How To Optimize Windows 10 for Gaming
Want to Optimize Windows 10 for gaming but don’t know where to start? Here are 20 expert tips on how to increase Windows performance for gaming. I always recommend taking a backup before starting any windows optimization feature. Simply because we all know Windows 10 is full of bugs.
1) Increase Windows 10 performance with Updated Drivers
There are many automated tools like the driver booster I use for automatically updating system drivers. Use the Driver Booster for updating all other drivers.
Updating graphics card drivers is a must for gaming.
If its NVIDIA, Visit this site and download Geforce Experience
if its AMD, Visit this site and download Radeon™ Graphics Drivers
for intel, Visit this site and download Intel Graphics drivers.
2) Use boost mode and game booster
Apps such as drive booster and razer cortex etc. Have a boost mode which can help increase gaming performance and get the best out of your system. These apps will close all the unnecessary windows services and give you the resources you require for optimizing windows 10 for gaming.
3)Increase virtual memory
Increase virtual memory to twice the ram you have so that you get plenty of memory while playing games on your windows device. This memory is used when the system runs out of ram, so the more you have, the better.
This setting is hidden inside system settings.
Go to control panel>System and security
System>advanced system settings>
Performance settings>
Advanced>
Virtual memory.
Set it as double your actual ram. Mine is 8GB Ram, so I used 16000mb(16gb)
See the images above for reference.
4) Optimize Windows 10 With Gaming Mode
The latest release of the Windows 10 operating system features a gaming mode with built-in optimizations for Gaming.
On the search bar type Game Mode. Select the option that comes up and Switch it to On. If your PC supports Game Mode, Windows Update will be suspended while gaming and the game will get higher preference.
5) Disable Nagle’s Algorithm
Nagle’s algorithm is a windows feature which bundles data packets at the cost of a smoother internet connection. Having Nagle’s algorithm enabled on your computer causes latency issues while gaming.
To disable this you need to edit the Windows Registry: Start > type regedit > Regedit.
In the address bar, copy and paste the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces
Match your IP address with the listed DhcpIPAddress in one of these files as shown in the image below:
- To find your Ip address on the search bar type cmd:
- Then type: Ipconfig
Look for the “IPv4 address” listed under your current connection.
Once you find the IP address of your internet connection, right-click on the corresponding folder and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Here, create two DWORD Values: name one TcpAckFrequency and the other TCPNoDelay. Once you’ve created the values, double-click on each and set their parameters to 1.
This activates the two parameters, thereby disabling Nagle’s Algorithm. If you run into any issues, set their parameter value back to 0 and they will be disabled.
6) High-performance mode to make windows faster
Set battery mode to high performance on the laptop. High performance ensures that the battery is used optimally for performance.
The battery is generally in a balanced mode. When you put the system in the high-performance mode, you can get a lot of performance boost from the system.
This is absolutely essential for gaming.
Also, enable the hidden power settings:
Power Management (Windows 10)
- Settings >System > Power & sleep > Additional Power Settings
- Choose customise a power plan option, open the option which says “Unhide Additional plans.”
- If you do not see Ultimate Performance Mode, then do the following
- Open a command prompt “cmd.exe” as Administrator
- In the command prompt, copy the below command and hit enter
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
With this, you will surely get a performance boost. Do note laptop users your battery will drain faster.
7) Set Windows settings for MAX Performance
Set windows appearance settings for max performance. By default, it is set for maximum appearance. When you switch it to performance, then the appearance and graphics will look a little crappy, but the performance will get a considerable boost.
Do this before starting the game. To get the best performance.
Go to control panel>
System and security>
system>advanced system settings>
performance settings>advanced>visual effects>
adjust for best performance
8) Turn off unnecessary services and widgets
Go to Windows 10 settings and turn off all background apps.
Disable unnecessary features of windows that you don’t use like Cortana maps location and other background services. There are many apps like CCleaner and i0bit uninstaller, which can help you uninstall stock windows apps.
You can remove apps like maps, mail apps, etc. to get some extra space and performance for your system.
9) Use cleaning apps to optimize windows 10
Use CCleaner to fully erase all temporary junk files and clean your c drive for max performance. Uninstall all the bloatware from your system.
