How to optimize Windows 11 for gaming

If you’re a PC gamer running Windows 11, you’re already working with a system built for performance. But Windows doesn’t always come game-ready out of the box. Bloatware, background tasks, and untweaked settings can hold you back. Let’s cut through the noise—here’s how to optimize Windows 11 for gaming without wasting time or risking your system.

1. Enable Game Mode

Why: Game Mode prioritizes gaming performance by reducing background activity.

How:

• Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode
• Make sure it’s turned On

That’s it. Game Mode automatically stops Windows Update installs and reduces background processes while you’re playing.

2. Turn On Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Why: This helps reduce latency and improve performance by letting your GPU handle more tasks directly.

How:

• Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Default graphics settings
• Toggle Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling to On
• Restart your PC

3. Disable Startup Apps

Why: Fewer programs launching at startup means more memory and CPU for your games.

How:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
• Go to the Startup tab
• Disable anything you don’t need when your PC boots up (Spotify, OneDrive, etc.)

4. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Why: Outdated drivers tank performance and cause crashes.

How:
Use the official tools:

• NVIDIA: GeForce Experience
• AMD: Adrenalin Software
• Intel: Intel Driver & Support Assistant

Set them to auto-update or check manually every few weeks.

5. Adjust Windows Power Settings

Why: Windows may throttle performance to save energy. Fix that.

How:

• Go to Control Panel > Power Options
• Select High Performance or Ultimate Performance (you may need to enable this with a command: powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61 in Command Prompt)

6. Turn Off Visual Effects

Why: Fancy animations look cool but eat up system resources.

How:

• Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl, hit Enter
• Under Advanced > Performance > Settings, choose Adjust for best performance or manually uncheck animations you don’t need

7. Keep Background Apps in Check

Why: Background apps can hog RAM and CPU.

How:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps
• Uninstall what you don’t use
• Also go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Background apps and turn off anything unnecessary

8. Use an SSD

Why: Games load faster, and Windows runs smoother.

Tip: Install both your OS and your most-played games on an SSD. If you’re still using an HDD for boot, upgrade now—it’s worth every penny.

9. Manage In-Game Overlays

Why: Overlays (like Xbox Game Bar, Discord, or GeForce Experience) can impact FPS.

How:

• Xbox Game Bar: Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar > Turn Off
• Disable overlays in other apps like Steam or Discord via their settings menus

10. Keep Windows Updated—But Smartly

Why: Updates bring performance patches, but random installs can ruin your session.

Tip:

• Schedule updates during off-hours: Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Active Hours

Bonus: Use a Clean Install or Debloat Tool (Advanced)

If you’ve upgraded from Windows 10 or preloaded junk came with your PC, consider using a clean install or debloat tool (like O&O AppBuster or BloatyNosy). Just be careful—research before you remove anything critical.

Final Thoughts

Optimizing Windows 11 for gaming doesn’t require risky registry hacks or shady third-party software. Just tune the built-in settings, keep your system lean, and give your games the hardware and attention they deserve.

Got a favorite tweak or tool I missed? Drop it in the comments—let’s keep the FPS flowing.