Windows 11 VMware Slowdowns: Effective Fixes and Workarounds

Well, now, if you ever tried to use VMware on Windows 11, and it’s been runnin’ slower than a tired old mule, then you ain’t alone. Lots of folks been havin’ trouble with that. It’s like the minute you upgrade to Windows 11, everything just drags. I’m here to tell ya a bit about what might be goin’ on, and how to fix it, in simple terms. Don’t you worry, I’m not gonna get too technical – I’ll explain it like I would to my neighbor, Emma, down the lane.

Now, if you’re usin’ VMware Workstation, and you noticed that your virtual machine (VM) got slower than a hound dog in July, there’s a few things you might wanna check. The main trouble I’ve seen is that folks don’t realize that Windows 11 has got a little thing called “Core Isolation” turned on by default. Now, Core Isolation is meant to keep your computer safe, but it can cause trouble when you’re tryin’ to run VMware or any other virtual machine. If that thing’s turned on, you might be wonderin’ why your VM ain’t runnin’ right.

Step 1: Turn off Core Isolation

First thing’s first, you gotta go into your Windows settings and turn off Core Isolation. This can be done by goin’ into the Security settings, then lookin’ for Core Isolation under the “Device Security” tab. There, you should see a little option that says “Memory Integrity.” If it’s turned on, turn it off. Now, I know, I know, it might make ya feel safer, but it sure ain’t helpin’ you get that VM runnin’ smooth, that’s for sure!

Step 2: Update VMware and Your Drivers

Another thing I’ve heard a lot of folks complainin’ about is their VMware runnin’ real slow after an update. A lot of times, these updates to VMware Workstation, like the jump from version 17.5.2 to 17.6, can cause your virtual machine to crawl like a snail in mud. The first thing I’d say is: make sure your VMware is updated to the latest version. But hold your horses – don’t just stop there. You gotta update your drivers too, especially the chipset and the GPU drivers. I’ve found that sometimes, the old drivers just don’t play nice with new versions of Windows, and that’s when your VM gets real slow.

Step 3: Adjust Virtual Machine Settings

Another thing that might be causin’ the slowdown is your virtual machine settings. It’s a good idea to go in and make sure your VM is set up with enough resources. If you’re runnin’ low on RAM or CPU, it’s gonna drag. When you set up your VM, be sure to give it enough memory and CPU cores. If you’ve got a beefy system, like an AMD Ryzen 7, make sure you’re not chokin’ your VM with too little to work with. You can adjust these settings by goin’ into the VM settings and playin’ around with the number of cores and how much RAM you give it.

Step 4: Disable Virtualization Features

If all else fails, there’s one more thing you might wanna try. Some folks have had luck by goin’ into their BIOS settings and turnin’ off certain virtualization features. Now, this is a bit more technical, but it’s worth a shot if you’ve tried everything else and your VMware is still draggin’. Just be careful in there, ‘cause the BIOS is like the engine room of your computer – messin’ with the wrong settings can make things worse.

Step 5: A Quick Fix with a BAT File

Now, if you’re like me and don’t wanna mess around too much, there’s a shortcut to fixin’ things. I’ve heard some folks say they wrote up a little BAT file that disabled some of the virtualization features, and it helped their VMware run just fine again. You can find these BAT files online if you search around a bit, and they’ll do all the work for ya without havin’ to fiddle with too many settings yourself. But, like I said, always be cautious with files you download, make sure you’re gettin’ them from a trusted source.

Why Is VMware Slow After Windows 11 Upgrade?

So, let’s break it down, real simple. After you upgrade to Windows 11, VMware can get slow because of several things. First, that Core Isolation thing can mess things up. Then, the updates to both Windows 11 and VMware can cause hiccups if you don’t keep everything updated right. Finally, your virtual machine settings might not be optimal, and you could be givin’ it too little resources to work with. But with a few tweaks here and there, you can usually get things back to speed.

Just remember – when it comes to computers, sometimes you gotta be patient. A little fiddlin’ here and there, and before you know it, your VMware will be runnin’ like a charm again. Hope this helps y’all out!

Tags：[Windows 11, VMware, Virtual Machine, Core Isolation, Memory Integrity, Windows 11 VMware Slow, VMware Settings, VMware Performance]