Microsoft removes mandatory clean install requirement for a Windows 11-exclusive feature

Microsoft removes mandatory clean install requirement for a Windows 11-exclusive feature

Microsoft removes mandatory clean install requirement for a Windows 11-exclusive feature

Recently, Microsoft released its latest Insider build for Windows 11 Insiders on the Dev and Beta channels. The new build, 22620.7344, identified by KB5070316, introduces numerous new features, including enhancements to app update processes.

Although this is the most recent build for the Dev and Beta channels, back in November, a prior build on these channels, 26220.7070, under KB5070300, introduced another noteworthy change. This change is particularly significant for those anticipating performance improvements.

In this build, Microsoft confirmed that a Windows security feature known as "Smart App Control" no longer requires a mandatory clean installation.

For those unfamiliar, Smart App Control is an advanced cloud-based security service that Microsoft launched in 2022. It is exclusive to Windows 11 and not available on Windows 10, which is one reason Microsoft recommended users upgrade to Windows 11 from 10 via a clean installation, as it was necessary to enable the Smart App Control feature. Therefore, if you upgrade in-place to Windows 11 25H2, which can now be done by anyone with a simple toggle, you should soon have access to this feature.

In the release notes, Microsoft stated: "We’re updating Smart App Control (SAC) so you will now be able to switch SAC off or on without any clean install requirement. To make changes, go to Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control settings. When it’s on, it helps block untrusted or potentially harmful apps."

This feature is particularly interesting because it is expected to aid performance as well. Due to its proactive nature, Microsoft claims it is superior in this aspect compared to traditional anti-malware solutions, which tend to be more reactive.

Microsoft has removed the mandatory clean install requirement for a Windows 11-exclusive feature.

The feature enhances PC performance by blocking harmful apps before they can run, reducing system strain and allowing you to work or game without slowdowns. While users with powerful systems might not notice the difference, Smart App Control could enhance performance for PCs with limited resources, according to Microsoft.

This change is still in the testing phase, and it will be interesting to see when it becomes generally available, likely early next year. We will have a clearer idea when it enters the release preview channel.