How to Boost FPS on Windows 11: 9 Settings That Help

If you want to boost FPS on Windows 11 without buying new hardware, the good news is that a handful of built-in settings can make a real difference. Many of them are switched off by default, buried a few menus deep, or quietly undone by background apps you forgot were running.

This guide walks you through nine settings worth checking, in the order that usually gives the biggest payoff for the least effort. Each step includes the exact menu path, what the setting does, and when you might want to leave it alone.

Quick answer: The changes that help most PCs are simple and safe:

• Update your graphics driver and make sure games use your dedicated GPU.
• Set your display to its highest refresh rate and turn on Game Mode.
• Switch the Windows power mode to Best performance while gaming.
• Cut background recording and startup apps that compete for resources.

📋 In This Guide

• 1. Update Your Graphics Driver First
• 2. Make Sure Games Run on Your Dedicated GPU
• 3. Set Your Monitor to Its Highest Refresh Rate
• 4. Turn On Game Mode
• 5. Switch the Power Mode to Best Performance
• 6. Turn Off Background Recording
• 7. Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps
• 8. Try Optimizations for Windowed Games
• 9. Test Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
• Which Settings Matter Most?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Final Thoughts

1. Update Your Graphics Driver First

Graphics drivers are the single most important piece of software for gaming performance. GPU makers regularly release updates that fix bugs and improve performance in newly released games, so an old driver can hold you back even on a powerful card.

1. Find out which GPU you have: right-click the taskbar, open Task Manager, and select the Performance tab. Your GPU is listed in the left column.
2. Download the driver from the manufacturer's own app or website: the NVIDIA App for GeForce cards, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition for Radeon cards, or Intel's driver tool for Intel Arc and integrated graphics.
3. Install it and restart your PC.

📝 Good to know: Windows Update also delivers graphics drivers, but they are often older than the versions available directly from the manufacturer.

2. Make Sure Games Run on Your Dedicated GPU

Many laptops have two graphics chips: a power-saving integrated GPU and a faster dedicated one. If Windows picks the wrong one for a game, your frame rate can drop dramatically.

1. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
2. Find your game in the app list. If it is missing, use the option to add an app and browse to the game's .exe file.
3. Select the game and set its GPU preference to High performance.

3. Set Your Monitor to Its Highest Refresh Rate

This one surprises a lot of people. A 144Hz or 165Hz monitor can be stuck at 60Hz if Windows was never told otherwise, which means you will never see more than 60 frames per second on screen no matter how fast your PC is.

1. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
2. Under Choose a refresh rate, pick the highest number available.

💡 Tip: If the higher rates do not appear, check that you are using the right cable (DisplayPort or a recent HDMI version) and that it is plugged into the graphics card, not the motherboard.

4. Turn On Game Mode

Game Mode tells Windows to prioritize the game you are playing. It works by limiting background activity, such as Windows Update installing drivers or showing restart notifications in the middle of a session.

1. Open Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
2. Toggle it On.

Be realistic about this one. Game Mode tends to help most on PCs with limited CPU power or lots of background apps. On a fast system, the difference may be hard to notice, but it is low-risk and worth leaving on.

5. Switch the Power Mode to Best Performance

By default, Windows 11 uses a Balanced power mode that trades some speed for lower energy use. While gaming, you usually want the opposite.

1. Go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
2. Under Power mode, choose Best performance.

⚠️ Laptop users: This setting increases heat and drains the battery faster, so use it when you are plugged in.

Some laptop makers also include their own performance app (often called a "control center"), which can override Windows. If yours has one, set its profile to performance mode as well.

6. Turn Off Background Recording

The Xbox Game Bar can constantly record the last few minutes of gameplay so you can save clips after the fact. That convenience costs system resources every second you play.

1. Open Settings > Gaming > Captures.
2. Turn off Record what happened.

💡 Tip: You can still record clips manually whenever you want. Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar.

7. Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps

Chat apps, cloud storage, launchers, and update tools often start with Windows and keep running in the background. Each one takes a little memory and CPU time, and together they add up.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Startup.
2. Turn off anything you do not need the moment your PC starts.

Before you launch a game, it also helps to close browsers with many tabs open, since modern browsers can use a surprising amount of memory.

8. Try Optimizations for Windowed Games

Many people play in borderless windowed mode so they can switch apps quickly. Windows 11 includes a setting that can reduce latency and improve smoothness for games running this way.

1. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
2. Open the default (or advanced) graphics settings page. The exact label varies by Windows version.
3. Turn on Optimizations for windowed games.

9. Test Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (often called HAGS) lets your graphics card manage more of its own memory instead of relying on the CPU. It is off by default, and it is required for some newer features such as NVIDIA's DLSS Frame Generation.

You will find it on the same graphics settings page as the previous step. Restart your PC after changing it, then compare performance in a game you play often.

⚠️ Results vary: Some games run a bit better with HAGS, many show no change, and some users report stuttering or issues with streaming software. If you notice problems, simply turn it back off.

PCWorld has a good explainer if you want more background.

Which Settings Matter Most?

Setting	Typical impact	Risk
Graphics driver update	High, especially for new games	Low
Dedicated GPU selection	Very high on laptops if set wrong	None
Refresh rate	High if stuck at 60Hz	None
Power mode	Medium, more on laptops	More heat and battery use
Background recording and startup apps	Low to medium	None
Game Mode	Low on fast PCs	None
HAGS	Varies by game	Possible stutter on some systems

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Windows 11 Game Mode really increase FPS?

It can, but usually only slightly. Game Mode mostly prevents background tasks from interrupting your game, so it tends to help more on PCs with weaker processors or many background apps running.

Should I turn on hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling?

It is worth testing, especially on a recent graphics card. Turn it on, restart, and play for a while. If you notice stuttering or audio problems, switch it back off.

Why is my game capped at 60 FPS?

The most common reasons are a monitor set to 60Hz in Windows, VSync turned on in the game, or a frame limit set in the game's options or your GPU control panel. Check the refresh rate first, then look through your in-game graphics settings.

Will these settings damage my PC?

No. All of these are standard Windows options and can be reversed at any time. The only trade-off is that Best performance mode makes your PC run warmer and use more power.

Final Thoughts

You do not need risky tweaks or third-party "booster" apps to get smoother gameplay on Windows 11. Start with the big three: update your graphics driver, confirm your refresh rate, and make sure games use your dedicated GPU. Then work through the rest of the list and keep the changes that make a noticeable difference on your system. For more detail on power options, see Microsoft's guide to power settings in Windows 11.