---
title: "NVMe InterruptSteeringMode: spreading NVMe interrupts across processor cores"
description: "An NVMe drive raises an interrupt when a read or write finishes. What the tweak changes, when it helps, when it hurts and how to undo it."
url: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/nvme-interrupt-steering
author: Frost LIVE, Founder of Frozen Tweaks
published: 2026-10-08
updated: 2026-10-08
category: "Memory"
source: Frozen Tweaks (https://frozentweaks.com)
---

# NVMe InterruptSteeringMode: spreading NVMe interrupts across processor cores

**Short answer:** An NVMe drive raises an interrupt when a read or write finishes. InterruptSteeringMode tells the Windows storage driver how to distribute those interrupts across cores instead of concentrating them. In the registry it sets InterruptSteeringMode to 1 under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device.

## In the app

- Switch: NVMe IRQ Spread (Memory, Pro, Advanced)
- Undo: Yes. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.
- Catalog row: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks#t-1076

## What it does

An NVMe drive raises an interrupt when a read or write finishes. InterruptSteeringMode tells the Windows storage driver how to distribute those interrupts across cores instead of concentrating them.

In the app the switch is called "NVMe IRQ Spread", described there as: Spreads NVMe MSI-X across CPUs to reduce ISR contention.

## When it helps

- Heavy loading on fast NVMe drives, where one core handling every storage interrupt can become a bottleneck.

## When it hurts

- On most desktops the default is already fine, and the change is not measurable.
- It needs a restart to apply.

## What it writes

Read from the app's source. "Switching it off" is what the app writes when you turn the tweak off again.

Registry values:

| Key | Value | With the tweak | Switching it off |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device` | `InterruptSteeringMode` | `1` | 0 |

Source: Tweaks/nvme_affinity_spread.hpp in the app's source, app 2.0.0, checked 2026-10-08.

## The same change by hand

Run in a Command Prompt opened as administrator. Make a restore point first.

```bat
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device" /v "InterruptSteeringMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
```

Put it back:

```bat
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device" /v "InterruptSteeringMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
```

See what it is set to now:

```bat
reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device" /v "InterruptSteeringMode"
```

## How to undo it

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. It writes InterruptSteeringMode back to 0.

## Verdict

A niche setting for storage-heavy loads. It is harmless, but do not expect to feel it in a game.

## Questions

### What does the "NVMe IRQ Spread" tweak change in Windows?

In the registry it sets InterruptSteeringMode to 1 under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device.

### What is the standard value of InterruptSteeringMode?

Frozen Tweaks writes 0 when you switch the tweak off, which is the value it treats as the Windows standard. With the tweak on, InterruptSteeringMode is 1.

### Is "NVMe IRQ Spread" safe to switch on?

A niche setting for storage-heavy loads. It is harmless, but do not expect to feel it in a game. The main cost: On most desktops the default is already fine, and the change is not measurable.

### How do I undo it?

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.

### Is "NVMe IRQ Spread" free in Frozen Tweaks?

It is part of Frozen Pro and Elite. You can also make the change by hand with the values on this page.

## Related guides

- [How to Fix Stuttering and Frame Drops: Diagnose Before You Tweak](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/fix-stuttering-frame-drops)
- [How to Increase FPS on PC: The Complete 2026 Guide](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/how-to-increase-fps-on-pc)

## More tweak explainers

- [LargeSystemCache](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/largesystemcache)
- [DisablePagingExecutive](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disablepagingexecutive)
- [Memory compression](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-memory-compression)

---
Written by Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks. Canonical version: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/nvme-interrupt-steering