Introduction: Unlock the Hidden Power of Your PC
Windows 11 is modern and sleek, but its fancy animations and numerous background processes can silently throttle your PC’s performance, especially if you have mid-range hardware. Whether you’re a gamer seeking higher frames per second (FPS) or a professional demanding a snappier multi-tasking experience, optimizing your Windows 11 settings is crucial.
AdxFly Tech Compare has compiled the 15 most effective tweaks—from simple toggles to deep-dive settings—to make your Windows 11 machine run at its absolute fastest.
I. Core Performance Tweaks (High Impact)
These settings directly affect how your CPU and GPU prioritize tasks.
1. Enable Game Mode
Game Mode is a built-in feature designed to prioritize your game’s resources and minimize background interruptions like updates and notifications.
- How: Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and ensure the toggle is On.
2. Set Power Mode to ‘Best Performance’
Windows often defaults to ‘Balanced’ to save power. Switching to ‘Best Performance’ tells your CPU to run at its highest clock speeds when plugged in.
- How: Go to Settings > System > Power & Battery > Power Mode. Select Best Performance. (Note: This increases power consumption and heat.)
3. Disable Memory Integrity (Core Isolation)
This security feature adds protection against malware but uses virtualization technology that can significantly decrease performance (especially in gaming).
- How: Search for Core isolation in the Start Menu. Under Memory integrity, switch the toggle to Off. (Requires PC restart.)
4. Adjust Visual Effects for Speed
Those beautiful transparency and shadow effects consume GPU resources. Disabling them makes your system interface feel much snappier.
- How: Search for Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows. In the Visual Effects tab, select Adjust for best performance.
II. System Clean-Up and Maintenance
These steps free up RAM and disk resources that are wasted on unnecessary processes.
5. Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps
Apps running at startup slow down your boot time and consume RAM constantly.
- How: Right-click the Taskbar and open Task Manager. Go to the Startup Apps tab. Disable (Right-click and Disable) any app you don’t need running immediately (e.g., Spotify, Discord, unnecessary updaters).
6. Turn Off Background App Permissions
Prevent installed apps from consuming data and CPU cycles while you aren’t using them.
- How: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. Select an App, click the three-dot menu, select Advanced options, and under Background app permissions, select Never.
7. Run Storage Sense and Disk Cleanup
Clear out temporary files, old updates, and system junk that clog your SSD/HDD.
- How: Go to Settings > System > Storage. Turn on Storage Sense to automate cleanup, or click Cleanup recommendations to perform a manual sweep.
III. Advanced Graphics and GPU Settings
If you have a dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA or AMD), these tweaks are critical.
8. Enable Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS)
HAGS allows the GPU to manage its own memory more efficiently, reducing latency and freeing up the CPU.
- How: Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings. Toggle Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling to On. (Requires PC restart.)
9. Set High Performance for Specific Games
Tell Windows exactly which games should use the maximum power of your dedicated GPU.
- How: Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics. Add your game/app from the list or browse to its executable file. Click Options and select High Performance.
10. Update Your Graphics Drivers
Outdated drivers are a primary cause of bugs and poor FPS in games. Always download the latest drivers directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel’s websites.
IV. Network and Input Tweaks
11. Disable Enhance Pointer Precision
This feature adds mouse acceleration, making aiming inconsistent in games. Disabling it provides raw, precise input.
- How: Search for Mouse settings. Go to Additional mouse settings > Pointer Options tab. Uncheck Enhance pointer precision.
12. Turn Off Unnecessary Notifications
Notifications, tips, and suggestions consume background resources and interrupt focus.
- How: Go to Settings > System > Notifications. Turn off the main notification toggle, and also turn off the Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows options.
Conclusion: Consistent Maintenance is Key
Optimizing Windows 11 is not a one-time job; it requires periodic maintenance (steps 5, 6, and 7). By implementing these 15 steps, you should immediately notice faster boot times, smoother multitasking, and a significant improvement in gaming frame rates. Enjoy your newly optimized PC!