You can often make games run more smoothly on your current PC by closing unnecessary background apps, updating Windows and drivers, and lowering demanding in-game settings. These changes can reduce avoidable slowdowns, but they cannot guarantee higher FPS or overcome hardware that falls short of a game’s requirements.
First, identify what is going wrong
“Poor performance” can mean different things, and each symptom points to a different place to start:
- Low frame rate: The game looks consistently choppy. Try reducing demanding graphics settings first.
- Stuttering: The game pauses or hitches intermittently. Check for unnecessary apps competing for resources, then compare the game with fewer background tasks running.
- Long loading times: Check whether storage space is constrained and whether other apps are active. Freeing space can address a tight-storage problem, but it is not a guaranteed FPS fix.
- Performance that worsens during a session: Close apps you do not need and test the game again. If the same problem persists, the cause may not be background activity.
Make one change at a time and test the same part of the game. That makes it easier to tell whether a change helped or simply reduced visual quality.
Close unnecessary apps and review startup activity
Apps running alongside a game can compete for system resources. Close programs you do not need while playing, and review apps that launch automatically with Windows. Microsoft notes that startup apps can affect background activity and PC performance; Steam likewise recommends stopping unnecessary applications when troubleshooting a poorly performing game.
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In Windows, open Settings > Apps > Startup to review startup apps. Turn off automatic startup only for apps you recognize and do not need at sign-in. You can still launch them manually later. Avoid disabling security software or unfamiliar Windows components as a performance tweak.
Install Windows and driver updates through Windows Update
Microsoft recommends keeping Windows updated and checking for optional driver updates. Open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, and review Advanced options > Optional updates for driver updates. Install relevant updates, then restart if Windows requests it.
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Use Windows Update or the PC or hardware maker’s official support channel for drivers. Do not use unofficial driver-download sites; an update is not a guaranteed frame-rate improvement, but it can address compatibility or software issues.
Free storage if your drive is nearly full
If storage space is constrained, uninstall games or apps you no longer use, or use Windows cleanup tools to remove files you no longer need. In Windows, open Settings > System > Storage to review storage usage and available cleanup options.
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Freeing space is useful when a drive is crowded, but it should not be treated as a direct or guaranteed way to raise FPS. If the drive already has adequate free space, cleanup may not change game performance.
Lower the settings most likely to affect performance
Use the game’s own video or graphics menu to reduce settings, then test how the game feels. Steam recommends changing video settings when troubleshooting game performance. The best trade-off depends on the game and your system, so there is no universal “best settings” preset.
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- Start with demanding visual options the game lets you change, rather than lowering everything at once.
- If the frame rate improves but the image looks worse than you want, restore one setting and test again.
- Keep track of changes so you can reverse them if performance or image quality gets worse.
Check Windows 11 graphics options when they apply
Windows 11 includes per-game graphics options, but their relevance depends on how a game runs and on the PC’s graphics configuration.
Windowed-game optimizations
Microsoft’s windowed-game optimizations apply to DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed or borderless-windowed mode. They do not describe a universal optimization for every game or display mode. To review the setting, open Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings, then check Optimizations for windowed games if it is available.
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Choose a graphics preference for a game
On a PC with multiple GPUs, Windows can let you choose a graphics-performance option for an app. Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics, select or add the game, choose Options, and select the appropriate graphics preference if Windows offers one. The available choices depend on the PC; this option is not relevant to every system.
Know what Game Mode can—and cannot—do
Game Mode is a built-in Windows feature intended to prioritize gaming tasks. It is reasonable to leave it enabled or test the setting if a game is struggling, but Microsoft’s guidance does not establish a universal FPS increase. In Windows 11, find it under Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
When tuning is unlikely to be enough
Software and settings changes can reduce avoidable contention or help a game better match your current system. They cannot remove a hardware limit. Microsoft cautions that older PCs with outdated hardware may not see significant improvement from its performance steps, and Steam notes that a system below a game’s requirements may need an upgrade.
If the game remains unsatisfactory after you close unneeded apps and reduce graphics settings, compare the PC with that game’s stated system requirements. If the hardware is the limiting factor, further reductions may improve playability only so far, or may leave visual quality below what you consider acceptable.
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