Boost Your PC Performance: Disable Windows Animations in 10 Easy Steps

Let’s be honest—you might love the way those subtle animations on Windows add a bit of flair to your user experience, but if you’re working on older hardware or prefer snappier response times, those visual effects can become more of a hindrance than a help. If you’re running Windows 10 or Windows 11, there are straightforward ways to disable these animations for a smoother and potentially faster experience. Whether you're revving up for peak productivity or just giving your older machine a fighting chance, disabling animations is a quick win.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how you can take control of your animations and give your PC a speed boost.

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Why Consider Disabling Windows Animations?​

Windows animations include those delightful fade-in menus, smooth minimizing/maximizing of windows, and subtle transitions between actions. While eye candy for many, they do come at a cost:

• Performance Delays: These effects require CPU and memory overhead. On older systems with limited hardware, these animations can add a second or two of delay to tasks—enough to make you notice.
• Efficiency Over Fluff: If you’re prioritizing efficiency, animations might get in your way. Imagine a menu pops up instantly versus a half-second "fade-in" effect. Time is money.
• Battery Life Impact: Devices with limited batteries (think laptops) might last slightly longer by avoiding the extra resource usage required to render animations.

Now that you understand why disabling animations can benefit your workflow, let’s dive into how to do it.

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1. Disabling Animations on Windows 11 via Settings​

Microsoft has made the process especially intuitive in Windows 11, incorporating accessibility options directly into the Settings app.

Steps to Disable All Animations:​

1. Open Settings:
   • Press Win + I or search for "Settings" in the Start menu.
2. Navigate to Accessibility:
   • Click on the Accessibility tab in the left sidebar.
3. Turn Off Animation Effects:
   • Under Visual effects, toggle off the Animation effects option.

Voila! No more fading menus or slow transitions.

Bonus Tip: Search for “Visual effects” directly in the Windows search bar to save yourself a little extra time.​

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2. Disabling Animations in Windows 10 Using the Control Panel​

Windows 10 requires a slightly different approach because the newer streamlined accessibility settings in Windows 11 aren’t as robust here. Enter the trusty Control Panel—a nostalgic tool many of us know and love.

Steps to Disable All Animations:​

1. Access the Control Panel:
   • Open the Start menu, type "Control Panel," and select it from the search results.
2. Navigate to Ease of Access Center:
   • Once in the Control Panel, click on Ease of Access.
3. Disable Unnecessary Animations:
   • Click on Use the computer without a display.
   • In the Adjust time limits and flashing visuals section, check the box for "Turn off all unnecessary animations".
4. Apply the Changes:
   • Click Apply, then OK to confirm.

This is a more straightforward all-or-nothing approach. Perfect if you’re ready to kick animations to the curb entirely.

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3. Customizing Animation Settings​

Maybe you’re one of those users who doesn’t mind animations but wants to curate exactly which ones stick around. The good news is you can selectively turn off specific animations.
For example, you may want to turn off window animations while keeping fade effects—this can give you slightly better performance while still retaining some finesse.

How to Disable Select Animations:​

1. Open Advanced System Settings:
   • In the search bar, type “Advanced system settings” and click the result that appears.
   • Alternatively, right-click on This PC or My Computer and select Properties. Then, click on Advanced system settings.
2. Adjust System Performance:
   • In the System Properties window, under the Performance section, click Settings.
3. Select a Custom Option:
   • Choose the Custom radio button in the Performance Options dialog box.
   • Uncheck specific animations you’d like to disable, such as:
     • Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
     • Fade or slide menus into view
     • Fade or slide ToolTips into view
     • Fade out menu items after clicking
4. Apply Your Changes:
   • Click Apply and then OK.

This surgical approach allows you to optimize responsiveness while retaining the visual polish you care about.

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How Disabling Animations Impacts Performance​

After you’ve turned off animations, your computer will feel faster because tasks—like opening menus or minimizing/maximizing windows—become instantaneous. Don’t be surprised if it feels slightly jarring initially: instead of slowly fading in, menus will “pop” into existence. Here’s why that’s a good thing:

Performance Gains:​

• Faster User Experience: The reduced animation overhead means tasks such as file navigation and app launches happen faster.
• Reduced CPU and Memory Usage: The freed-up system resources help other intensive tasks—details matter, especially on devices with limited power.
• Ideal for Old Hardware: If you’re running a machine with minimal RAM or no SSD, tweaks like these add tangible speed.

But Wait, There’s More!​

If your system still drags after disabling animations, here are additional tips:

• Enable High-Performance Mode: In Power Options, switch to High Performance to prioritize speed over energy savings.
• Limit Background Apps: Disable startup apps that hog your system resources.
• Switch to an SSD: If you’re not using a solid-state drive (SSD), upgrading one could provide the single biggest speed improvement, even edging out these animation tweaks.

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Wrapping Up: Animation Tweaks Aren’t Just Cosmetic​

Disabling Windows animations isn’t just about looks—it’s about performance and functionality. Whether you’re running legacy hardware gasping for air or just want your system to feel snappier, reducing visual effects gives you an instant lift.
Gone are the days of slowly fading menus or sluggish transitions. With a few adjustments, your PC is now leaner, faster, and living up to its potential.
So, are you team "eye candy" or "let's get things done"? Let us know on WindowsForum.com if disabling animations worked out for you—or if you dare to live life dangerously with all those animations still intact. Trust me, your PC will thank you for the spring cleaning.

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Source: XDA Here's how you can disable animations on Windows for a speed boost