Maximizing Windows 11 Gaming Performance in 2023

Windows 11 has been released with lots of exciting features and improvements. For gamers, an optimized operating system can make a significant difference in performance and overall gaming experience.

While Windows 11 already has powerful gaming capabilities, there are hidden settings and optimizations that can further improve gaming performance. By adjusting different settings, you can unleash your PC’s full potential and create a smoother and more immersive gaming experience. 

How to optimize Windows 11 for gaming performance in 2023

In this blog post, we will explore different methods to optimize Windows 11 for gaming and improve overall system performance in 2023. So no need to hesitate any longer. Also, let’s start with the first optimization method on our list:f

Disable two features (Microsoft recommendation)

In terms of gaming performance, Windows 11 doesn’t deliver better performance than Windows 10. According to Microsoft, this is due to two security features; Virtual machine platforms and memory integrity are enabled by default in Windows 11;

If you prefer gaming performance over security, disabling these two features makes a big difference. Follow the steps below:

• Disable the virtual machine platform
• Click the Search icon and type Turn Windows On or Off, when the feature appears in the search results, click to open it. 

Disable the virtual machine platform

• Click the Search icon and type Turn Windows On or Off, when the feature appears in the search results, click to open it.
• Disable the virtual machine platform in Windows 11
• Here, locate “Virtual Machine Platform”, uncheck it and click OK.
• Restart your computer, if necessary.

Disable memory integrity

• Click the Search icon and type Core Isolation, when it appears in the search results, click to open it.
• The kernel isolation configuration page will open, where you need to disable memory integrity. If the UAC dialog box appears, click Yes to continue.
• Disable Memory Integrity in Windows 11
• You must restart the computer to apply the changes.

Update your graphics driver

The first step to optimizing your Windows 11 for gaming is to make sure you have the latest graphics drivers installed. Graphics drivers play an important role in displaying images and videos on your screen. Keeping them up to date ensures that you have access to the latest fixes, optimizations, and performance enhancements specific to your GPU.

• To update your graphics driver, follow these steps:
• Identify your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
• Visit the official website of the manufacturer.
• Download the latest driver for your specific GPU model.
• Install the driver and follow the on-screen instructions.
• You can check this blog post for a detailed list of manufacturer websites from which you can download drivers for your PC: Download drivers from manufacturer’s website export
• Manage Power Schemes in NVIDIA Control Panel
• If you are using an NVIDIA GPU, launch the NVIDIA Control Panel then go to Manage 3D Settings > Global Settings > Power Saving Mode and set it to Prioritize Maximum Performance.
• Likewise, you can use AMD and Intel’s GPU management tools.

Activate game mode

Windows 11 comes with a built-in Game Mode that prioritizes system resources for game apps. When enabled, Game Mode allocates more CPU and GPU power to your game, reducing interference from background gaming processes.

To enable game mode, click the search icon and type “enable game mode”, when the same system setting appears in the search results, click to open. Enable Game Mode in Windows 11

Game mode settings page will open, here switch to “Use game mode” and you’re done.

Optimize energy settings

Configuring the correct power settings can have a significant impact on your gaming performance. Windows typically sets your power plan to “Balanced” by default, which can throttle your system’s performance to save power.

To optimize power settings for gaming, you should do the following:

• Click the search icon and type Power Plan, when the system setting “Optimize your device for energy use and consumption” appears in the search results, click to open it.
• Change Power Mode to Best Performance in Windows 11
• The Power and Battery settings page opens. In the Power section, set the power mode to Best Performance.

Adjust visual effects

Windows 11 has many visual effects that enhance the user experience. However, disabling or minimizing some of these effects may allocate more resources to the game.

Here’s how to adjust the visual effects:

• Click the Search icon and type Performance Tuning, when this system setting “Tune the appearance and performance of Windows” appears in the search results, click to open it.
• The Performance Options window will open, here select “Adjust for best performance” or manually disable the selected effects.
• Click Apply and OK. We recommend that you restart your computer to apply the changes.

Enable variable refresh rate

Variable refresh rate (VRR) is a feature that synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the GPU’s frame rate, helping to reduce screen tearing and stuttering while gaming.

