Configure Per-App GPU Preference for Gaming on Windows 10/11

Configure Per-App GPU Preference for Gaming on Windows 10/11​

Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 10 minutes
If your games aren’t always running on the most powerful part of your PC, you’re not alone. Windows offers a simple per-app GPU preference that lets you decide which apps use the discrete GPU (the “high performance” path) and which use the integrated GPU (the energy-saving path). This can improve frame rates for gaming while avoiding unnecessary battery drain when you’re on a laptop or tablet.
This guide walks you through enabling per-app GPU preference for gaming on Windows 10 and Windows 11, with practical tips to verify the setting and troubleshoot common issues.
Prerequisites

• A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with a discrete GPU (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and up-to-date drivers. Having the latest GPU drivers helps ensure the per-app setting behaves as expected.
• A game installed as a desktop app (EXE). Windows supports per-app GPU preferences for both desktop apps and Windows Store/Universal apps via the Graphics settings page.
• Basic familiarity with Windows Settings.

Step-by-step instructions
1) Open Windows Settings

• Click the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon), or press Windows key + I.

2) Open Graphics settings

• In Windows 10: System > Display, then scroll down to the Graphics settings link.
• In Windows 11: System > Display, then select Graphics under “Related settings” or scroll to the Graphics settings area.
• Note: This is the central place you’ll assign a GPU to individual apps. If you don’t see Graphics settings, make sure Windows is up to date and your graphics drivers are installed properly.

3) Choose the app type

• In the Graphics settings window, you’ll typically see two options: “Desktop app” and “Microsoft Store app.”
• For most PC games downloaded as executable files, choose Desktop app.

4) Add your game (the executable)

• Click Browse (or Add an app) and locate your game’s .exe file (for example, C:\Program Files\YourGame\game.exe). If you’re using a launcher (like Steam or Battle.net), you can add the launcher’s .exe too, but you may want to set the per-app preference on the actual game executable once it launches.

5) Set the graphics preference for the game

• After adding the game, click it in the list, then press Options.
• You’ll see three choices:
  • Let Windows decide
  • Power saving (uses integrated GPU)
  • High performance (uses discrete GPU)
• Choose High performance to ensure the game runs on your discrete GPU. If you want to conserve power, use Power saving for non-demanding games or when you’re on battery.

6) Save and exit

• Click Save (or OK) to apply the setting. You’ve now configured per-app GPU preference for that game.

7) Test the setting

• Launch the game and play for a few minutes. If you can, verify the GPU being used via Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) > Performance tab > GPU, or use your GPU’s monitoring tool (NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Settings, or third-party utilities) to confirm the high-performance GPU is active.
• If you don’t see the expected GPU activity, try restarting the game or rebooting your PC to ensure the new setting takes effect.

8) Optional: adjust for a second game

• Repeat steps 3–7 for any additional games you want to optimize. The Graphics settings page stores per-app choices, so you can customize individually.

9) Revert or adjust later

• If you want Windows to decide again, return to the Graphics settings page, select the game, and choose Let Windows decide. If a game crashes or behaves oddly, you can toggle the option and test again.

Tips and troubleshooting notes

• Ensure you’ve added the correct executable
  • Some games launch through a launcher or a launcher-managed process. If you don’t see expected performance, try adding the launcher’s .exe first, then use the launcher’s built-in options to point to the actual game executable.
• Store apps vs. desktop apps
  • For Microsoft Store games, use the Microsoft Store app option. Desktop games generally use the Desktop app option.
• Confirm the right GPU is active
  • Windows can show both integrated and discrete GPUs. If you still see low frame rates, verify with Task Manager or GPU monitoring tools which GPU is handling the workload.
• Fullscreen and fullscreen optimizations
  • Some users report odd behavior when games run in fullscreen or with Windows fullscreen optimizations enabled. If you experience issues, try switching the game to Borderless Windowed or Windowed mode and retest the per-app setting.
• Driver and Windows updates
  • If the High performance option appears but has no effect, update your GPU drivers and Windows to the latest build. Driver software from NVIDIA/AMD/Intel may also include per-app overrides; in some cases, you can set a per-app preference there as well.
• Laptop considerations
  • On laptops, using High performance will drain battery faster. If you’re gaming on battery, you might prefer Power saving for lighter titles or when you’re away from a power outlet.
• Compatibility notes
  • Not all games will strictly honor per-app GPU preferences due to certain anti-cheat, overlay features, or launchers. If you encounter a game that ignores the setting, check the game’s own launcher options or the GPU vendor’s control panel for a per-app override.
• Cross-check with your GPU vendor tools
  • If you want an extra layer of control, you can also configure per-app GPU assignment via NVIDIA Control Panel (Manage 3D settings > Program Settings) or AMD Radeon Settings for a more manual approach. The Windows Graphics settings are a more general, system-level option.

Conclusion
Using per-app GPU preferences lets you tailor gaming performance on Windows 10/11 without sacrificing battery life or system resources. By directing each game to the GPU best suited for its workload, you can achieve more stable framerates and a smoother experience. Remember to keep your drivers updated, verify the active GPU when testing, and adjust as needed if you install new games or launchers.
Key Takeaways:

• Per-app GPU settings let you choose High performance (discrete GPU) or Power saving (integrated GPU) on a per-game basis.
• Accessed via Settings > System > Display > Graphics settings (Desktop app for most games; Store apps use the Store option).
• Verify performance with a quick GPU usage check and adjust as needed if a game behaves unexpectedly.
• On laptops, consider battery life impacts and use Power saving when not plugged in.
• If results aren’t as expected, update Windows and GPU drivers, ensure you added the correct executable, and consider overriding settings in the GPU vendor’s control panel.

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This tutorial was generated to help WindowsForum.com users get the most out of their Windows experience.