Windows 11 22H2 brought changes that affect how system utilities can run — worth knowing if you use any tool that touches hardware identifiers.
Memory Integrity (HVCI)
22H2 pushed Memory Integrity harder. It blocks unsigned or poorly-signed kernel drivers from loading. The practical effect: HWID tools that shipped their own kernel driver simply stopped working on these systems. HWIDChanger is not affected — it works entirely from user mode through standard Windows interfaces, with no kernel driver to block.
Smart App Control and SmartScreen
22H2 also made Windows more cautious about new, unrecognised apps. A freshly released, unsigned executable can be flagged as "unrecognised" by SmartScreen — that is normal for any new build without a long download history, not a sign of danger. You can verify any download with the SHA-256 checksum shown on the download page.
What it means for you
If you are on 22H2, a user-mode HWID tool works normally. The takeaway is broader: as Windows tightens driver and app controls with each release, tools that rely on kernel drivers face more friction — which is one reason a user-mode approach is the more durable one.