How to Optimize Windows 10 for Gaming: 10 Easy Tips

Windows 10 is a fantastic operating system that supports you to work and play games. But do you know that it can tweak to offer better gaming performance? We suggest you some simple but valuable ways to optimize windows 10 for gaming.

1. Turn on the Gaming Mode

This is the easiest solution that you can do to increase your gaming performance. Game Mode focuses on resources to get a better frame rate. It will automatically detect when you play games. 

Step 1: Press Windows key + I Gaming (or type Game Mode

Step 2: Go to Game Mode settings and switch it On or Turn on Game Mode

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2. Delay automatic windows update

If the update happens in the middle of the gaming sessions, you can delay it for later to avoid bandwidth rip. 

You can deactivate it in the future, but we highly recommend you keep installing software updates to protect your computer from cyber-attacks. 

You can follow the steps below to delay automatic windows update:

Step 1: Press Windows key + IUpdate and Security

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Step 2: Go to Windows UpdateAdvanced Options

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Step 3: In Update Options, turn off the option “Restart this device as soon as possible when a restart is required to install an update”. In Update Notifications, turn on the option “Show a notification when your PC requires a restart to finish updating

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You can also use the Pause Updates option to delay the installation updates for up to 35 days.

3. Disable Notifications

If you feel annoyed by the notifications while playing games, you can disable them to focus 100% on the game; thereby enhancing your performance.

Step 1: Press Windows key + I → choose System

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Step 2: Select Focus Assist → Click on When I’m playing a game

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Step 3: Set the notifications to Alarm only or Priority only as your preference

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4. Turn off Enhance pointer precision 

You can optimize Windows 10 for gaming by turning the Enhance pointer precision off.

Step 1: Press Windows key + IDevices

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Step 2: Select Mouse → Click Additional mouse options

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Step 3: On the Pointer Options tab, uncheck the box Enhance pointer precision

Step 4: Click Apply, then OK to finish

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5. Tweak graphical user interfaces settings to optimize Windows 10

The graphical user interfaces bring a better watching experience for people. However, it may be a hindrance to your processing power because some games may conflict with a shiny GUI. Adjusting these settings might help to optimize Windows 10 for better gaming performance.

Step 1: Press Windows key + I → Go to Performance

Step 2: Select Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows

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Step 3: There will be a setting box appearing, select Adjust for best performanceApply

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Step 4: Go to the Advanced tap

Step 5: On Adjust the best performance of, choose Programs

Step 6: Click Apply, then OK to finish

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6. Install DirectX 12 Ultimate

DirectX 12 Ultimate is a new API standard for gaming graphics, which can boost frame rate through Variable Rate Shading and load games faster through Sampler Feedback. If you do not have the latest version, you can upgrade it to DirectX 12 Ultimate. Here’s how to check your DirectX version:

Step 1: Press Windows key + G to open the Xbox Gaming bar

Step 2: Click on the Settings symbol (the cog). In the Gaming Features, you will see your DirectX version.

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If your computer is not updated (and if it can support DirectX 12 Ultimate), follow the steps below:

Step 1: Press Windows key + IUpdate & Security

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Step 2: In Windows Update, click Check for updates. It will take few seconds for your Windows to verify an update. 

Step 3: If your Windows 10 finds a new update, click on Download and install. Restart your Windows; your DirectX should be updated.

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7. Change your power settings

Max power plan can help gamers play games at higher performance, while you can’t see the difference in other tasks changing the power settings. 

Change the power settings may get your computer hotter and consume more power, so you should use this method on desktops instead of laptops. 

Here’s how to change your power settings:

Step 1: Press Windows key + I to open settings

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Step 2: Type Power → Select Power & sleep settingsAdditional power settings

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Step 3: Customize your power plan. If none is available, you can create a new one by clicking Create a power plan

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8. Ged rid of the programs that you don’t need 

If your computer has too many programs that you do not use, it will take a wide range of RAM, which can slow your windows speed down. Therefore, free your RAM will be a helpful method to optimize your Windows 10 for gaming.

We highly recommend Avast Cleanup to uninstall programs you don’t need anymore and prevent other programs from hogging RAM.

Step 1: Download Avast Cleanup free trial

Step 2: Scan your computer by clicking Speed up. It will identify bloatware and unnecessary programs

Step 3: Select Background & startup programs to free up RAM and clear out all background activities

Step 4: Click the Sleep button (or Put all to sleep) to prevent programs from running in the background

9. Make sure your Windows 10 drivers updated

The latest Windows driver will support the GPU work faster and better. The great gaming graphics will deliver a better experience and performance.

In order to check your graphics card specifications:

Step 1: Right-click the blank space on the computer screen → choose Display settings

Step 2: Go to Advanced display settings

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Step 3: Scroll down and click Display adapter properties. You will see the information about your graphics card.

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You can update your driver under Properties Driver Update Driver or go to the manufacturer's website to check. The manufacturers often provide free update software to keep your drivers updated automatically.

Search for your drivers online; you should find the software on the support pages of the manufacturers’ website. 

10. Upgrade your RAM

We all know that the more RAM your computer has, the higher performance it gets. Therefore, adding more RAM will efficiently optimize your Windows 10 for gaming. The sweet spot for gaming is 16GB. With that amount of RAM, you can play games at 60fps at least (you will need a strong graphics card, of course).

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Paul Syverson

Paul Syverson

Working as a software engineer for a computer manufacturing company for many years, Paul Syverson has a wealth of experience to share with you about this intelligent device. There is no doubt that his information will be very useful for those who have the intention of buying the best functional computer meeting their needs.