Use Windows 11 Windowed Game Optimizations to Reduce Latency in Borderless Mode

Use Windows 11 Windowed Game Optimizations to Reduce Latency in Borderless Mode​

Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 10 minutes
Borderless windowed mode is convenient because it makes switching between a game and other applications much faster than traditional exclusive fullscreen mode. However, some older DirectX games can experience additional frame latency, uneven frame pacing, or limited support for features such as variable refresh rate when running in a window.
Windows 11 includes Optimizations for windowed games, a graphics feature designed to improve compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed or borderless windowed mode. It moves supported games from the older presentation method to the newer flip-model presentation system. This can reduce frame latency and enable modern display features such as Auto HDR and variable refresh rate on supported hardware.
The setting does not guarantee a higher frame rate, but it can make compatible games feel more responsive and provide a smoother borderless gaming experience.

Prerequisites​

Before continuing, make sure you have:

• A PC running Windows 11 with current updates installed.
• A DirectX 10 or DirectX 11 game that supports windowed or borderless windowed mode.
• An up-to-date graphics driver from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, or your PC manufacturer.
• Administrator access is generally not required.

Windows version note: Optimizations for windowed games is a Windows 11 feature. It is not available as an equivalent system-wide option in Windows 10.

Compatibility note: The feature primarily benefits DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games using an older windowed presentation model. DirectX 12 games generally use newer presentation methods already. OpenGL and Vulkan games may not benefit from this setting.

Step 1: Close the Game​

1. Save your current progress.
2. Exit the game completely.
3. If the game uses a separate launcher, you can leave the launcher open, but the game process itself should be closed.

Windows requires you to restart an affected game after changing its graphics preferences. Closing it now helps ensure that the new setting is applied correctly.

Step 2: Open Windows Graphics Settings​

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select System in the left sidebar.
4. Select Display.
5. Scroll down and select Graphics.

You can also press Windows key + I to open Settings and then navigate to:
System > Display > Graphics
The wording and layout may vary slightly depending on your Windows 11 build. On some versions, the relevant controls appear under Default settings. On others, you may need to select Change default graphics settings.

Step 3: Enable Optimizations for Windowed Games​

1. On the Graphics settings page, locate the Default settings section.
2. If shown, select Change default graphics settings.
3. Find Optimizations for windowed games.
4. Turn the setting On.

This enables the optimization globally for compatible games.

Note: Enabling Auto HDR may automatically enable Optimizations for windowed games. If Auto HDR is active, you may need to turn off Auto HDR before Windows allows you to disable the windowed-game optimization globally.

Step 4: Configure the Game for Borderless Mode​

The Windows feature only applies when a compatible game runs in a windowed presentation mode.

1. Start the game.
2. Open its Settings, Options, or Video menu.
3. Locate the display-mode setting.
4. Select one of the following:
   • Borderless Windowed
   • Borderless
   • Fullscreen Windowed
   • Windowed
5. Apply the change.
6. Confirm that the game is using your monitor’s native resolution.

For most players, Borderless Windowed is the best option. It fills the screen like fullscreen mode while allowing quicker use of Alt + Tab, overlays, multiple monitors, and desktop applications.

Important: Exclusive fullscreen mode does not use the windowed-game optimization. If the game offers separate Fullscreen and Borderless Fullscreen options, choose the borderless option for this tutorial.

Step 5: Restart and Test the Game​

1. Exit the game after changing its display mode.
2. Start the game again.
3. Load a familiar level, benchmark, or training area.
4. Test camera movement, mouse response, and frame pacing.
5. Press Alt + Tab several times to confirm that switching between the game and desktop remains smooth.

Pay attention to responsiveness rather than frame rate alone. The main improvement may be lower presentation latency or smoother frame delivery instead of a large increase in average frames per second.
For a fair comparison, test the same scene with the same graphics settings, frame-rate limit, and background applications.

Configure the Optimization for One Game​

If one title has visual problems, crashes, or performs worse after enabling the feature, you can disable it for that game without turning it off globally.

1. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
2. Look under Custom options for apps.
3. Select the affected game.

If the game is not listed:

1. Select Add desktop app or Browse.
2. Navigate to the game’s installation folder.
3. Select the game’s main executable file.
4. Select Add.

After adding or selecting the game:

1. Select Options.
2. Turn off Optimizations for windowed games for that application.
3. Select Save.
4. Restart the game.

The same panel may let you choose a GPU preference:

• Let Windows decide
• Power saving
• High performance

On a gaming laptop or a PC with integrated and dedicated graphics, select High performance if the game is accidentally running on the integrated GPU.

Optional: Check Your Refresh Rate​

A high-refresh-rate monitor can make lower latency and smoother frame delivery easier to notice.

1. Open Settings > System > Display.
2. Select Advanced display.
3. If you have multiple monitors, select the gaming display.
4. Check Choose a refresh rate.
5. Select the highest refresh rate your monitor reliably supports.

If your monitor supports variable refresh rate, also verify that adaptive synchronization is enabled in the monitor’s on-screen menu and in your GPU manufacturer’s control software.

Tip: Dynamic Refresh Rate, or DRR, is different from gaming variable refresh rate. If a game appears limited to an unexpectedly low refresh rate, temporarily disable DRR and test again.

Tips and Troubleshooting​

The option is missing​

If you cannot find Optimizations for windowed games:

• Confirm that you are running Windows 11 rather than Windows 10.
• Install pending updates under Settings > Windows Update.
• Restart the PC after updating.
• Update your display driver.
• Check under Change default graphics settings on the Graphics page.

The game does not feel different​

Not every game will show an obvious improvement. The feature is most useful for compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 titles using the older windowed presentation method.
Also confirm that the game is actually set to Windowed or Borderless Windowed, not exclusive fullscreen.

The game stutters or displays incorrectly​

Disable the optimization for that individual game and restart it. Older games, modifications, overlays, capture programs, or anti-cheat components can sometimes interact poorly with modern presentation behavior.
You can also temporarily disable overlays from applications such as game launchers, recording software, chat clients, and GPU utilities to determine whether an overlay is responsible.

Do not confuse the two optimization settings​

Optimizations for windowed games in Windows Settings is not the same as Disable fullscreen optimizations in an executable’s Compatibility properties.
The compatibility checkbox is an older per-program troubleshooting option. Do not enable it automatically when following this tutorial. Change one setting at a time so that you can identify which adjustment helps or causes a problem.

Conclusion​

Optimizations for windowed games can make compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 titles more responsive when played in borderless or windowed mode. By using the newer flip-model presentation system, Windows 11 can reduce frame latency while supporting features such as Auto HDR and variable refresh rate on compatible displays.
The feature is easy to enable, requires no additional software, and can be disabled for individual games if compatibility problems occur. For the best results, combine it with current graphics drivers, the correct monitor refresh rate, and the game’s borderless windowed display mode.
Key Takeaways:

• Optimizations for windowed games can reduce frame latency in compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games.
• The game must run in windowed or borderless windowed mode to benefit.
• Restart the game after changing Windows graphics settings.
• The feature may improve responsiveness and frame pacing without increasing average FPS.
• Problematic games can be excluded individually through Windows Graphics settings.
• The feature is available in Windows 11, not Windows 10.

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

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References​

1. Official source: support.microsoft.com
   
   

   Use Auto HDR for better gaming in Windows | Microsoft Support

   Learn how to use Auto HDR for a better gaming experience and color range in Windows.

   support.microsoft.com