Adjusting the right Windows settings can help boost gaming FPS without upgrading hardware.
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Increase gaming FPS on your laptop using inbuilt Windows settings without upgrading hardware.
Learn how to enable Game Mode, use the dedicated GPU, update graphics drivers, and optimise power settings.
Improve gaming performance, reduce stuttering, and achieve more stable FPS with simple system tweaks.
Playing games on high-end laptops generally offers a smooth experience, but even powerful hardware can deliver lower frames per second (FPS) if your system isn't configured properly.
That doesn't mean users need to spend money on hardware upgrades, such as upgrading RAM, storage, or graphics card. There are some inbuilt Windows settings that can help improve gaming performance and provide a laptop FPS boost.
In this guide, we have listed a few Windows laptop settings, such as enabling Windows Game Mode, updating graphics drivers, or forcing games to use the dedicated GPU, that can help with gaming laptop optimization without any expensive upgrades.
Most Windows laptops run on a Balanced power plan by default, which limits performance to save battery. Using the High Performance plan will allow the CPU and GPU to run faster, ultimately resulting in higher FPS.
How to do it:
Press Windows + R, type powercfg.cpl, and press Enter.
Select High performance.
(Optional) If you don’t see High performance, click Show additional plans.
Alternative: For an even stronger option on Windows 10 or Windows 11, users can also go to Settings, then System, then Power & battery, and set Power mode to Best performance.
Note: Enabling the High Performance power plan is completely safe. Users might experience their laptop getting a little warm, with louder fans and shorter battery life when unplugged, but these changes are normal effects of higher performance, not signs of any problem. Users can switch back to the Balanced plan anytime.
There are several gaming laptops available with two graphics processors. While the integrated GPU is meant for everyday tasks, the dedicated GPU is designed for gaming. However, it has been seen that Windows occasionally runs games on the weaker integrated GPU, which lowers FPS. Forcing games to use the dedicated GPU can provide a noticeable performance boost.
How to do it:
For NVIDIA laptops
Right-click on the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel.
Go to Manage 3D Settings, then Program Settings.
Click Add and select your game.
Under Select the preferred graphics processor, choose High-performance NVIDIA processor.
Click Apply.
For AMD laptops
Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
Go to Gaming, then Games.
Select your game (or add it).
Set the graphics preference to the high-performance AMD GPU.
Alternative method (Windows Settings):
Go to Settings, then System, then Display, and then Graphics.
Click Browse, select the game's .exe file, and set it to High performance.
Note: While users might notice the laptop getting a little warm when the dedicated GPU is in use, there is nothing to worry about, as it is completely safe. Using the dedicated GPU while gaming can result in higher and more stable FPS.
Windows Game Mode helps laptops prioritise system resources for games. It reduces background activity and gives more CPU and GPU power to the game, which can improve FPS and reduce stuttering.
How to do it:
Go to Settings, then Gaming, and then Game Mode.
Turn Game Mode On.
Note: Enabling Game Mode is completely safe. It does not make any permanent changes to the system and can be turned off anytime if needed. Once enabled, Windows will automatically optimise performance whenever users launch a game.
Background apps and programs that start with Windows consume CPU, RAM, and sometimes GPU resources. Closing or disabling them frees up system resources for games and can lead to better FPS and less stuttering.
How to do it:
Disable startup programs:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Go to the Startup apps tab.
Right-click unnecessary programs and select Disable.
Limit background apps:
Go to Settings, then Apps, and then Installed apps.
Click the three dots next to apps users don’t need running in the background.
Select Advanced options and set Background apps permissions to Never.
Note: Disabling startup programs and background apps is completely safe. It does not delete anything and only stops them from running automatically. Users can re-enable them anytime. For an immediate boost, users can also close unused programs from the system tray before launching a game.
Overlays from Xbox Game Bar, Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, or AMD Software run in the background while gaming and can reduce FPS. Turning them off frees up system resources and often results in smoother performance.
How to do it:
For Xbox Game Bar
Go to Settings, then Gaming, and then Xbox Game Bar.
Turn it off.
