How to Disable Game Mode in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Turn Off Game Mode on Windows 11

If gaming on Windows 11 feels sluggish or just isn’t running smoothly, turning off Game Mode might do the trick. It’s designed to prioritise game performance by reallocating system resources, but sometimes it can cause issues with other apps. Disabling it is straightforward—just a few clicks in settings, and you might notice a smoother experience.

Accessing Windows Settings

First, open the Settings menu. Click the Start button and select the gear icon labelled “Settings.” Alternatively, press Windows key + I for a quick shortcut. Once in Settings, everything is organised into categories, including your gaming options.

Navigating to Gaming Options

In the Settings window, find and click on “Gaming”. This leads you to all things gaming-related, like the Xbox Game Bar, gameplay recording, and, of course, Game Mode. Think of it as the control centre for your gaming tweaks.
If you prefer using the command line, you can launch directly into this menu by typing:
start ms-settings:gaming in PowerShell or Command Prompt.

Finding the Game Mode Settings

Scroll through the Gaming menu until you see the “Game Mode” toggle. Click it to see the option. If you’re comfortable editing the registry, you can also navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\GameBar
in the Registry Editor. Just type regedit into the Run dialog to access it. Some users find that their games run noticeably better when this is switched off, so it’s worth a try.

Turning Off Game Mode

Simply toggle the “Game Mode” switch to Off. Easy!
If you prefer the command line, you can disable it via PowerShell with:
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" -Name "AllowAutoGameMode" -Value 0
This will stop Windows from prioritising resources for gaming, which can help other applications run more smoothly.

Finishing Up

Once you’ve switched it off in Settings, the change is saved immediately—no restart needed. However, if you’ve made modifications directly in the registry, you might need to restart Windows Explorer. You can do this quickly with:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe

Tips for Managing Game Mode

Whether to keep Game Mode on or off depends on your usage. If your games are acting up or performance feels off, try toggling it a few times to see if that makes a difference.
Pro tip: Keep an eye on your system’s CPU and memory usage during gaming with Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc). For a deeper dive, consider using Process Explorer from Sysinternals — it’s excellent for spotting resource hogs.

Remember to keep Windows up to date via Windows Update (Settings > Windows Update). Updates often fix bugs and can improve performance, including enhancements to Game Mode. Some games also include their own optimisation options, so checking forums or game documentation can help you squeeze out the last bit of performance.

Questions About Windows 11 Game Mode

What does Game Mode do?

Essentially, Game Mode aims to smooth out gameplay by prioritising system resources for your games. You can manage this setting through Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
If you prefer the command line, you can toggle it with PowerShell commands:

PowerShell
# Enable Game Mode
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" -Name "AllowAutoGameMode" -Value 1

# Disable Game Mode
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" -Name "AllowAutoGameMode" -Value 0

Does turning off Game Mode impact other tasks?

Yes, it does. When turned off, Windows no longer prioritises gaming, which can allow other programs to run more smoothly. You can also manually assign priorities in Task Manager if you want finer control.

How do I check if Game Mode is enabled?

Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. The toggle will show its status.
Alternatively, check the registry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\GameBar\AllowAutoGameMode. A value of 1 means it’s on; 0 indicates off.

Will disabling Game Mode improve my gaming experience?

Potentially, especially if some games don’t play nicely with resource priorities. If your system is a bit under the weather or drivers aren’t up to date, you might notice a difference. The best approach is to experiment with both settings and see what works best for you.

Can I turn it back on later?

Absolutely. Switching it back on is just as easy—either through Settings or by running:
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" -Name "AllowAutoGameMode" -Value 1.

A Quick Checklist for Disabling Game Mode

Open Settings (Start > Settings or Windows key + I).
Select the Gaming section.
Click on “Game Mode”.
Turn the toggle to Off.
If using PowerShell, execute: Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" -Name "AllowAutoGameMode" -Value 0.
Close Settings. If you’ve edited the registry directly, restart Explorer with: taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe.

Turning off Game Mode might seem like a small change, but it can have a noticeable impact depending on what you’re running. Remember, Windows 11 makes toggling this setting quick and easy, so it’s worth testing different configurations to find what works best for your setup. Also, keeping your Windows updated can fix bugs and enhance performance overall. Getting the hang of these tweaks now can save headaches down the track!