Want higher FPS, lower input latency, and fewer stutters on Windows 11 without getting lost in obscure tweaks? This guide walks you through the highest-impact settings first, then the deeper optimizations. It’s straightforward, safe, and focused on real-world gains.
TL;DR: Quick wins (5–10 minutes)
Turn on Game Mode: Settings > Gaming > Game Mode > On
Disable Background Recording: Settings > Gaming > Captures > Turn off “Record what happened”
Enable Optimizations for Windowed Games + VRR + HAGS:
- Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings
- Turn on “Optimizations for windowed games,” “Variable refresh rate” (if your monitor supports it), and “Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (HAGS)”
Update GPU Drivers: Use GeForce Experience/AMD Software or download from NVIDIA/AMD
Set Power Mode to Best Performance (plugged in): Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode
Kill heavy startup apps: Settings > Apps > Startup (disable high-impact apps)
If your FPS and frametimes still aren’t where you want them, keep going.
1) Keep the whole stack updated
GPU drivers: Update via NVIDIA GeForce Experience/AMD Adrenalin. Consider clean install if you’ve had issues.
Windows Update: Settings > Windows Update. Install stable updates; pause during long sessions to avoid interruptions.
Chipset/Motherboard BIOS: Check your motherboard vendor app or site. New BIOS/chipset drivers can improve scheduling, memory stability, and Resizable BAR.
Tip: After major driver updates, reboot—even if not prompted.
2) Dial in Windows 11 for gaming
Game Mode: Settings > Gaming > Game Mode > On
Prioritizes game processes and reduces background activity.
Xbox Game Bar & Captures:
- Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar: You can leave it on for features, but disable overlays you don’t use.
- Settings > Gaming > Captures: Turn off “Record what happened” (background recording) and reduce capture quality if you use it.
Graphics defaults (important):
- Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings
- Turn on:
- Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (HAGS)
- Optimizations for windowed games
- Variable refresh rate (if your monitor supports FreeSync/G-SYNC Compatible)
Per-game GPU preference:
- Settings > System > Display > Graphics > (Add your game .exe) > Options > High performance (select discrete GPU).
Note: Some titles perform better with HAGS off. If you see odd stutter, try toggling it.
3) Power, thermals, and stability
Power mode:
- Desktops: Best performance (or High/Ultimate Performance plan if you use classic Control Panel).
- Laptops: Best performance when plugged in. Watch temps to avoid throttling.
Cooling:
- Clean dust filters, ensure proper airflow, check CPU/GPU temps under load.
- Consider a more aggressive fan curve while gaming.
RAM speed:
- Enable XMP/EXPO/DOCP in BIOS to run memory at rated speed. Huge for frametime consistency.
4) Storage: faster loads, fewer stutters
Install games on SSD/NVMe. Move heavy titles from HDD via your launcher.
Keep ~15–20% free space on the system and game drives.
Optimize Drives: Windows “Optimize Drives” handles TRIM for SSDs automatically; don’t manually defrag SSDs.
DirectStorage (when supported by the game):
- Works best with NVMe drives on Windows 11. Make sure your GPU and game support it.
5) Cut background noise
Startup apps: Settings > Apps > Startup. Disable anything non-essential (RGB suites, updaters, sync tools).
OneDrive/Cloud sync: Pause syncing while gaming.
Browser tabs: Close resource-heavy tabs (especially video/streams).
Notifications/Focus:
- Settings > System > Notifications > Turn off or schedule Do Not Disturb to avoid overlays.
6) GPU control panel tips
NVIDIA Control Panel:
- Manage 3D settings (per-game is best):
- Low Latency Mode: On/Ultra for latency-sensitive shooters (or prefer in-game NVIDIA Reflex when available).
- Max Frame Rate: Optional cap a few frames below your monitor’s max to reduce latency and heat if using G-SYNC/FreeSync.
- Preferred refresh rate: Highest available.
AMD Adrenalin:
- Per-game profiles:
- Radeon Anti-Lag/Anti-Lag+: For latency-sensitive titles.
- Chill: Optional to cap frames and reduce power.
- FreeSync: Ensure it’s enabled if your monitor supports it.
General rule: Prefer in-game options (Reflex, FSR/DLSS) over driver-forced features when possible.
7) In-game settings that actually matter
Resolution and scaling: Native resolution + DLSS/FSR/XeSS for extra FPS if GPU-bound.
V-Sync: Off if using G-SYNC/FreeSync; cap FPS just below refresh rate for smoothness.
Shadows, volumetrics, post-processing: Often the biggest FPS hitters—tune these first.
Texture quality: Depends mostly on VRAM; set as high as VRAM allows without stutter.
Motion blur, film grain: Off for clarity and latency.
API: Some games run better on DX12; others on DX11. Try both if offered.
8) Network and latency
Use Ethernet when possible. If Wi‑Fi, prefer Wi‑Fi 6/6E and a clear 5/6 GHz channel.
Router QoS: Prioritize your gaming device or port.
Close bandwidth hogs: Game launchers updating in the background, cloud backups, and downloads.
9) Advanced tweaks (use judgment)
Core Isolation > Memory Integrity (VBS):
Windows Security > Device Security > Core isolation.
Turning this off can improve performance on some systems, but it reduces protection. Only consider if you understand the trade-off.
Resizable BAR / Smart Access Memory:
Enable in BIOS if supported (often needs a BIOS update + GPU support). Can improve 1% lows in some titles.
Audio enhancements:
Right-click speaker icon > Sound settings > your device > Disable “Audio enhancements” if you suspect DPC latency.
Fullscreen Optimizations:
For older games with issues, right-click game .exe > Properties > Compatibility > Disable fullscreen optimizations. Test—don’t blanket apply.
10) Troubleshoot, test, and iterate
Monitor performance:
Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) > Performance and Processes to find hogs.
Use built-in overlays (minimal) or a light tool like PresentMon/MSI Afterburner to check FPS and frametimes.
Stutter hunts:
Check for CPU spikes (RGB, telemetry, hardware monitoring tools).
Try a “clean boot” approach: Temporarily disable third-party services and see if stutters stop.
Rollback drivers if a specific update caused issues.
Suggested order of operations
- Quick wins (Game Mode, captures off, graphics defaults on, drivers updated).
- Power mode + kill startup apps.
- In-game settings tuning (start with shadows/volumetrics; use DLSS/FSR).
- Storage sanity (SSD, free space).
- Thermals and BIOS (XMP/EXPO, Resizable BAR if supported).
- Advanced tweaks as needed (VBS, compatibility toggles) with caution.
Final take
You don’t need registry hacks or risky scripts to make Windows 11 a solid gaming platform. Start with the built-in features designed for gaming, keep your drivers and BIOS current, trim background noise, and tune the handful of settings that actually move the needle. Measure, adjust, and you’ll land on a setup that’s fast, smooth, and stable.
