Gaming performance depends on more than just having an expensive graphics card or a powerful processor. Even a capable gaming PC can experience FPS drops, stuttering, input delay, slow loading, or inconsistent performance when Windows and game settings are not configured properly. Fortunately, you do not always need to upgrade your hardware to improve your gaming experience. Adjusting a few important PC settings can help you get the most out of the hardware you already have.
Windows 11 includes several gaming and graphics features designed to improve the experience on modern PCs. At the same time, your monitor settings, startup applications, power configuration, graphics drivers, and in-game options can all influence performance. In this guide, we will look at the top 10 PC settings for better gaming performance in 2026. These settings are suitable for many types of games, including competitive shooters, racing games, RPGs, and other demanding PC titles.
1. Turn On Windows Game Mode
One of the easiest settings to check is Windows Game Mode. This feature is designed to help Windows prioritize gaming when you are playing a supported game. It can help reduce the impact of certain background activities and allow the system to focus more on the active gaming workload.
To check Game Mode, open Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and make sure it is turned on.
Game Mode should not be considered a magic FPS booster. If your graphics card or processor is already struggling to run a demanding game, enabling Game Mode will not suddenly double your frame rate. However, it can be a useful part of a properly configured gaming PC, especially when you want Windows to prioritize gaming-related activity.
Microsoft includes Game Mode among its Windows gaming features, making it a good first setting to check when optimizing a Windows 11 computer for gaming.
2. Check Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling, commonly known as HAGS, is another graphics-related Windows setting that may be available depending on your hardware and driver configuration.
You can find it by going to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings. If the option is available on your system, you can test it by turning it on.
The feature changes how certain GPU scheduling tasks are handled between Windows and the graphics processor. On compatible systems, it can potentially improve latency or frame-time behavior in some games. However, the results are not identical for every computer or game.
After enabling the feature, test a few games that you regularly play. Pay attention not only to average FPS but also to stuttering and overall frame consistency. If a particular game performs worse, you can compare the results with the setting disabled.
3. Enable Optimizations for Windowed Games
Windows 11 includes a feature called Optimizations for windowed games. It is particularly useful for people who play games using Windowed or Borderless Windowed modes rather than traditional exclusive fullscreen.
You can usually find this option under Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Default settings.
Microsoft explains that this feature can improve the presentation of compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed and borderless modes by using a more modern presentation model. It can also work with certain modern display features.
The actual benefit depends on the game, hardware, and display configuration. If you primarily use fullscreen mode, you may notice little difference. However, if you frequently use borderless mode while switching between your game and other applications, this setting is worth checking.
4. Set Your Monitor to Its Maximum Refresh Rate
A surprisingly common mistake is buying a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor but leaving Windows configured at 60Hz.
For example, if you have a 144Hz monitor but Windows is set to 60Hz, you are not taking full advantage of the display’s refresh capability. The same applies to 165Hz, 180Hz, 240Hz, or other high-refresh-rate monitors.
To check your refresh rate, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. Select your monitor and choose the highest refresh rate that your display supports and that is appropriate for your connection.
A higher refresh rate can make motion appear smoother and can be particularly useful in competitive games where quick reactions and clear motion are important. However, your game also needs to produce enough frames to take meaningful advantage of a high-refresh-rate display.
5. Assign Games to the High-Performance GPU
Modern laptops often include both an integrated GPU and a dedicated graphics processor. Desktop PCs can also have multiple graphics options depending on the hardware configuration.
Windows 11 allows users to select a graphics preference for individual applications. Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics, add your game if necessary, select it, and open Options.
If your system provides the choice, selecting High performance can tell Windows to use the more powerful graphics processor for that game.
This can be especially useful on gaming laptops. If a demanding game accidentally runs on integrated graphics instead of the dedicated GPU, performance can be significantly lower than expected.
After changing the preference, restart the game and verify that it is using the intended GPU. You can also use Task Manager or your graphics card’s software to monitor GPU activity.
6. Choose an Appropriate Windows Power Mode
Power management can influence performance, particularly on laptops. Windows provides power-related options that allow users to balance battery life and system performance.