Discord Overlay:
Open Discord.
Go to User Settings, then Overlay.
Turn Enable in-game overlay off.
NVIDIA Overlay
Open GeForce Experience.
Go to Settings, then General.
Turn off In-Game Overlay.
AMD Overlay
Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
Go to Settings, then Preferences.
Disable the in-game overlay option.
Note: Turning off overlays is completely safe. It only stops these features from running during games. Users can turn them back on anytime if needed.
Outdated graphics drivers are one of the most common reasons for low FPS. New driver updates often include performance improvements, bug fixes, and better game optimization. Keeping GPU drivers up to date is one of the easiest free ways to boost gaming performance.
How to do it:
For NVIDIA laptops
Open GeForce Experience.
Go to the Drivers tab.
Click Check for updates and install the latest Game Ready Driver.
For AMD laptops
Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
Go to the Driver & Software section.
Check for and install the latest update.
Alternative method: Download the latest drivers directly from the official NVIDIA or AMD websites.
Note: Updating graphics drivers is completely safe when done through official software or websites. It is a standard maintenance step and does not harm the laptop.
A GPU control panel in a laptop has several settings that can improve FPS and reduce input lag. Two of the most effective ones are setting the power management mode to Maximum Performance and enabling Low Latency Mode.
How to do it:
For NVIDIA laptops
Right-click on the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel.
Go to Manage 3D Settings.
Under Global Settings (or Program Settings for a specific game):
Set Power management mode to Prefer maximum performance.
Set Low Latency Mode to Ultra (or On).
Click Apply.
For AMD laptops
Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
Go to Gaming, then Graphics.
Enable Radeon Anti-Lag (for lower latency).
Set the graphics profile to Esports or Performance, where available.
Note: These changes are completely safe, and they only adjust how the graphics driver behaves. They can be reset to default anytime. These graphics settings help the GPU run at higher speeds more consistently and reduce lag between user inputs and the game.
How can you increase FPS on a laptop?
You can increase FPS on a laptop by enabling Windows Game Mode, switching to the High Performance power plan, updating graphics drivers, forcing games to use the dedicated GPU, and disabling unnecessary background apps and overlays. These inbuilt Windows settings can improve gaming performance without requiring hardware upgrades.
Which Windows settings improve gaming performance?
The Windows settings that can improve gaming performance include Game Mode, the High Performance power plan, Graphics settings for selecting the dedicated GPU, and options to disable background apps. These settings help allocate more system resources to games and can result in smoother gameplay.
Does Game Mode increase FPS?
Yes, Windows Game Mode can increase FPS in some games. It works by reducing background activity and prioritising CPU and GPU resources for gaming. The improvement varies depending on the laptop's hardware and the game being played.
Can you boost FPS without upgrading hardware?
Yes, you can boost FPS without upgrading hardware. Optimising inbuilt Windows settings, updating graphics drivers, using the dedicated GPU, and turning off unnecessary startup programs and overlays can all help improve gaming performance at no additional cost.
Which settings make the biggest difference?
The settings that usually make the biggest difference are using the dedicated GPU, enabling the High Performance power plan, updating graphics drivers, adjusting NVIDIA or AMD graphics settings, and turning on Windows Game Mode. Together, these changes can improve FPS and reduce stuttering during gameplay.
After applying these settings, test your games to see if FPS has improved. Keep graphics drivers updated, close unnecessary background apps before gaming, and use the dedicated GPU whenever possible for the best performance. If you still experience low FPS, lowering in-game graphics settings or upgrading hardware may be necessary.
You can also read our guides on choosing the right laptop bag and cleaning and maintaining your laptop bag. Along with that, there are easy to understand guides on when to repair or replace a laptop, how to extend your laptop's lifespan, set up a new laptop correctly, and improve your device's security with free antivirus tools and essential security tips.
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Disclaimer: The performance improvements mentioned in this guide may vary depending on your laptop's hardware, graphics processor, game, and Windows version. Some settings or features may not be available on all devices. Always download graphics drivers and related software from the official NVIDIA, AMD, or laptop manufacturer's website.
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