Make sure your monitor supports VRR and is connected to your GPU via DisplayPort or HDMI (with FreeSync support). Otherwise you won’t find the same option

This is how you can enable variable refresh rate in Windows 11:

• Launch the Settings app by pressing the WIN + I key combination.
• In the Settings app, go to System > Display.
• Scroll down and click “Chart”.
• Enable Variable Refresh Rate in Windows 11

On the Graphics Settings page, you need to scroll down to the Advanced Graphics Settings section. Here, enable the option for variable refresh rate.

I recommend restarting your computer for a better experience. Disable background apps Background apps consume system resources and can negatively impact game performance. If you want to disable specific apps, you can visit this app settings page. You can also check background app activity on the Windows 11 Battery Settings page.

Disable background apps in Windows 11

We have both detailed in this blog post on How to Disable Unnecessary Background Apps in Windows 11.

Install DirectX and NET Framework updates

DirectX and the .NET Framework are essential components for gaming on Windows. Make sure that the latest versions are installed to benefit from bug fixes and performance improvements.

Normally, Microsoft provides the latest updates for that software through Windows Update. Alternatively, you can download it from the official Microsoft website (DirectX and .NET Framework) 

Enable HDR and Auto HDR

Enabling Auto HDR is another effective way to optimize your gaming experience on Windows 11. Auto HDR is a feature that automatically converts standard dynamic range (SDR) content into dynamic range. (HDR), improving picture quality and color depth in supported games.

Here’s how to enable Auto HDR in Windows 11:

• Click the Search icon and type HDR Settings, when the same system setting appears in the search results, click to open it.
• use hdr automatically
• On this page, scroll down a bit and enable the “Use HDR” option. If the Auto HDR option is listed, enable it.
• If the HDR option is missing, your monitor may not support HDR.
• Here’s how you can confirm it. Under Visibility, if Use HDR is supported, you will find this option. If it’s not supported, you won’t find the option. Enable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling
• Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, when enabled, improves game and video performance using the system GPU by reducing latency.

Enable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Windows 11

If you have a PC with a GPU that supports hardware acceleration along with a graphics driver that supports WDDM 2.7 or later, you can enable it.

Check out this blog post on how to enable Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling in Windows 11

Enable optimization for windowed games:

Windows 11 includes a feature called “Optimize for Windowed Games” that can improve the gaming experience when playing games in windowed mode. To enable this feature, here’s what you need to do:

• Launch the Settings app by pressing the WIN + I key combination.
• In the Settings app, go to System > Display. Scroll down and select Graphics under Related Settings.
• Enable optimization for windowed games: In Windows 11
• On this page, click “Change default graphics settings”. And then on the next page, switch to “Optimize for windows games”.

Make sure to restart your computer to apply the changes.

Disable pointer precision improvement

Improved pointer precision, also known as mouse acceleration, can backfire during gameplay, as it can lead to inconsistent mouse movements and affect the experience. overall gaming experience.

• Disable pointer precision improvement in Windows 11

Disable background downloads in Steam:

If you’re a Steam user, you may have noticed that the Steam client often downloads updates to your game in the background as you play. This can consume valuable system resources and bandwidth, affecting your gaming experience. To prevent background downloads in Steam:

• Open the Steam client on your Windows 11 PC
• Click “Steam” in the upper left corner and select Settings.
• In the Settings window, go to “Downloads” in the left sidebar and look for the section called “Download restrictions”.
• Check the box next to “Only games update automatically between:” and set the desired time period when you are not able to play (for example, at night or during business hours).
• Click “OK” to save the changes.

Disable unnecessary or irrelevant startup applications:

Some applications and utilities automatically launch when your system boots, which consumes system resources. Disable unnecessary startup programs to free up game resources. This is the way:

• Use the WIN + I key combination to open the Settings app. In the Settings app, you need to navigate to Applications > Startup Applications.
• disable startup applications
• Here you will get a list of startup applications, just disable unnecessary startup applications for gaming.

Use the main dedicated GPU for gaming

In some cases, especially with laptops with both integrated and dedicated GPUs, Windows may designate the integrated GPU as the default graphics processor for games, which can reduce game performance. :

Note – To show the steps I will add Adobe Photoshop as I don’t have any games installed on my PC.

• Right click on your desktop and select “Display Settings”.
• In the Settings app, you need to scroll down and click on “Graphic Settings”.
• Add an app
• Under “Application customization options”, select Desktop Applications, then click “Browse” and find the game’s executable (usually ending in .exe) in the installation directory. your game, click “Add”.
• app options
• The specific game will appear on the same page, click the Options button.
• High performance
• In the “Graphics Options” window, select “High Performance” as your preferred GPU, then click “Save”.

