How to enable (or disable) Game Mode in Windows 10 and 11

Game Mode is a feature in Windows 10 and 11 that focuses system resources on games when enabled. Here’s how to turn it on and off.

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In our tests, we found that Game Mode didn’t have a huge impact on higher-end systems, but if you’re prone to multitasking or have lots of processes running in the background, Game Mode could be useful to you. Additionally, Microsoft has plans to improve the feature in subsequent updates, so it’s at least worth knowing where it is.

Here’s how to enable (and disable) Game Mode in Windows 10 andWindows 11.

Enable (and disable) Game Mode

You can also force Game Mode to switch on in specific games, whether they’re tested by Microsoft or not. Previously, you could toggle Game Mode in theWindows 10 and 11 Game Bar, but the setting has since moved. To do this now, you need to use the Windows 10 and 11 Settings menu.

While Game Mode won’t make ahugedifference for mostPC games, if you’re prone to heavy background task usage, or you’re using a lower-end system without much overhead for games, Game Mode could be useful.

It’s unknown whether Game Mode has undergone any enhancements on the new version of the OS, Windows 11, but we expect it essentially has the same functionality. If you turn it on, it will try to limit access of background tasks to your system resources, prioritizing gaming. If you turn it off, it will ensure background processes remain at the same priority. In testing, we haven’t really found that it makes much difference either way, while trying to run games at the same time as rendering in Adobe Premier, for example. I think if you want to ensure that your system runs as expected, it might be worth simply turning it off.

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Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow onTwitter (X)andThreads, and listen to hisXB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!