8 Settings to Optimize Gaming on a Windows 11 device

Microsoft boasts that, with the correct gaming settings, Windows 11 is the best OS for gaming. Issues like low FPS rates, system lags, and crashes have been resolved. This article will help you set up your new or existing gaming PC for the best results.

After studying this guide, you will have a system that runs your game with shorter loading times and is void of compatibility issues. The settings will avert overheating problems, decrease power consumption, and guarantee the best PC performance.

Quick Fixes

Before diving into the crucial optimization, do the following quick fixes:

1. Make sure your drivers are up to date with the latest patches.
2.  Also, ensure your operating system is up to date with the latest patches and without any update errors.
3.  Furthermore, you can uninstall all unused apps for enough disk storage.

1. Disable Startup on Apps

Disabling startup on apps in Windows 11 prevents apps from automatically starting when you turn on your computer. This fix improves startup speed and performance, especially if you have many installed apps, and also optimizes resources, resolving gaming performance issues.

To disable startup on apps in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Hit the ctrl + shift + esc keys simultaneously to open the Task Manager and click on Startup apps.
   
2. Right-click on an app with a Status that is Enabled that you don’t want to be enabled at startup, then click on Disable.
   
3. Repeat step 2 for as many apps as you want.

2. Optimize Gaming by Turning On High-Performance

Editor Power Plans, power plan profiles, or power schemes are pre-configured settings for controlling the system’s power consumption management, performance prioritization, and various hardware and software settings adjustments. These functions are essential for game optimization. Here is how to enable it:

1. Press Windows and S simultaneously, type power plan, and click open.
   
2. When the window opens, click on Power options.
   
3. Then, select High Performance and minimize the Power Options screen.
   
4. You can then close the window or minimize it if you are interested in improving your performance more.
5. If you want to improve your performance better, then see solution 3.

3. Use Ultimate Performance

The Ultimate Performance power plan in Windows 11 is a power plan that is not easily accessible, and its design prioritizes performance over energy efficiency. This plan is for users who require maximum performance for demanding tasks, such as gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering.

To enable the Ultimate Performance power plan, you can follow these steps:

1. After minimizing the Power Options screen from step 3 in solution 2 above, open the Command Prompt.
2. Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows and S keys together, type cmd, then choose Run as administrator to start the Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
   
3. Once the User Account Control prompts you, select Yes to continue.
   
4. When Command Prompt displays, enter the following powercfg command into the prompt and tap Enter:
   powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-03f14749eb61
   
5. Afterward, you will see Ultimate Performance on the console.
   
6. Return to the Power Options screen and refresh the page.
   
7. When Ultimate Performance displays, select the plan for the best possible performance.
   

4. Customize Ultimate Performance

Customizing Ultimate Performance in Windows 11 helps to change the power plan settings to optimize your computer for performance. This fix can assist gamers in getting the most out of their hardware.
To customize Ultimate Performance in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows and S simultaneously, type power plan, and click open.
   
2. When the window opens, click on Power options.
   
3. Then, select Change plan settings next to Ultimate Performance.
   
4. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable if you see it.
   
5. Choose when to turn off the display by setting the time from the Turn off the display dropdown menu.
   
6. If you see anything about sleep, set that to Never.
7. Then, click Change advanced power settings.
   
8. Click on Hard disk, Turn off the hard disk after, then set the Settings (Minutes) to 0. You can then click the Change advanced power settings.
   
9. Do the same thing as in step 9, then click Apply and OK to save settings.
   

5. Deactivate Night Light

The Windows 11 Night Light feature shifts the colors on your screen to warmer tones at night, helping to reduce eye strain and improve sleep quality. However, some gamers find that Night Light can interfere with their gaming experience, causing colors to appear dull or washed out.

To deactivate Night Light in Windows 11:

1. Open the Settings by holding the Windows + I keys simultaneously, click System on the left sidebar, and open Display.
   
2. Then, turn the Night light switch Off.
   

6. Deactivate Notifications

Deactivating notifications in Windows 11 can help you improve your gaming performance by reducing the number of distractions and system resources used by the system. When playing a game, it is essential to have all of your system resources focused on the game.

To deactivate notifications in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings by holding the Windows + I keys simultaneously, click System on the left sidebar, and open Notifications.
   
2. Then, turn the Notification switch Off.
   

7. Adjust Multi-tasking settings

Adjusting Multi-tasking settings in Windows 11 can help improve your gaming performance by allowing you to manage your system resources better. We will focus on the Snap Layouts feature that allows you to quickly and easily arrange your windows on the screen. Here is how to do it:

1. Open the Settings by holding the Windows + I keys simultaneously, click System on the left sidebar, and open Multi-tasking.
   
2. Then, turn the Snap windows switch Off.
   
3. If you find this feature useful, you may adjust the settings rather than completely turning it off.
4. Expand the Snap windows options, then select the option you want to deactivate.
   

8. Activate Game Mode

Activating Game Mode can enhance your gaming experience by allocating additional system resources to gaming applications, disabling notifications, and minimizing background activities, causing improved gaming sessions. Here is how to activate Game Mode:

1. Press the Windows and I keys at once to open the Settings application, then find Gaming and open Game Mode.
   
2. Under Game Mode, click on Game Mode and toggle its switch On.
   

In conclusion, elevating your gaming experience on a Windows 11 device goes beyond just having powerful hardware. By carefully using the best gaming settings for Windows 11 in this guide, you can transform your gaming sessions into seamless, immersive, and high-performance adventures.

Remember, each setting serves a specific purpose, from boosting frame rates to enhancing visuals and minimizing distractions. By adjusting power plans, managing graphics options, and fine-tuning system resources, you can strike the perfect balance between performance and aesthetics.