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Windows 11 Settings for Gaming:
What Actually Helps

A clean list of the Windows 11 settings worth changing for games, the ones to leave alone, and the popular tweaks that do nothing. No scripts, nothing that breaks Windows Update or anti-cheat.

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// QUICK ANSWER

Keep Game Mode on, use the High performance power plan on desktops, turn off background recording and overlays you don't use, trim startup apps, and keep chipset and GPU drivers current. Leave the page file, services, Defender and Windows Update alone, and skip debloat scripts. Windows settings matter less than hardware and BIOS setup.

Time: 20-30 minutes•Difficulty: Beginner•Applies to: Windows 11 23H2 / 24H2 / 25H2•Last reviewed: November 2026
// COMPETITIVE SETUP: JUST SET THIS

The full competitive Windows 11 setup:

Game Mode
On
Optimizations for windowed games
On
Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling
On if you use DLSS Frame Generation
Off
Record what happened (Captures)
Off
Discord / Steam / NVIDIA overlays
Off
Xbox Game Bar
Installed, shortcut and captures off
Power plan
Laptops: Best performance, plugged in
High performance
Startup apps
Only what you need
Notifications while gaming
Do not disturb On
Transparency effects
Off
Enhance pointer precision
Off
Windows Update driver installs
Blocked (policy in step 1)
Chipset + GPU drivers
Latest from AMD / Intel / NVIDIA
Memory Integrity
Valorant and FACEIT may need it
On
Page file
System managed
Defender, firewall, services
Leave on

PC-Tuning's author ranks performance impact as hardware first, then BIOS, then the operating system. Windows 11 settings still matter, but mostly for consistency (fewer background interruptions), not big FPS jumps.

Before you start

  • ✓Create a restore point.
  • ✓Install all pending Windows updates and restart.

Step-by-step

  1. 1.Update drivers from the right places

    1. Chipset driver: from AMD or Intel's website for your platform.
    2. GPU driver: from NVIDIA or AMD. See our NVIDIA Control Panel guide for a minimal install.
    3. Optional: stop Windows Update from replacing your GPU driver. In Group Policy (Pro): Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update > Do not include drivers with Windows Updates.

  2. 2.Set the graphics settings

    1. Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings.
    2. Keep Optimizations for windowed games on.
    3. HAGS: see our HAGS guide; keep it on if you use DLSS Frame Generation.
    4. On laptops, set your games to High performance in the per-app list so they use the dedicated GPU.

  3. 3.Keep Game Mode on

    1. Settings > Gaming > Game Mode: On.
    2. It stops Windows Update from installing drivers or restarting during play. See our Game Mode guide for what it does and does not do.

  4. 4.Turn off background recording and unused overlays

    1. Settings > Gaming > Captures: turn off Record what happened.
    2. Disable in-game overlays you do not use: Discord, Steam, NVIDIA App, Xbox Game Bar widgets.
    3. Do not uninstall Xbox Game Bar itself: games register with Game Mode through it.

  5. 5.Use the right power plan

    1. Desktop: open Terminal and run powercfg /setactive SCHEME_MIN to switch to High performance. Or pick it in Control Panel > Power Options.
    2. Laptop: plug in and choose Best performance in Settings > System > Power & battery.
    3. Leave CPU C-states at default. Both PC-Tuning and Noverse keep them on for most PCs, because disabling them can reduce boost clocks.

  6. 6.Trim startup apps

    1. Task Manager > Startup apps: disable launchers, updaters and RGB tools you do not need running all the time.
    2. Leave Automatic Maintenance on. It only runs while the PC is idle.

  7. 7.Set the mouse correctly

    1. Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse: set pointer speed here. It has finer steps than the old Mouse Properties slider and writes the same value.
    2. Additional mouse settings > Pointer Options: untick Enhance pointer precision.

  8. 8.Decide on Memory Integrity deliberately

    Memory Integrity (Core Isolation / HVCI) can cost some performance, but it protects the Windows kernel, and some anti-cheats require it.

    1. Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details.
    2. Leave it on unless you have measured a difference in your games and accept the security trade-off. Valorant (Vanguard) and FACEIT may require it or related settings.

Check that it worked

  • ✓Task Manager shows fewer apps at startup and lower idle CPU use.
  • ✓CapFrameX frametimes in your test scene are the same or more consistent than before.
  • ✓Windows Update, the Microsoft Store and your anti-cheat games still work.

What does not work (and why)

✗ Debloat scripts and service-disabling packs

PC-Tuning strongly discourages them. They can break the Store, Xbox networking, NVIDIA Control Panel or Windows Update, and apps that are not running cost nothing.

✗ Disable the page file if you have 32 GB of RAM

Keep it on. Users report stutter in some games with it disabled even with plenty of free RAM.

✗ SystemResponsiveness 0 gives games 100% of the CPU

Windows treats values below 10 as 20, and the setting only affects programs registered with the multimedia scheduler.

✗ Win32PrioritySeparation 26 is the gaming value

0x26 is what Windows' own "Programs" setting writes and behaves like the default. The foreground boost is at most +2 priority.

✗ Disable Automatic Maintenance

It only runs when the PC is idle, so it does not affect games.

✗ Turn off Defender for FPS

There is no measured FPS gain in our sources, and it leaves the PC unprotected. Add exclusions for game folders if a scan ever interrupts a session.

// WHAT THIS GUIDE DOES NOT COVER

The parts that depend on your exact hardware

Everything above is free and safe on any PC. The parts below depend on your exact CPU, RAM, motherboard and games, so they need live testing. That is what a 1-on-1 YTUNE session covers:

  • ✓BIOS setup: XMP/EXPO, power limits, ReBAR testing, C-state and boost behavior for your CPU
  • ✓RAM timing tuning with proper stability testing
  • ✓DPC and interrupt analysis with xperf, MSI and affinity checks
  • ✓Per-game testing with FrameView and CapFrameX

// SOURCES & FURTHER READING

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// FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is Windows 11 good for gaming?
Yes. Once drivers are current and background apps are trimmed, Windows 11 performs about the same as Windows 10 and gets security updates.
Should I use a debloat script on Windows 11?
No. They change hundreds of settings at once and often break Windows features. Remove only the apps you do not use.
Should I turn off Memory Integrity for gaming?
Only after measuring a real difference and understanding the trade-off. Some anti-cheats, such as Vanguard and FACEIT, may require it.
Which power plan is best for gaming on Windows 11?
High performance on desktops. On laptops, plug in and use Best performance mode.

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