Updated 10/2/26
| Using Start Menu Search Opening the Start menu or pressing the Windows key and typing immediately queries the Windows Search infrastructure local database of system configurations and settings indexed by the Windows Search service. Establish a baseline safety net Applying Windows gaming tweaks one at a time is the safest, most reliable method to optimize performance without destabilizing your system or making it impossible to trace the source of unexpected crashes or frame drops. Create a manual System Restore point or back up critical registry keys before changing any setting so you can instantly roll back if an issue arises. 1) Open Start Menu, type restore in the search bar. 2) Open Create restore point, select the Create button. 3) Name the restore point and click Ok |
(Note: Windows setting instructions on this site are based on Windows 11, most will also apply to Windows 10)
Windows normally shares CPU, GPU, and RAM evenly among all open apps. Optimization tools like Game Mode tell Windows to treat your game as the top priority.
Display Settings
Changing display settings for gaming in Windows unlocks your monitor’s full potential, reduces input lag, and ensures smoother, more responsive gameplay.
To change Display settings
1) Open the Start Menu type Settings in the search bar. Open it and select System, then Display.
2) Choose the Display option and ensure you have selected the recommended display resolution from the drop-down menu.
3) Enable the HDR option too, if your monitor supports it, and also make sure Auto HDR is enabled.
4) Go back to the main Display settings page and choose Advanced Display.
5) Locate the Choose a refresh rate option and select the highest refresh rate from the drop-down menu.
Enable Game Mode
Game Mode is a system-level feature on computers, phones, and televisions that optimizes performance for video games. It maximizes gaming experience by prioritizing CPU/GPU resources, reducing background tasks, and lowering input latency. On devices like iPhones and Macs, it also doubles Bluetooth sampling rates to improve controller and headset responsiveness
To enable Game Mode
1) Open Start Menu, type Settings in the search bar.
2) Select Gaming.
3) Select Game Mode.
4) Click on the toggle to enable the Game Mode, if it’s not already enabled.
Change the Power Plan
Power plans in Windows 10 & 11 control how your PC consumes/saves power. Microsoft introduced a power plan called Ultimate Performance for workstations, which can provide a performance boost.
By default this power plan is a hidden feature, but you can use the following steps to enable it:
To change the Power Plan
1) Open the Run dialog (“Window key + R”, or search in Start Menu). Type or copy and paste powercfg.cpl and press Enter.
2) Select Ultimate Performance. If you don’t see this power plan, simply continue to the next step to unhide it.
3) Open Start Menu, type cmd () in the search bar. Select Command Prompt and Run as Administrator.
4) In the Command Prompt, type or paste the following command and press Enter.
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
If you see a prompt similar to this, return to step 2 to enable the Ultimate Performance power plan.
(Note: On a side note, this works hand and hand with Disabling CPU Parking below.)
Enable Optimizations for windowed games
Enabling Optimizations for windowed games in Windows 11 improves performance, reduces input lag, and unlocks modern display features for games running in windowed or borderless windowed mode. Particularly useful for DX10/DX11 games running borderless/windowed; Microsoft says it can reduce frame latency and enable newer presentation features.
- Flips Presentation Model: It upgrades compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games from the older “blt-model” to the modern “flip-model” presentation used by DirectX 12. This makes windowed performance match or beat traditional exclusive fullscreen mode.
- Reduced Input Latency: It cuts down frame and input lag, making your mouse, keyboard, or controller feel more responsive during fast-paced play.
- Modern Display Features: It enables system-level support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto HDR while playing in a window or borderless mode.
- Faster Alt-Tab Switching: It lets you seamlessly switch between your game and a second monitor, browser, or chat app without the screen blacking out or minimizing awkwardly.
To enable Optimizations for windowed games
1) Open the Start Menu type Settings in the search bar. Open it and select System, then Display.
2) Choose Graphics, find and toggle on Optimizations for windowed games
When to Disable It
While the setting is helpful for most users, some users report occasional stuttering or high-FPS issues—particularly on certain GPU setups. If you experience flickering, frame drops, or strange stuttering in a specific game, you can turn off the feature globally or disable it for that individual application
Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS)
Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling is a Windows feature that lets the GPU directly manage its memory and tasks, shifting work from the CPU to the GPU for lower latency, improved performance, and better efficiency in graphics-intensive tasks like gaming or rendering. While it offers potential benefits by reducing CPU overhead, its impact varies; users should enable it in Windows Graphics Settings and restart their PC to test if it improves performance for their specific hardware and applications, as some games run better with it on, while others might see issues.
How it Works
Traditional: The CPU manages all commands and resources for the GPU. With HAGS: The GPU’s own processor handles scheduling its workloads and memory (VRAM) in batches, freeing up the CPU.
Benefits
Lower Latency: Reduces input lag in games.
Improved Performance: Frees CPU resources, boosts overall system responsiveness, and can increase FPS in some scenarios.
