How to Turn Off Animations in Windows 11
In this part, you’ll learn how to switch off those eye-candy animations that Windows 11 tends to chuck in almost everywhere. If your PC’s feeling a bit sluggish or you just want a cleaner look, these steps will help you get there. Keep in mind, we’re not saying to turn off every visual effect—just the ones that slow things down the most—unless you’re keen to go full minimalist. Anyway, follow along and see if it makes your life a bit easier.
Access the Performance Options via System Settings
- First up, click the Start button or tap Windows + I to open Settings quick-smart.
- In Settings, head to Privacy & Security > Advanced (if needed), then click on System.
- Scroll down and hit About.
- Inside About, look for the link that says Advanced system settings—it’s usually right there, or you can type “system” into the search bar and find it quicker.
- This opens the classic System Properties window. From there, click on the Advanced tab and then hit the Settings button under Performance.
Disable Animations and Visual Effects
- This pops up the Visual Effects window. Choose Adjust for best performance. This will check all the boxes to turn off those unnecessary animations, shadows, fade-ins, and similar tricks.
- If you want to keep some effects — maybe they look decent or run better on your setup — pick Custom and tick or untick options like Fade or slide menus into view, Animations in the taskbar, or Show window contents while dragging.
- Once sorted, hit Apply and then OK. There might be a tiny flicker as Windows updates the visuals, but after that, your PC should feel a bit more spritely.
Not quite sure why it helps? Basically, animations eat up CPU and GPU cycles—on older machines especially, turning them off frees up quite a bit of juice. You might not notice a massive boost straight away, but it’s a simple trade-off that can make Windows feel a whole lot more responsive. And yep, on some rigs, you might need to reboot for the changes to take full effect, so don’t be surprised if it’s not instant.
Tips for Turning Off Animations in Windows 11
- Don’t feel you need to turn off every effect—pick the ones that really matter to you.
- It’s a good idea to update your graphics card drivers from the manufacturer’s website or via Device Manager—sometimes, driver updates can boost performance without losing visual flair.
- If you want finer control, stay in the Custom mode of Visual Effects and toggle individual options.
- Running malware scans or tidying up unnecessary apps can also help your machine run more smoothly, especially if it feels really sluggish.
- Cleaning out temporary files (via Disk Cleanup or CCleaner) can give things a bit of a boost, as a bunch of clutter can really bog down performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off animations actually help performance?
Yeah, in most cases, disabling visual effects reduces the load on your CPU and GPU. So, if your PC’s feeling sluggish, this tweak can make Windows run a lot quicker, especially on older or weaker setups.
Can I selectively keep some animations?
Absolutely. Just pick Custom in the Visual Effects window and check or uncheck the effects you prefer to keep. It’s a good way to strike a balance between looks and speed.
Is reverting easy?
You bet. Just head back into the same settings and select Let Windows choose what’s best. Easy as.
Does this affect gaming?
Not much. It mainly helps with Windows’ UI animations, not the performance of your games. Though, you might notice slightly quicker startup times for some apps or titles.
Will this save battery life?
Turning off effects can help stretch your battery a bit since fewer visual calculations are happening. Handy for when you’re on the laptop and want to squeeze a bit more out of it.
Summary
- Open Settings (Windows + I) and head to System.
- Click on About then go to Advanced system settings.
- Hit the Performance > Settings button.
- Pick Adjust for best performance or tinker with individual options.
- Hit OK and enjoy a snappier Windows.
Wrap-up