10) Defragment your hard drive to boost performance
Defragment your hard drive regularly. Also, clean your laptop and desktop properly so that dust doesn’t accumulate on fans and the board slows down the system.
Fans need to provide proper cooling in order for your system to be cool and efficient in running. You need to clean and maintain it properly.
11) Uninstall apps to optimize windows
Uninstall apps and services you no longer use. Make some space for games. Lower the pc load by taking out all the crapware from your system. The lesser apps you have, the better the performance for gaming. This can optimize windows 10 for gaming
It will save you space as well as processing power, which can be used efficiently for games instead.
12) Install DirectX and make your pc faster
Installing DirectX can significantly boost your laptop performance. These are key drivers required for game optimization. By making sure your laptop or PC is having the latest version of Direct X you can make your pc or laptop faster for gaming.
Use the command: dxdiag
DirectX is free software and is available from the windows website.
Here is the link to download DirectX.
13) Update windows to make pc faster
Believe it or not, updating windows can really boost performance. Sometimes windows do give useful updates, especially driver-based updates, which can really help your system become faster and smoother.
I won`t sugarcoat the fact that windows sometimes give terrible updates which make you doubt buying a windows PC. But some of their updates are really good. So, be updated.
14) Disable start-up services to optimize windows
Go to the task manager and disable the AutoStart up of all the apps using task manager and privacy settings. This will save precious RAM memory. And increase startup speed.
There are many apps and background services that run in the background and keep eating precious memory and processing power. Remove all of them for a significant boost.
Do not disable graphics drivers or essential startup services which you need.
15) Stop all Windows services to optimize windows
Windows, as you all know, has way too many services that take your performance as well as your privacy away. They take an extra ram and add overhead for your processor. Not something you want for your gaming needs.
So use shutupwindows 10 app for disabling all unnecessary features automatically. This can make your pc or laptop faster at the price of some unnecessary functions.
Download the software:
And run as admin. It has no installation. Just download and install:
Click on actions:
And select apply all settings for the max performance boost. Or Recommended settings for a medium performance boost.
With the max boost, you will get the following. All green settings:
Now reboot the system and enjoy the optimized windows settings.
Note: This also disables windows update which saves data and processing power for you.
16) Prevent Steam From Auto-Updating Games
If you use Windows to play games, you’re probably buying and installing games via Steam.
One of the most resource-consuming features is the steam update features that run in the background.
To prevent Steam from updating games in the background, open Steam client and set your update options under Steam > Settings > Downloads.
Uncheck Allow downloads during gameplay to prevent Steam from updating content while you’re gaming.
To prevent Steam from downloading updates for largely-unused games right-click on each of the installed games in your Library in question and select Properties.
Under Automatic Updates, change Always keep this game up to date to Only update this game when I launch it.
17) Disable mouse acceleration
Windows 10 has a feature called mouse acceleration which adds some lag while playing FPS Games. If you play a lot of FPS shooter games like Pubg then you might want to disable this feature to make more accurate mouse movements.
- Press Windows Key+ Q.
- Type “pointer.”
- Choose: Change the mouse pointer display or speed.
- Uncheck Enhanced pointer precision.
18) Install Windows on A SSD to optimize windows
For this, you need to reinstall windows 10 on an SSD. It will be significantly faster and more optimized for gaming and performance.
This is a drag but it will also shorten the boot time to a couple of seconds. Depending on SSD Quality some systems have boot times under 3 secs. That’s worth the effort if you ask me.
19)Remove inbuilt windows apps & optimize windows
To optimize Windows 10 for gaming. You need to first uninstall windows 10 bloatware which cannot be directly removed.
For that install CCleaner on your Windows system. Then go to Cleaner tools and then the uninstaller.
From here you can uninstall the unneeded applications like windows maps and windows calendar etc. Now you can optimize windows without any restrictions.
20) Reset Windows
Last but not least if your windows 10 device is clogged to the point that it cannot bear anymore. You need to reset windows for a fresh start. Reset windows and do the following optimization again.
You will get the most optimized windows gaming experience ever.
Must read: How to make your Wifi faster
I hope this guide has been informative for you and I thank you for reading. If you liked this how-to guide on how to optimize Windows 10 for gaming then do share it with fellow gamers. Happy Gaming.
See you in-game
