Achieving optimal performance is crucial when playing games on your PC, especially with the increasing demands of the latest game titles. To enhance the gaming experience, various programs, such as GeForce Experience, have been developed over the years. These applications are specifically designed to optimize computer gaming performance.
In the Windows 10/11 Creators Update, Microsoft also introduced a native Game Mode feature to improve the operating system’s gaming features. The feature manages to optimize a PC by allocating its resources towards the gaming software.
The Game Mode feature is also vital in preventing other apps in your computer from hogging the CPU, as well as, GPU cycles. This feature is essential if you don’t want to be disturbed by in-game alerts. The feature prevents the screen pop ups from showing such as Windows Update. It also halts any third-party programs running in the background to make sure all system resources are available to your gaming app.
How to Use Game Mode on Windows 10/11
It came as no surprise that Microsoft will try to better the Windows’ gaming environment considering the plummeting sales across the board. At some point, it felt like Microsoft was abandoning the PC gaming platform by turning its attention towards Xbox. The company quickly reached a sensible decision and made a bold move to present a cross-by plan for particular games.
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The introduction of the Game Mode feature also came with a Windows 10/11 Settings section dedicated to gaming. These were previously embedded in the Xbox gaming app. The Gaming Panel feature is divided into four subdivisions:
- Game Bar
- Game DVR
- Broadcasting
- Game Mode
The first two sections have been there but have received a facelift with more features added. Such features include bringing up the Game bar by pressing the Xbox button on your controller. The refurbished Game Bar presents a relatively similar look but with more features and different colors. Added options such as Record give the gamer the ability to capture exciting moments that happens in the last few minutes of a game. It is similar to GeForce Experience’s Instant Replay. However, for this feature to kick in, you must keep the Game DVR feature enabled in the background.
Unlike GeForce Experience, Game Mode doesn’t alter any in-game configurations. Instead, it focuses on reallocating your system’s resources, to ensure the gaming app has enough to consume and remain undisturbed. Although most third-parties would claim to perform this measure, it is Microsoft’s Game Mode that has the leverage to live up to the end of its deal since it is built into the OS.
Game Mode requires to be turned on from the Windows Settings before using in any of your games. Turning on Game Mode is quite simple, and thanks to its simplicity, you don’t have to be a genius to operate this feature.
Another big addition to the Windows 10/11 gamers sphere is the broadcasting feature. The feature allows you to stream your favorite games through Beam. It is an ideal competitor to the likes of Twitch and the Nvidia share feature. However, MS Broadcasting feature does not let you share directly to other platforms such as YouTube, and Facebook. It only lets you stream via Beam, which is also a great platform to share your gaming experience with like-minded individuals globally.
The Broadcasting feature in Windows 10/11 cannot be entirely turned off. However, users can control their microphone and webcam during the video recording.
Turn on Game Mode on Windows 10/11
The Windows 10/11 enable Game Mode process is straightforward. You can enable it from the Windows 10/11 Settings app. To do so, follow the steps provided below:
- Press the Windows Logo key and click on the gear icon to access the Windows 10/11 Settings app.
- Now, click on Gaming with the Xbox icon.
- On the left pane, click on Game Mode.
- Then, to your right pane, toggle the switch to On located right under Game Mode.
If for some reason, you can’t find the above settings, your system is likely missing the Creators Update. Try to install all pending Windows Updates and try doing the procedure above in the next startup.
Enable Windows 10/11 Game Mode for Any Game
Once you’ve turned on Game Mode in the Windows 10/11 Settings app, you can enable it for any game. Note that not all games do support Game Mode.
You can turn on game mode for a particular game by following the simple steps below:
- Open your game of interest and you will be prompted to access Game Bar by simultaneously pressing the Windows Logo + G keys. If the Windows 10/11 does not prompt you during game launch, it means the game is not yet supported.
- Press the Xbox logo button on your controller or simultaneously hit Windows Logo + G keys on your keyboard.
- Now, select the Settings icon on the right of the Game Bar.
- In the emerging dialog box, click to check Use Game Mode for this game box.
That’s all, you’re now set to enjoy your favorite games on Windows 10/11 with an optimized PC. However, note that there isn’t much that Game Mode can do to speed up your system if it is riddled with junk files causing instability issues. In such scenarios, we advise using a strong Windows 10/11 PC repair tool to get rid of junk files and solve any instability and performance issues. That way, you will have a fast and smooth system ready to produce immaculate gaming experience.