How-Tos

Windows 11 hack unlocks NVMe speeds up to 85%

Windows 11 NVMe driver hack boosts SSD speed
NVMe Speed Unlock

• Key Takeaways:

  • A native NVMe driver introduced in Windows Server 2025 can be enabled on Windows 11 via registry edits, producing large random I/O gains.
  • Tests on SK Hynix Platinum P41 and Crucial T705 drives showed notable random read/write improvements — one report saw up to 85% faster random writes.
  • The change forces Windows to use a native NVMe stack instead of a SCSI translation layer, reducing overhead.
  • Registry edits carry risk: some users temporarily lost filesystem access and had to revert changes.

What changed: native NVMe driver appears in Windows Server 2025

Microsoft added a native NVMe driver in a Windows Server 2025 update. Server builds now include a driver path that communicates with NVMe devices without the SCSI translation layer Windows 11 typically uses.

That translation layer adds an extra software step between the OS and PCIe/NVMe storage, which can limit random I/O performance in certain workloads.

Why enthusiasts are forcing the driver on Windows 11

Enthusiasts discovered that registry edits can force the Server 2025 NVMe driver into consumer Windows 11 (25H2). When active, the native driver reduces translation overhead and can dramatically improve random read/write numbers on some drives.

Independent tests highlighted by PurePlayerPC compared AS SSD Benchmark results before and after the switch on an SK Hynix Platinum P41 2TB, showing big gains — particularly for random writes.

Real-world test results

Another user, Redditor Cheetah2kkk, reported applying the same registry changes to a Crucial T705 4TB inside an MSI Claw 8 AI+ and measured up to an 85% improvement in random write throughput.

Results vary by drive model, firmware, system firmware (UEFI/BIOS), and platform. Sequential throughput often shows less dramatic change; random workloads benefit most.

See the community test (source)

PurePlayerPC X post: https://x.com/pureplayerpc/status/2002980378013786329

Safety and compatibility concerns

Modifying the registry to swap core drivers is inherently risky. Some users reported losing access to file systems after enabling the driver, but in those cases access was restored after reverting the registry edits.

There’s no official timetable for Microsoft to bring the native NVMe driver to consumer Windows 11 builds. When—or if—that happens, end users should expect a tested, supported path rather than manual registry work.

Bottom line

The Server 2025 native NVMe driver shows clear potential to improve random SSD performance under Windows 11, but benefits depend on drive and system. Enthusiasts can force the change now, but should weigh the performance gains against the risk of data access issues and wait for an official Microsoft release for broad deployment.

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