If you ’ve just upgrade to a unexampled gambling microcomputer or want to make the most of your older one , then optimizingWindows 11 and 10for gaming can go a longsighted way to maximise what your PC can do . It ensures you ’re getting the most for your money , and are n’t leave behind carrying into action on the table which could make your biz play experience that bit more fun .
you may compact additional performance out of your Windows personal computer by tweaking a few configurations , along with optimise setting in apps like Discord , Steam , and your GPU ’s control panel . Not all of these tips will boost your frame rate in game ( interpret our guide on thegraphics options to exchange in every gamefor that ) , but they all make it a short easier to use a Windows microcomputer for gaming .
Turn off the Enhance Pointer Precision option
The best place to start optimizing Windows for gaming is your mouse . By default , Windows has an selection enable called Enhance Pointer Precision , which is a form of mouse speedup . In short , Windows will quicken up or slow down how quickly your pointer moves based on how fast you ’re moving the shiner .
It should go without saying that this is pretty terrible for gaming , where a quick black eye picture or short chastening can make all the difference . It seems introductory , but I ’ve seen people who have played game on a PC for months before realize that mouse acceleration was turned on .
measure 1 : spread out the Control Panel by pressingWindows+Sand search for " Control Panel . "
stair 2 : SelectHardware and sound , and then selectMouseunder theDevices and printerssection .
Step 3 : Select thePointer optionstab , and then uncheck the boxful next toEnhance Spanish pointer precision .
Use Game Mode or a game optimizer
Windows 11and Windows 10 let in a feature call Game Mode , which will mechanically apportion resources toward your game whenever you ’re playing . At least , that ’s what it ’s suppose to do in possibility .
In some rare vitrine , Game Mode can really get performance issues . I still recommend turn it on , but alternatives likeRazer Cortexoffer performance - boosting benefits without potential drawback .
Step 1 : start the options screen by usingWindows+Sand searching for " setting . "
whole tone 2 : SelectGamingfrom the unexpended computer menu , and then selectGame fashion .
Step 3 : Tick the slider toOn .
whole tone 4 : If Game Mode is n’t working for you , you could expend a third - party tool like Razer Cortex . We detail how to do that ( along with some other helpful backsheesh ) in our guide onhow to hike up frame ratewithout a unexampled GPU .
Pause automatic Windows updates
It ’s a bad idea to disable automatonlike updates in Windows , as Windows updates can clear major number you may not have known about . You ca n’t disable them , in fact , without some register hacks .
Microsoft still allows you to pause automatic update for up to five weeks , and Game Mode will make certain they do n’t interrupt your gameplay session .
Step 1 : open up the preferences screen door by usingWindows+Sto lookup for " preferences . "
Step 2 : In the remaining menu , selectWindows updates .
Step 3 : UnderMore alternative , selectPause updates .
Step 4 : While you ’re on this screen , make certain to chink for update , as installing Modern drivers and Windows updates can vastly improve your gambling performance .
Pull in background downloads in Steam
Steam is theDRM platformwhere most PC games hold out , and it will automatically upgrade your games in the background . It can even install game while you ’re playing , which can vastly swerve your performance .
footstep 1 : afford Steam and selectSteamin the upper - leave corner . Then , selectSettings .
Step 2 : Choose theDownloadstab in the menu , and uncheck theAllow downloads during gameplaybox .
gradation 3 : Check theOnly auto - update games betweenbox and select a range of time where you ’re not using your computer .
Step 4 : By default , all games will automatically update on Steam , and you ca n’t disable that universally . That ’s why I advocate position an reflexive update time . you’re able to deform off robotlike update for private games , though .
Select the biz you want and right - click it . ChoosePropertiesand then take theUpdatestab . In the first dropdown , chooseOnly update this secret plan when I launch it . We typically allow for this setting off , as there ’s nothing defective than waiting for a huge update to finish when you want to play a game .
Configure your GPU software
AMD and Nvidia include software for their GPUs , and optimizing the configurations in these apps can do a lot for your gaming carrying into action . If you have one of thebest graphics cards , rest assured it ’s supported by as as impressive software .
Step 1 : If you have a Nvidia GPU , conform to our guide on the bestNvidia Control Panel configurations . There are a few thing you could quickly tweak , though .
SelectManage 3D settingsand insure you ’re on theGlobal settingstab . SetPower direction modetoPrefer maximal performanceand set up theMax frame rateto therefresh pace of your monitor . Those are the two configurations you need to change , but experiment with the others follow the guide linked above .
footprint 2 : For AMD GPUs , you have a spate more options . Click theSettingsicon and selectGraphicsfrom the bill of fare . grow onRadeon boostandRadeon anti - lagfor the smoothest experience .
You have several other selection here , but I ’d advocate leaving them off universally . you could make profiles for individual games in Radeon Software , where you could aline these setting at a more grainy level .
Update all of your drivers
Although you ’ll want to turn off driver and other updates while you ’re gage , it ’s still very important to keep everything up to engagement . In some cases , bug and other issues can massively impact the performance of your PC , so staying up to day of the month with your gadget driver is one of the most important things you’re able to do to optimize Windows 11 for gaming .
footfall 1 : Start by look for for novel GPU drivers . you could find unexampled drivers in Radeon Software for AMD and GeForce Experience for Nvidia . If you ’re lost , read our guide onhow to raise your GPU drivers .
Step 2 : Windows update will catch most of your other drivers . Go toSettings , selectWindows update , and chooseCheck for update . Install anything new when you re-start your PC .
