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To make Minecraft use your dedicated GPU instead of integrated graphics, open Windows Settings, go to System > Display > Graphics, select the game, choose High performance, save, and restart Minecraft. For Minecraft Java Edition, you may also need to add the Java runtime (javaw.exe) rather than only the launcher. The setting tells Windows which installed GPU to use for that app. It does not upgrade your hardware.
Before you start, confirm which edition you run, because the app registration differs between them.
Confirm which edition you are running
Minecraft is sold in two versions for Windows PCs, and the fix depends on which one launches.
- Minecraft for Windows (Bedrock Edition) is the Microsoft Store app. Minecraft’s official FAQ states, “If you have Minecraft for Windows, you have the Bedrock Edition.”
- Minecraft Java Edition is a separate Windows version that supports mods. It is started through the Minecraft Launcher and runs on a Java runtime.
If you are unsure, open the launcher you normally use. The Store app appears as “Minecraft” in the Start menu and is installed through Microsoft Store, while the Java version is opened from the Minecraft Launcher.
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Fix 1: Set High performance in Windows Graphics settings
This is the primary method for both editions. Windows 11 provides a per-app GPU preference in its graphics settings.
- Open Settings and go to System > Display > Graphics.
- Under the list of apps, choose Add desktop app (for Java) or find Minecraft if it is already listed (for Bedrock). If you are adding Java, use Browse and select the program file that launches the game.
- Select the app, then choose Options.
- Choose High performance and click Save.
- Close Minecraft completely, then start it again.
Windows offers three choices here: “Let Windows decide (Power saving),” “Power saving,” and “High performance.” Where a system has more than one GPU, the GPU chosen for the preference is shown next to the app. Microsoft’s Windows 11 support documentation says the app must be restarted after you save the setting, so a game left running will keep its previous GPU.
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On Windows 10, the same page is typically reached through Settings > System > Display > Graphics settings on newer builds. Menu labels and placement vary between Windows 10 versions, so if you cannot find the page, search for “Graphics settings” in the Settings search box.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFix 2: For Java Edition, target the runtime that runs the game
The Minecraft Launcher starts the game through a Java runtime. In some setups, adding only the launcher does not change which GPU the game uses. A Microsoft Q&A thread from February 2021 described a Java user whose preference for the launcher, javaw.exe, and java.exe did not work at first. The reporter says javaw.exe was the process that actually needed the setting.
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Use this approach only if Fix 1 does not change the GPU:
- Start Minecraft Java and leave it running on the main menu or in a world.
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), select the Details tab, and find the
javaw.exeentry for the game. The Java runtime location varies by launcher version and installation, so do not rely on an older hard-coded path. - Go back to Settings > System > Display > Graphics, click Add desktop app, and browse to that
javaw.exefile. - Select it, choose Options > High performance, click Save, then close and restart Minecraft.
When a vendor control panel is involved
Some older reports describe a fix that also assigns javaw.exe in the NVIDIA Control Panel under Program Settings. That 2021 thread also includes a reply that disagrees about whether the driver panel should be used at all. Treat this as a case-specific lead, not a required step on every NVIDIA system. Start with the Windows setting, and use a vendor panel only if the Windows preference does not take effect after a restart. This article does not provide current AMD or NVIDIA control-panel steps.
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Restart and check which GPU is running
Changing the preference does nothing until the game restarts. After restarting, you can confirm the result in two ways:
- Task Manager: open the Performance tab, select the GPU entries, and watch which one shows activity while Minecraft is running in a world.
- Java debug screen: in Minecraft Java, press F3. A 2021 Mojang issue report used this screen to check the GPU, but this is that report’s method rather than an official verification procedure, so treat it as one check among others.
Do not confuse this with “Optimizations for windowed games”
Windows 11 also has a setting called Optimizations for windowed games. Microsoft says it applies to compatible DirectX 10 and 11 games in windowed or borderless modes and can reduce frame latency. It does not choose which GPU the game uses. If Minecraft still uses the wrong GPU, changing this setting will not fix the problem.
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Check the hardware target before assuming a problem
A wrong-GPU setting is a configuration issue. Minecraft’s official system requirements help you decide whether your hardware can reach the performance you want, but they do not mean you need a new graphics card to fix GPU selection. The requirements allow integrated graphics at the minimum target if you have enough RAM and a GPU that supports the required features.
Java Edition requirements, as stated on Minecraft’s official system requirements page (2026 update):
| Target | Settings | System RAM | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1080p at 30 FPS on Fast settings | 8 GB with a discrete GPU, or 12 GB with integrated graphics | Vulkan 1.3-capable GPU with at least 2 GB VRAM |
| Recommended | 1080p at 60 FPS on Fancy settings | 16 GB | Graphics card with 6 GB VRAM |
For Bedrock Edition, the same page lists Intel HD Graphics 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 as the minimum graphics, and NVIDIA GeForce 940M or AMD Radeon HD 8570D as the recommended graphics. The official page says hardware below the minimum may still launch, but performance and visual quality are not guaranteed.
Quick Recap
Troubleshooting if the GPU does not change
- The setting is saved but the game still uses integrated graphics: confirm you restarted the game, not only the launcher. For Java, add the
javaw.exeprocess from Fix 2. - The app is missing from the Graphics list: add it with Add desktop app and browse to the executable. For Java, this is the runtime process rather than the launcher window.
- Java still uses the wrong GPU after you add javaw.exe: check whether you launched a different Java runtime or installation. Then review the NVIDIA or AMD control-panel options as a fallback.
- The setting is missing or labels differ on Windows 10: use Settings search for “Graphics settings” and update Windows if the page is not available.
- The game is slow even with the correct GPU: compare your hardware with the Java or Bedrock targets above. Lower settings may help more than changing the GPU preference.
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