If you’re keen to get Windows 11 running your games smoothly, it can be a bit of a pain with all the little things that slow you down. Background apps, default power settings, outdated drivers — they all add up to lag, stutter, and poor performance when you’re deep in a raid or racing. If your games aren’t as snappy as they should be, there are a few simple tweaks that can help out. Honestly, not everything’s perfect straight away; sometimes you’ve gotta tweak a few bits and reboot, but generally these tips give your system a fair dinkum boost. Just keep in mind, some fixes might work better on certain setups — Windows has its own ways of messing with your performance even after you think you’ve done everything right.
How to Make Windows 11 Faster for Gaming
Check and update your graphics drivers
This is probably the usual culprit — outdated GPU drivers can cause all sorts of performance dramas. You can update them via Device Manager, or even better, head straight to your GPU maker’s website. For NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, grab the latest driver packs directly from their official sites. It’s a bit of a pain because sometimes Windows Update can be a lazy bugger with drivers, but in my experience, downloading the driver straight from the manufacturer’s site often fixes stuttering that Windows updates miss. Just run the installer and restart your PC. Expect a smoother frame rate or fewer crashes in game.
Switch your power plan to High Performance
This tells Windows to focus on gaming rather than saving power — because of course, Windows loves to make things more complicated. To do this, right-click the battery icon in the taskbar or go into Settings > System > Power & Battery > Power Mode. Switch to Best performance or slide the toggle all the way to the right. If you’re on a desktop, make sure your power plan in Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options is set to High Performance. This disables some power-saving features that can throttle your CPU or GPU. On some PCs, this change bumps up your FPS noticeably — on others, it’s a marginal gain. Still worth a try, mate.
Close background apps and limit startup programs
Lots of apps run quietly in the background, eating up CPU and RAM. You’ve probably noticed that Chrome, Discord, or other programs chugging away while gaming can tank your performance. On Windows 11, check out Settings > Apps > Startup and turn off anything that’s not essential. Also, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and have a look at the processes tab — shut down anything unnecessary while you’re gaming. It’s a quick fix that can make a big difference on some PCs. Honestly, it’s just good form — no point letting background rubbish drag your system down.
Adjust visual effects for better system resource management
Windows by default has a lot of visual bells and whistles, but it can slow you down, especially if your machine’s a bit on the lean side. Head to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Settings > Visual Effects and select Adjust for best performance. You probably won’t miss most of the fancy animations when you’re gaming. For some builds, this quick change smooths out frame drops or lag spikes. It’s a no-brainer for better gaming performance and dead easy to do.
Turn on Game Mode
Game Mode is meant to give your games a bit of priority and cut down on background noise. Check if it’s on by going to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. Flip it on if it isn’t already. On my setup, it sometimes stops the stutters, but not always — still, it’s a handy toggle. It’s designed to give you more consistent framerates, but how much it actually helps depends on your hardware and what game you’re playing.
Once you’ve tweaked these settings, you should notice your games running a bit smoother, with less lag and quicker load times. Not every fix is a miracle, but together, they can seriously improve how your PC performs without splashing out on new gear. Sometimes a quick reboot after making these changes helps Windows optimise better.
Tips for Making Windows 11 Faster for Gaming
- Consider hardware upgrades — extra RAM or an SSD makes a massive difference.
- Keep malware out and clear out junk files by running a virus scan and cleaning up your system.
- Dial back some of the graphics settings inside your game if it’s running slow.
- Use tools like Winhance or Razer Cortex to automate some tweaks for gaming performance.
- Close those browser tabs and background apps before launching your game — every little bit helps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my drivers are out of date?
Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button, then find your display adaptor. Right-click it, go for Update driver, and see if Windows spots anything. Or, head straight to your GPU maker’s site — NVIDIA, AMD, Intel — and grab the latest drivers there. Sometimes Windows updates don’t get the newest versions, so updating manually can give your gaming a boost.
Will turning on Game Mode make a difference for all games?
It’s a mixed bag. Some games will run a lot smoother, others not so much. If your system’s a bit under the pump, Game Mode can give you an edge. If your PC is already top notch, it might not do much.
Is hardware upgrading a must for better gaming?
Not necessarily. Tweaking settings and updating drivers can sort out a lot. But if you want top-notch performance at high settings, adding more RAM, upgrading your GPU, or switching to an SSD can really make a difference. Depends how hard out you are.
Can I undo these tweaks if my system gets wonky?
Absolutely. Most changes, like switching power plans or disabling visual effects, are reversible. Just go back into the settings and restore defaults if needed.
How often should I check for driver updates?
Once a month is a good idea, or whenever a new game suggests you update your drivers. If you notice lag or crashes, it’s worth checking sooner.
Summary
- Update your graphics drivers regularly from their official sites.
- Switch your power plan to High Performance.
- Shut down unnecessary background apps and disable unneeded startup programs.
- Adjust visual effects to save system resources.
- Turn on Game Mode to prioritise gaming.
Wrap-up
Getting Windows 11 running smoother for gaming takes a few tweaks, but these tips are a good start. The key is balancing your PC setup with what you want from your games — sometimes a hardware upgrade helps, but even without spending a cent, these small adjustments can make a real difference. Keep an eye on drivers and background tasks, and you’ll likely notice improvements. Hope this helps someone squeeze a bit more out of their rig — sometimes, it’s just the little things that add up!