Adjust game graphics settings

Each game has graphics settings that can be adjusted to optimize performance based on your hardware capabilities.

Adjust game graphics settings:

Reducing in-game graphics settings, such as anti-aliasing, shadow quality, and texture quality, can result in smoother gameplay. Create a balance between visuals and performance for the best experience.

Disable recording of what happened

Windows 11 offers a nifty feature called the “Record What Happened” feature. When enabled, this feature captures in-game moments with a hotkey. However, enabling this feature consumes background resources, affecting performance.

For this reason, it is ideal to disable this feature if you want a better gaming experience. Here’s how:

• Launch the Settings app by pressing the WIN + I key combination.
• In the Settings app, go to Games > Snapshots.
• Turn off Record What Happens feature in Windows 11

On this page, under Recording Options, you turn off Record What Happened. Install SSD for faster load times:

If you haven’t already, consider upgrading to a Solid State Drive (SSD). SSDs offer significantly faster read and write speeds than traditional hard drives (HDDs).

Installing your game on an SSD can reduce load times and texture pop-ups, and improve overall gaming performance.

The internet is full of SSDs specifically for gamers, you can search the web and find ones that fit your needs and budget.

If you own a gaming laptop, check out this blog post Best SSD for 2023 Gaming Laptop (256GB to 2TB)

Monitor and manage system temperature:

Overheating can degrade performance and even crash the system. Regularly monitor your system temperature with third-party software and clean your PC from dust to ensure optimal performance during gaming sessions.

This can be done quickly through BIOS settings, but it’s a complicated method. Better to use one of the third-party apps available on the web to check Core Temp or Spicy CPU temperature.

Using Game Boosting software:

Several third-party game support software are available to optimize your PC for gaming by shutting down unnecessary processes, clearing RAM and managing system resources efficiently. Popular options include Razer Cortex, MSI Afterburner, and Game Fire. Or follow the instructions suggested by one of the users on this Reddit thread. He suggests using Optimizer, Nvidia Clean Install and Uninstalling Display Drivers and setting correct Windows 11 settings for gaming.

By implementing the methods above in the article, you can optimize your Windows 11 gaming performance. Each solution helps maximize your gaming potential and ensures an enjoyable gaming experience. location on your PC. Good game!

Conclusion

In conclusion, as we step into 2023, the pursuit of maximizing gaming performance on Windows 11 remains an ever-evolving journey. With the introduction of this operating system, Microsoft has continued to enhance the gaming experience for PC enthusiasts. Through a combination of hardware upgrades, software optimizations, and careful configuration, gamers can unlock the full potential of their systems.

In this guide, we have explored a range of strategies and techniques to help you achieve the ultimate gaming experience on Windows 11. From upgrading your hardware components to tweaking system settings, from optimizing in-game configurations to keeping your drivers up to date, we have delved into the key aspects that can significantly impact your gaming performance.

Q1: What are the key hardware components I should focus on to enhance gaming performance on Windows 11?

A1: To boost gaming performance, prioritize upgrading your GPU for better graphics rendering, increasing RAM for smoother multitasking, and using a high-speed SSD to reduce loading times and improve overall system responsiveness.

Q2: How important is it to keep my operating system and drivers up to date?

A2: Keeping your Windows 11 operating system and graphics drivers up to date is crucial. These updates often include performance optimizations, bug fixes, and compatibility improvements that can positively impact gaming performance.

Q3: What are Auto HDR and DirectStorage, and how can they benefit my gaming experience on Windows 11?

A3: Auto HDR enhances the visual quality of games by automatically adding high dynamic range (HDR) to non-HDR games. DirectStorage, on the other hand, significantly reduces game load times by enabling games to directly access assets from high-speed NVMe SSDs. Both features can improve your gaming experience by enhancing visuals and reducing waiting times.

Q4: Are there any specific in-game settings I should adjust for better performance?

A4: Yes, adjusting in-game settings can have a significant impact on performance. Start by lowering graphics settings like shadows, reflections, and anti-aliasing. Experiment with different settings while balancing visual quality and performance to find the sweet spot for your system.

Q5: How can I prevent background applications from affecting my gaming performance?

A5: Disable or close unnecessary background applications and services before gaming. Windows 11 has a Gaming Mode that can help prioritize resources for gaming, minimizing interference from other processes.