Microsoft reveals surprising way to clean install Windows 11 to increase computer performance

Back in March 2024, Microsoft proposed an interesting approach for new Windows 11 PCs: Smart App Control (SAC) that not only enhances security but also improves performance — but only on clean installations. Now, the company has shared more details about how SAC outperforms traditional antivirus software.

Smart App Control: Lighter, faster thanks to "active" mechanism

Launched with Windows 11 version 22H2 (September 2022), SAC works by blocking malicious apps before they run, eliminating the need for continuous file scanning. Microsoft explains:

The advantage of Smart App Control is that it has a lighter impact on PC performance. Because the app blocks dangerous apps before they run, it doesn't need to scan files continuously. This reduces the load on the system, allowing you to work or play games without lag. Meanwhile, traditional antivirus software sometimes consumes more resources due to continuous file scanning and processes.

According to Microsoft, SAC is a proactive anti-malware solution, different from the reactive mechanism of conventional antivirus software. Thanks to that, SAC brings two benefits:

1. Better system performance.
2. Neutralize new threats based on suspicious behavior, learning from machine learning and the cloud.

Smart App Control blocks suspicious apps before they cause harm. Traditional antivirus software reacts after a threat has already arrived—it's great at identifying and removing known malware, but can miss new or sophisticated threats.

However, SAC does have its drawbacks. A support article from Broadcom points out that SAC sometimes causes performance degradation due to bugs. Notably, Broadcom says Microsoft doesn't provide specific guidance on how to fix these situations.

Old Windows is still "better" in performance?

This discussion is even more meaningful when many users still appreciate the performance of older Windows versions like 8.1/8 even though they are inferior in interface and features compared to Windows 11.

Microsoft Tip: If you want the smoothest Windows 11 experience, perform a clean install to enable Smart App Control and optimize system resources.

Jessica Tanner

Update 28 May 2025