Open Settings > System > Power & battery and look at the available Power mode options.
When gaming while connected to AC power, a performance-focused mode can be useful if you want the system to prioritize performance. On the other hand, when running on battery power, choosing a more efficient mode can reduce power consumption and extend battery life.
Keep in mind that higher performance settings can increase power usage, heat generation, and fan activity. Therefore, the best option depends on whether your priority is maximum gaming performance, lower temperatures, quieter operation, or longer battery life.
7. Disable Unnecessary Startup Applications
Many applications automatically start with Windows. Some of them are useful, but others may not need to run every time you turn on your computer.
To manage startup applications, open Settings > Apps > Startup. Review the list and disable applications that you do not need to launch automatically.
Reducing unnecessary startup applications does not guarantee a major increase in gaming FPS. Instead, the main advantage is reducing background resource usage and keeping Windows less cluttered.
This can be particularly useful on computers with limited RAM or slower processors. It can also help improve the overall responsiveness of Windows, especially when many applications have accumulated over time.
8. Close Unnecessary Background Applications
Before launching a demanding game, take a quick look at what is running in the background. Web browsers with many tabs, video editing software, cloud synchronization programs, launchers, and other applications can consume CPU, RAM, disk, or GPU resources.
You can press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. From there, you can check CPU, memory, GPU, and disk usage.
If an unnecessary application is consuming a significant amount of resources, closing it may free resources for your game.
However, avoid randomly ending Windows system processes. If you do not recognize a process, it is safer to leave it alone. Focus on applications that you personally opened or clearly recognize.
9. Keep Your Graphics Drivers Updated
Graphics drivers play an important role in gaming compatibility and performance. NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel regularly release driver updates that can include game optimizations, bug fixes, security improvements, and compatibility changes.
If you are experiencing unexpected performance problems in a recently released game, checking your graphics driver should be one of the first troubleshooting steps.
Use the official software or website provided by your GPU manufacturer to check for driver updates. After installing an update, restarting the PC can also help ensure that the new driver is properly loaded.
Although keeping drivers updated is generally recommended, a new driver does not guarantee better performance in every individual game. If a specific problem begins immediately after a driver update, checking the manufacturer’s release notes and known issues can help identify the cause.
10. Optimize Your In-Game Graphics Settings
Windows optimization is only part of the process. Your game’s own graphics settings can have an even larger impact on FPS and visual quality.
Start by checking settings such as resolution, shadows, reflections, anti-aliasing, texture quality, ambient effects, volumetric effects, and view distance.
If your FPS is lower than expected, reducing demanding options such as shadows, reflections, and volumetric effects can often provide a noticeable performance improvement. These settings can place significant demands on the GPU.
Texture quality works slightly differently because its impact is closely related to available VRAM. If your graphics card has enough VRAM, you may be able to keep textures at a high quality while lowering other settings that have a greater performance cost.
Some modern games also offer technologies such as DLSS, FSR, or other resolution-scaling options. When supported by your hardware and game, these technologies can help increase performance while maintaining a reasonable level of image quality.
Final Thoughts
Improving PC gaming performance does not always require buying a new graphics card, processor, or expensive gaming accessories. Before spending money on an upgrade, it is worth making sure that your existing system is configured correctly.
The ten settings covered in this guide provide a useful starting point: Windows Game Mode, Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling, Optimizations for Windowed Games, the correct monitor refresh rate, high-performance GPU selection, Windows power mode, startup application management, background application control, updated graphics drivers, and optimized in-game graphics settings.
Remember that every PC is different. A setting that improves performance on one system may have little effect on another, and occasionally a feature can even cause compatibility issues with a particular game. For that reason, avoid changing everything at once. Test one setting at a time and compare your FPS, frame-time consistency, temperatures, and overall gaming experience.
Most importantly, do not rely on questionable third-party “FPS booster” programs that promise huge performance increases with one click. Windows already provides several useful tools for managing gaming performance. A properly configured operating system, updated drivers, sensible graphics settings, and good hardware maintenance can go a long way toward creating a smoother PC gaming experience in 2026.