We have a dedicated guide onhow to update drivers in Windowsif you ’re throw trouble .
Step 3 : Windows should get most of the drivers you need . However , it ’s a good idea to condition for chipset driver from your motherboard producer or your CPU stigma .
Disable Windows notifications
telling can kill your gambling experience immediately . Not only are they teasing , but they take over full - screen applications , and with some game , that can make a full - on smash . Game Mode and apps like Game Booster can disable notifications temporarily , but you ’ll want to go through Windows to kill them outright .
Step 1 : Go to theSettingsmenu by usingWindows+Sand seek forSettings .
gradation 2 : SelectSystem , then chooseNotifications .
footmark 3 : SelectNotificationsonce again to expand a dropdown . Configure your circumstance here . If you desire to grow off all notifications , tick the slider toOff .
Step 4 : you’re able to line up the notice configurations or individual apps below , which I commend you do . OneMicrosoft Teams problemnotification , for instance , takes over the blind while playingDestiny 2 , so disable those telling when you ’re not using the app .
Get into the internet fast lane
window uses something name Nagle ’s Algorithm , which essentially smooths your internet connection . It ’s great for day - to - day browsing , but it can increase your latency if you ’re diddle games online with aWi - Fi connection .
you could disenable Nagle ’s Algorithm through the Windows Registry . Before go forward , though , keep in judgement that mess up with the registry can use issue , so go on at your own risk .
Step 1 : The first affair to do is note your IP address . Right - click the WindowsStartmenu and selectWindows terminal .
Typeipconfigand hitEnter . Note the IPv4 address for your default internet adapter ( it should be the top one ) .
Step 3 : pilot to the be track : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces
You ’ll find a collecting of folders with random varsity letter and issue . Click through these leaflet until you notice one with the DhcpIPAddress entry . There should only be one , and it should have your IP address noted in the Data pillar . threefold - tick against the IP reference you take note in the first place .
Step 4 : In this leaflet , right - click and selectNew DWORD ( 32 - bit ) time value .
footstep 5 : Name the value TcpAckFrequency and set the value to1 . Then , clickOK .
footstep 6 : Right - sink in again and selectNew DWORD ( 32 - number ) valueanother time .
Step 7 : Rename the value toTCPNoDelayand set the time value to1.ClickOK .
footstep 8 : That ’s all you need to disable Nagle ’s Algorithm . If you want to go back , place the values of your fresh entries to0or delete them from the leaflet .
Turn off Xbox Game Bar (and other overlays)
Overlays are a job with PC gaming , and it ’s laborious to get rid of all of them . The one you ’ve almost certainly encountered , though , is Xbox Game Bar . It ’s a useful tool , but it has a inclination to interrupt your gameplay ( specially if you ’re playing with a controller ) . gratefully , you may turn it off .
Step 1 : Go to the configurations menu by usingWindows+Sand searching for " setting . "
Step 2 : SelectGaming , and chooseXbox plot bar . In Windows 10 , you may turn it off whole . In Windows 11 , you may only disable shortcuts from unfold the overlay .
gradation 3 : you’re able to uninstall the Xbox Game Bar if you do n’t require to utilise it at all ( though reinstalling is a spot of a tussle ) .
To do so , openWindows PowerShelland come in the undermentioned command : Ge - AppxPackage Microsoft . XboxGamingOverlay | Remove - AppxPackage . TapEnterand wait for the uninstall the ending .
footprint 4 : There are other overlays you may want to handicap . For Steam , enter the app and followSteam > Settingsto go into the proper menu . SelectIn - gameand uncheck theEnable the Steam sheathing while in … boxwood to turn off the overlay .
Step 5 : Discord also has an overlayer that can be galling . launch the app and sail to theSettingsmenu . SelectGame overlayunder theActivity settingssection and uncheck the box next toEnable in - game overlayer .
Kill background processes
It ’s no enigma that background processes can feed up system of rules imagination on your PC , but it ’s tough tracking everything down . Killing apps from the taskbar is a scuffle , and even then , other services may still be running in the background .
window gives you the alternative to configure these services so they never startle in the first home .
tone 1 : Right - press the Windows start carte du jour clit and selectRun .
Step 2 : Typemsconfigand hitEnter .
Step 3 : Select theServicestab and check the boxwood next toHide all Microsoft Robert William Service .
stair 4 : Uncheck boxes next to the services you do n’t require run . Note that some services are vital to flow apps , so make indisputable to research for what your PC is run before handicap the app .
Use a higher power plan in Windows
If you ’re playing games ona gambling laptop computer , a higher power plan in Windows is a good approximation . This wo n’t do much for your desktop , but it ’s still a necessary footfall if you ’re gaming on the go .
Step 1 : spread out theControl Paneland selectSystem and security .
Step 2 : SelectPower options , and switch to theHigh performanceplan . Some elder laptops may not have this option . In that shell , consult your manufacturer ’s include utility for office plan options .
Optimize your games
One of the biggest room to improve in - game performance , is to manage your game and artwork configurations . you could do this on a game by secret plan cornerstone on their built - in fare , or through your graphics card driver – whetherNvidia or AMD .
Although the specific options you should use will vary free-base on your PC ’s portion and the games you ’re play , there are some different options worth configuring in sealed room . Take a look at our template onoptimizing PC performance for gaming , to chance out the in force configurations to adjust for maximal carrying out .
We also have execution guides for specific game , including :
