PowerShell with administrative rights. 2. **Enter the following commands**: * `reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\FeatureManagement\Overrides /v 735209102 /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f` * `reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\FeatureManagement\Overrides /v 1853569164 /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f` * `reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\FeatureManagement\Overrides /v 156965516 /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f`
**Restart Your System**: After entering the commands, restart your Windows 11 system.
**Verify the Driver Change**: Open Device Manager (right-click on the Start icon), and navigate to the "Disk drives" section. You should see changes in the driver used by your NVMe SSDs. The `nvmedisk.sys` driver should be used for the respective SSD, where you can also search for updates.
**What Does It Bring?**
The performance gains from this hack vary depending on system configuration. According to a report by Heise, a 10-15% increase in data speeds was possible with a PCIe 4.0 SSD in a workstation. In my tests on an Acer Swift 16 Edge laptop equipped with two Micron 3400 PCIe 4.0 SSDs (1TB and 512GB), I observed:
* **Up to 45% increase** in sequential reading performance * **15% increase** in writing performance * **Higher numbers** in the 4K-64 thread test, relevant for servers
These gains are significant and will be appreciated by users with demanding workloads.
**Performance Gains on Secondary SSD**
On my secondary drive (1TB), I observed:
* **23% increase** in sequential read performance * **30% increase** in writing performance
These results highlight the potential benefits of this hack, especially for system drives. However, be aware that not all NVMe SSDs may work with this driver.
**Caution: Be Careful When Using Various SSD Tools**
Some users have reported issues with SSD tools such as Samsung Magician or Western Digital Dashboard after applying this hack. Partitions appear to be modified in some cases. Exercise caution and be aware of the potential risks involved.
In conclusion, while this hack carries risks, it offers significant performance gains for Windows 11 users with NVMe SSDs. If you're willing to take on the potential risks, follow the instructions carefully, and monitor your system's behavior closely.