Enhanced Efficiency: Optimizes GPU resource allocation for smoother visuals.
Test it ON. Keep whichever setting gives you better frametimes in your particular games—this isn’t something I’d blindly claim improves every PC.
If you are experiencing game stutters it may help to disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling.
To enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
1) Open the Start Menu type Settings in the search bar. Open it and select System, then Display.
2) Choose Graphics, and then select an app on the list, or search for the name of your game and click it.
3) Choose Options, and then click on High Performance, followed by Save.
4) Top disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling Under Advanced graphics settings (or “Default graphics settings” for Windows 10) toggle on Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling.
Set High-Performance GPU
Setting an app to High-Performance GPU in Windows 11 forces that specific program or game to use your powerful dedicated graphics card (like an NVIDIA or AMD card) instead of your weaker power-saving integrated graphics.What It Does
Improves Speed: Gives games and heavy apps maximum processing power for higher frame rates and smoother motion.
Stops Stuttering: Prevents lag or freezing that happens when integrated graphics struggle to run a heavy program.
Saves Battery on Laptops: Keeps your powerful GPU turned off for basic apps (like web browsers or word processors) so your battery lasts longer, while turning it on only when you launch your heavy apps.
To set High-Performance GPU
1) Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2) Click System on the left menu, then select Display.
3) Scroll down and click Graphics under the “Related settings” section.
4) Find your app or game in the list, or click Browse to add its .exe file.
5) Click on the app, select Options, choose High performance (which uses your dedicated graphics card), and click Save.
Run Game as Administrator
Running a program as an administrator will guarantee that the program has full rights to do anything it needs to do on your computer. As this can be risky, Windows operating systems remove these privileges by default.
If you experience issues with applications you know to be trustworthy, you can manually grant them administrator rights to try and fix the problem.
Optimizations for windowed games improves gaming on your PC by using a new presentation model for DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games that appear in a window or in a borderless window.
When these optimizations are used, games that originally use the legacy blt-model presentation can use the newer flip-model presentation instead (if the game is compatible). This results in lower frame latency and lets you use other newer gaming features; for example, Auto HDR, and variable refresh rate (for displays that support it).
This process allows the game to run in full screen mode with full control over the display, potentially improving performance and reducing input lag. However, be aware that disabling optimizations may cause some games to behave differently or may not be compatible with certain overlays or background applications. Always test the game after making these changes to ensure the best performance for your specific setup.
To run game as Administrator
1) Right-click the desktop icon of the application, or the executable file in the installation folder, and select Properties
2) Switch to the Compatibility tab.
3) In the Settings section, check the Run this program as administrator option.
4) To disable Optimizations for Windowed Games to restore true full screen control Check the box labeled Disable fullscreen optimizations
5) Select Apply then save the changes.
Disable Enhanced Pointer Precision
Mouse acceleration and ‘Enhance Pointer Precession’ can negatively impact gaming performance, and it is recommended to disable this setting to improve mouse accuracy while playing games.
To disable Enhanced Pointer Precision
1) Open Start Menu, type Mouse in the search bar and open Mouse Settings.
2) Locate the Additional mouse settings and select it.
3) In the Mouse Properties menu choose Pointer Options tab and then uncheck Enhanced pointer precision.
4) Click Apply and then OK.
Disable Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controllers sleep mode
How to disable USB ports from automatically entering sleep mode on Windows. When the USB port enters sleep mode, it can cause a peripheral to “time out” and become unresponsive to the operating system.
To disable USB sleep mode
1) Right Click the Start Menu Icon on lower left of screen. Select Device Manager to open it.
2) Scroll to the bottom and click the arrow next to Universal Serial Bus Controllers to expand the list.
3) Right click each item that has HUB in it and select Properties
4) Click the Power Management tab.
5) Make sure the Allow computer to turn off this device to save power box is unchecked on all HUBs that allow it.
6) Click OK to close the window.
Set the Priority Level for a Game/Program in Windows 11
Windows 11 introduces an enhanced priority level, granting users the ability to set program priorities, which provides greater control over system resources. Selecting the right priority level for a program is vital for optimizing system performance.
Does High Priority Actually Help?
On a system with minimal background activity, the difference is small. The scheduler already gives running games a lot of CPU time by default.
The impact becomes meaningful when:
- Background processes compete for CPU (antivirus scans, Windows Update, browser tabs)
- Your CPU is at or near 100% utilization during gameplay
- The game is CPU-bottlenecked (GPU is under 90% usage while CPU is at 100%)
In these scenarios, High priority prevents background processes from stealing CPU time that causes the 1–2ms scheduling delays that compound into microstutter.
There are six priority levels, ranging from “Realtime” to “Low,” and adjusting these levels can impact a program’s resource allocation.
