Performance gains are something likely everyone looks forward to. For example, Linux could soon be getting some big boost thanks to the adoption of a native API it has already had for a while. In fact, Microsoft also borrowed some of that feature on Windows 11.
Speaking of performance boost and Windows 11, Microsoft has confirmed that one such feature it has highlighted in the past still requires a clean installation. If you are wondering, the tech giant has always maintained a clean installation as a necessity for Smart App Control, a Windows 11-exclusive feature. The company has mentioned this multiple times and has also emphasized how it can help boost system performance.
If you are wondering, Microsoft had stated that a major "advantage of Smart App Control is its lighter impact on your PC’s performance since it helps block harmful apps before they can run" which indicates there should not be a need for "constant scanning of active files" which in turn should put less strain on user PCs. The company added that this was different from "traditional antivirus software that can sometimes use more resources as it scans files and processes continuously."
Back in December at the end of the year, Microsoft said the Smart App Control would not be needing a clean install anymore as it was testing the change as part of Insider previews, and it even published support documentation for the January C-release update to confirm this change was coming to all users.
However, Microsoft has since backtracked as it has again updated the support page to remove the mention of this from the release notes. Neowin noticed this change while browsing.
The company has written: "Update: This feature, originally documented in the January 2026 non‑security update (KB5074105), has been removed from the documentation and is planned for a future release.
- [Smart App Control] New! You can turn Smart App Control (SAC) on or off without any clean install requirement. To make changes, go to Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control settings. When turned on, SAC helps block untrusted or potentially harmful apps."
Thus, if you were looking to try the feature out and were not able to succeed in it without a clean install, this is likely why. Microsoft says we should expect the feature in a future Windows update.