How to Use Windows Game Mode and When to Turn It Off

Your game stutters for no clear reason, and somewhere on a forum someone says to switch Windows Game Mode off. Another thread says to switch it on. Both sound confident, and neither explains what the setting actually does.

Windows Game Mode is a real feature with real effects, but they are smaller and more specific than most people think. This guide explains what it changes, how to check and set it in about a minute, and the few situations where turning it off is the better call.

What Windows Game Mode actually does

Game Mode has been part of Windows since the Windows 10 Creators Update in 2017, and it is switched on by default in Windows 11. When Windows detects that a game is running in the foreground, Game Mode does three main things:

Prioritises the game process. Windows gives the game more consistent access to CPU time and the GPU, ahead of background work.
Pauses Windows Update activity. It stops driver installs from Windows Update and holds back restart notifications while you play.
Reduces background interruptions. Some system tasks and notifications are delayed until you leave the game.

What it does not do is overclock anything, change graphics settings or magically add 20 FPS. On a modern PC with plenty of cores, the difference in average frame rate is usually within 1 to 3 percent. The benefit shows up more in consistency, meaning fewer sudden drops when something in the background wakes up.

How to turn Windows Game Mode on or off

The setting lives in the same place on Windows 10 and Windows 11, just with a slightly different layout.

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Click Gaming in the left sidebar.
Click Game Mode.
Use the toggle to switch it on or off. The change applies immediately, with no restart needed.

There is no per game setting in current versions of Windows. Game Mode is either on for everything Windows recognises as a game, or off for everything. Most titles launched from Steam, the Xbox app, Epic or other major launchers are recognised automatically.

When Game Mode helps the most

Game Mode is most useful on systems where the CPU is already busy. In practice, that means:

System	Likely benefit	Recommendation
4 core or older CPU	Noticeable, fewer stutters	Keep it on
Budget laptop with many startup apps	Moderate	Keep it on
6 to 8 core modern CPU	Small	Keep it on unless you see issues
High core count desktop, few background apps	Very small	Either way is fine

If your PC has a long list of apps running in the tray, such as cloud sync, RGB software, chat clients and launcher helpers, Game Mode has more to work with. It is still better to remove the clutter at the source, and our guide on the background apps quietly slowing down your PC shows which ones are safe to disable.

When turning Game Mode off makes sense

Here is where I disagree with the common advice that Game Mode should always be left on. For most players that is true, but there are a few clear cases where it gets in the way.

You stream or record while playing

Game Mode prioritises the game, which can leave streaming or recording software such as OBS with less CPU time. The result is dropped frames in your stream or recording, even while the game itself looks smooth. If your stream stutters but your gameplay does not, try switching Game Mode off and compare a ten minute recording.

You run something important in the background

If you are rendering a video, compiling code or running a large download while playing a light game, Game Mode will slow that work down on purpose. That is fine for a casual session, but not ideal if you need the background job finished on time.

You notice stutter that started with an update

Some Windows updates in the past caused frame pacing problems with Game Mode on specific hardware, which Microsoft later fixed. If stutter appears right after an update, turning it off is a quick test that costs nothing.

How to test whether it makes a difference on your PC

Do not rely on forum advice for this. Test it yourself with a simple, repeatable method. It takes about 20 minutes.

Pick a game with a built in benchmark, or a repeatable section, such as the same lap in a racing game or the same walk through a busy city area.
Close everything you do not normally run, then open an FPS overlay that shows average FPS and 1 percent lows. Our guide on how to read an FPS overlay explains which numbers to watch.
Run the test three times with Game Mode on and note the average and the 1 percent lows.
Switch Game Mode off, restart the game, and run the same test three times again.
Compare the averages. A difference of less than 2 percent is within normal run to run variation.

Keep the test conditions identical each time. Use the same resolution, the same graphics preset and the same power plan, and let the PC sit idle for a minute after boot so startup tasks finish before you begin. On a laptop, stay plugged in for every run, because battery mode can change clock speeds far more than Game Mode ever will.

Pay more attention to the 1 percent lows than the average FPS. If Game Mode helps, it usually shows up as higher lows, meaning smoother play, rather than a higher average.

Other Windows settings worth checking at the same time

While you are in the Gaming and Display settings, a few related options are worth a look:

Hardware accelerated GPU scheduling: Found under Settings, System, Display, Graphics. On most modern NVIDIA and AMD cards it is fine to leave on, and it is required for some frame generation features.
Game Bar captures: Under Gaming, then Captures, turn off background recording if you never use it. It runs constantly and uses some GPU and disk resources.
Power mode: On laptops, set the power mode to Best performance while plugged in. Game Mode does not change this for you.

Also keep an eye on temperatures. A PC that is overheating will throttle no matter what Game Mode does. See our guide on how to check PC temperatures while gaming for safe ranges.

Frequently asked questions

Does Windows Game Mode increase FPS?

Only slightly in most cases. On a modern PC, average FPS usually changes by 1 to 3 percent at most. The bigger benefit is steadier frame times and fewer sudden drops when background tasks start.

Should I turn off Game Mode in Windows 11?

For most players, no. Leave it on unless you stream or record while playing, or you notice stutter that goes away when it is off. Test both settings with the same game section before deciding.

Does Game Mode stop Windows Update while gaming?

It pauses driver installs from Windows Update and holds restart notifications while a game is in the foreground. It does not disable Windows Update entirely, and updates resume once you exit the game.