Select the appropriate priority level for the program, keeping in mind the potential impact on system stability. “Realtime” offers the highest priority but may affect system stability, while “Low” provides the lowest priority. In most cases, the “Normal” priority level is recommended.
To set the Priority Level
1) Open the Task Manager, which can be done by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting “Task Manager” from the context menu, or pressing the “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” keys on your keyboard.
2) Go to the Details button on left menu.
3) Select the program to prioritize
4) Right click the program in the right click menu select Set priority, then chosen the priority level.
5) Click Change Priority to confirm your choice.
Enable Storage Sense
Storage Sense is a lifesaver if you’re running low on disk space. This handy Windows tool automatically removes temporary and system files to help keep your computer running smoothly. Plus, you can customize the frequency of these cleanups to suit your needs and schedule.
To enable Storage Sense
1) Open Start Menu, type Settings in the search bar.
2) Click Storage on the right pane.
3) Scroll down and click on Storage Sense.
4) Enable Automatic User content cleanup, then set your preferred values for Run Storage Sense, Delete files in recycle bin if they have been there for over, and Delete files in Downloads folder if they haven’t been opened for more than 24 hours.
| ADVANCED SYSTEM TWEAKS |
Temporarily Disable VPN
A VPN, which stands for virtual private network, protects its users by encrypting their data and masking their IP addresses. This hides their browsing activity, identity, and location, allowing for greater privacy and autonomy. Anyone seeking a safer, freer, and more secure online experience could benefit from a VPN.
VPNs can impact internet speed and increase latency, which is not ideal for online gamers. However, there are some VPNs that can maintain the network performance needed for online gaming.
Raw speed is not as critical as ping for gaming purposes.
To disable VPN
1) Open Start Menu, type Settings in the search bar.
2) Click Network & Internet.
3) On the left-hand side, click VPN.
4) Under VPN connections, select the VPN connection that you want to disconnect from.
5) Click on Disconnect.
Temporarily turn off Memory Integrity
Windows 11 security measures like Memory Integrity and Virtual Machine Platform (VMP) protect against malware but can affect gaming performance. Turning off these features before gaming can improve performance, but it’s important to turn them back on afterwards to maintain protection. You may consider briefly turning off Memory Integrity and VMP to test for performance differences.
Memory Integrity or HVCI is a built-in security feature in Windows 11 designed to protect the kernel from advanced malware attacks by preventing the introduction of malicious code into high-security processes. While it runs in the background, it may consume significant CPU resources, potentially impacting gaming performance. However, users have the option to disable this feature to allocate more resources to gaming.
To turn off Memory Integrity
1) Open the Start Menu type Core Isolation in the search bar.
2) Select Core isolation to open a new window and locate a toggle under Memory integrity option.
3) Turn the toggle switch to Off
4) Restart your PC.
Disable Virtual Machine Platform (VMP)
Another security feature that hogs system resources
Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) is a feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that uses hardware virtualization to secure and isolate part of the memory from the OS, impacting system performance. Disabling VBS could potentially improve performance, especially in games.
To disable Virtual Machine Platform
1) Open Start Menu, type Windows features in the search bar and open it. Select Turn Windows features on or off.
2) Locate the Virtual Machine Platform option within the Turn Windows features on or off window and uncheck it.
3) Restart your PC
Disable or Remove Xbox Game Bar
The Xbox Game Bar on Windows offers tools and settings for gamers, but it is considered lackluster and distracting. The overlay can be triggered accidentally during gameplay, disrupting the experience and consuming system resources. Until improvements are made, it is recommended to uninstall it, with the option to reinstall from the Microsoft Store later.
To disable Xbox Game Bar:
1) Open Start Menu, type Services in the search bar, and open it.
2) Right-click on the items listed below to disable and select Properties from the context menu.
3) On the pop-up window, change the Startup type to Disabled.
Xbox Accessory Management Service
Xbox Live Auth ManagerXbox Live Game Save
Xbox Live Networking Service
4) Click OK and Apply.
To remove Xbox Game Bar:
1) Open Start Menu, type Terminal in the search bar and open Windows Terminal.
2) Enter the following command Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay | Remove-AppxPackage and press Enter.
3) The process should only take a few seconds, but it will completely remove the Game Bar from your computer
Disabling CPU Parking
CPU Parking is a low-power sleep state that disables CPU cores to conserve power when idle, but it results in latency when the CPUs need to be unparked to execute code.
This works hand and hand with the Power Plan tweak above. If you choose to disable it return to Change the Power Plan section above in this page.
To disable CPU Parking:
1) Open Start Menu, type Run in the search bar, and open it.
2) Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00\0cc5b647-c1df-4637-891a-dec35c318583
(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Power > PowerSettings > 54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00 > 0cc5b647-c1df-4637-891a-dec35c318583)
(Or search in Registry Editor for 0cc5b647-c1df-4637-891a-dec35c318583)
3) Click to open the key and change the Attribute key value from “1” to “0“.
End
