8 tips to optimize your Windows 11 PC for gaming performance – Make technology easier | Hot Mobile Press

Windows 11 brought with it a host of notable features, including AutoHDR, which can make your games look a lot better (if you have an HDR monitor). However, if you want to maximize your PC’s gaming performance, you need to take matters into your own hands and tweak a few settings.

Fortunately, the process is not too complicated. In the guide below, we discuss the best methods you can use to optimize your computer for gaming.

Also read:How to use the improved accessibility features of Windows 11

1. Disable startup applications

Typically, auto-start applications do not affect game performance. However, the presence of a heavy application or a high-consumption app will surely have an impact. Ultimately, the result depends on the applications you run on yours personal computer

If you think they are interfering with gaming performance, disable them. This could make your PC run faster.

1. Press ctrl + change + Esc on your keyboard to launch the “Task Manager”.
2. Navigate to the Startup tab.

3. Select the app you want to close and click the Disable button at the bottom.

4. Do this for all unnecessary applications and your system will run faster.

2. Disable resource-intensive applications

Some applications can consume a lot of memory and CPU power. So if you want to start a gaming session, disable these applications beforehand.

1. Press ctrl + change + Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager.
2. Sort the “Processes” list by “CPU” or “Memory” usage by clicking on one or the other.
3. Select the processes that are consuming the most and click End Task at the bottom.

4. Repeat these steps to disable any unnecessary applications running in the background that are consuming memory or CPU.

Also read:What is Windows 11 for ARM and who is it for?

3. Disable animations

If you prefer speed over looks, you should probably consider disabling animations. Windows 11 is a lot smoother, and that’s partly due to its animation effects. But while they make things look good, they can slow down your system.

1. Press Win + I to open Settings on your Windows PC.
2. Navigate to “Accessibility” in the menu on the left.
3. Select “Visual Effects”.

4. Disable “Animation Effects” in the menu.

After following these steps, Windows 11 will not look so smooth, but system performance will improve.

Also read:How to install Windows 11 on a Raspberry Pi 4

4. Optimize visual effects

As we saw above, Windows 11 looks the best, but that might impact your gaming performance. To prevent your games from interfering with your GUI running in the background, do the following:

1. Go to the settings on your computer as described above.
2. In the search bar at the top left, type “performance”.
3. From the options that appear, choose “Customize how Windows looks and performs.”

4. In the new Performance Options window that opens, check the “Adjust for best performance” option.

5. Use the Ultimate Performance power plan

You may also want to switch to the Ultimate Performance power plan on Windows 11. This is an option that allows your PC to use more power to perform as required.

By default, the Windows power plan is set to Balanced. So you have to manually switch to the Ultimate Performance plan.

1. Click the Search icon in the taskbar.
2. Type “power plan” in the search bar above.
3. Click on “Select a power plan”.

4. Switch to the “Ultimate-Performance” power plan (in the same cases, the option is listed simply as “Performance”). If this option is not available, navigate to View Additional Plans.

After following these steps, your system will perform better as it consumes more power in favor of performance. But one thing you have to keep in mind is that this particular power plan is only suitable for high-end PCs and laptops.

Also read:How to Test Windows 11 Without Nuking Windows 10

6. Update the graphics driver(s).

One of the crucial elements to improve gaming performance is the graphics driver. So it needs to be updated regularly.

1. Open the manufacturer’s website in your web browser. In our case, we visit the NVIDIA website to check for new drivers.
2. Provide the required details such as your graphics card model, operating system and more. Click the Search button below.

3. Click “Download” on the following page.

4. The graphics driver will be downloaded immediately.
5. After that, run the setup file and install the new driver. If you don’t use NVIDIA, don’t worry. The update process for AMD graphics drivers in Windows is also similar.

Also read:Your PC can’t run Windows 11? Try changing these settings

7. Activate game mode

Gaming mode is not a new feature as it was also available on Windows 10. It allows users to enjoy uninterrupted gaming performance.

There is no noticeable difference between Windows 10 Game Mode and the latest version. In Windows 11, it continues to optimize the system for playing games and even improves frame rates. Ideally, it’s best to turn on Game Mode.

1. Click the Start button on the taskbar.
2. Select the Settings app from the menu.
3. Navigate to “Games” and select “Game Mode”.

4. Enable “Game Mode” in Windows 11 by checking the option.

5. Select “Graphics” under “Related Settings”.

6. Find the game you want to play in the All Apps list. When you find it, click on it and then press “Options”.

7. Under Graphics Settings, select High Performance.

8. If the game you’re looking for doesn’t seem to be available, click Browse to add it manually.

9. Repeat these steps for all games installed on your Windows 11 PC for uninterrupted gaming performance.

Also read:15 tips to use and customize the Windows 11 Start menu like a pro

8. Disable automatic updates

In theory, the new updates should be good for the system as they come with security patches, bug fixes, etc. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. There have been numerous instances where updates did more harm than good. Therefore, it might be best to turn off the automatic update feature and update Windows as you please in your free time.

1. Open the “Settings” apps as described above.
2. Navigate to Windows Update.

2. From here you can pause Windows updates for a specified amount of time. There are a few other options besides Pause Updates. Select the one you want.

As you can see, the steps are simple. However, this is not the only way to pause Windows updates. If you are extremely careful not to install unnecessary updates, you should familiarize yourself with other methods to prevent Windows from updating.

Also read:Windows 11 Snipping Tool Not Working: 10 Potential Fixes

frequently asked Questions

Is Windows 11 better for gaming than Windows 10?

In terms of gaming performance, Windows 11 has a slight advantage over its predecessor, made up of the two Xbox features added to the new operating system: AutoHDR and DirectStorage.

Are there other ways to optimize Windows 11 for gaming?

Yes, there are other ways to optimize Windows 11 for gaming. More sophisticated ways to improve PC gaming performance are available.

For example, if you have a laptop with an NVIDIA GPU, you can visit the “NVIDIA Control Panel” and make the necessary changes to improve gaming performance. To find it on the computer, right-click on the desktop and select “Show more options -> NVIDIA Control Panel”.

How do I enable AutoHDR functionality on Windows 11?

AutoHDR is a brand new gaming feature that Microsoft has added to Windows 11. It makes games look better by using vivid colors. However, this is not a standard feature. You have to enable it manually, and here’s how to do it. In Windows, go to Settings -> System -> Display and select HDR. Above is “Use HDR”. Activate it first. Finally, scroll down and turn on “AutoHDR”.

Photo credit: Unsplash All screenshots by Saurav Dey

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