A new PC game can look disappointing even when the hardware is capable. Before opening a driver-tuning utility or following a guide that asks you to edit the Windows registry, take a look at three settings already available in Windows 11: Game Mode, display refresh rate and the graphics preference for the particular game.
None of these switches guarantees extra frames per second. Their value is in checking that Windows is using the options you intended, especially on laptops, multiple-monitor setups and machines with more than one graphics processor. Write down the original setting before making a change so you can reverse it if the game behaves worse.
Game Mode and the display you actually use
First open Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. Windows groups its gaming features in the Gaming section, and a Game Mode option is available on supported builds. Check whether the setting is enabled, and consider leaving it on for a normal gaming session. If a specific older game behaves unusually, the switch is reversible in the same menu. Do not confuse Game Mode with installing a new graphics driver or with Xbox Game Bar capture settings.
Second, check the monitor. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. If more than one screen is connected, choose the display you plan to play on. Microsoft says this panel shows the current resolution and refresh rate, along with information about supported variable refresh rate. Under Choose a refresh rate, select one of the options your monitor actually offers.
A 144Hz screen set to 60Hz may not be using its intended refresh setting, but a higher display refresh rate is not proof the computer can render every game at the same frame rate. There are separate limits from the game, graphics processor, display cable and available modes. Avoid selecting a rate marked with an asterisk without reading Microsoft's note: that choice can also change the display resolution.
Windows 11 may offer Dynamic Refresh Rate on suitable hardware. Microsoft says that feature requires a display supporting variable refresh and at least 120Hz, and it can limit a game's maximum refresh rate in some situations. If a favourite game appears restricted after enabling the feature, disable it again for comparison.
Choose graphics settings per game
The third check lives under Settings > System > Display > Graphics. In the area for app-specific choices, select the game or add its executable if it is missing, then open Options. On systems with multiple graphics processors, Windows can offer Let Windows decide, Power saving and High performance. Pick the preference appropriate to your machine and save it, then restart the game.
Those options are meaningful particularly on laptops with integrated and discrete graphics. They are not an invitation to select High performance for every app, because battery use, heat and system limits still matter. On a one-GPU PC the selection may have little practical effect.
The same Graphics screen can expose Optimizations for windowed games. Microsoft describes this feature for compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed or borderless modes. It can reduce frame latency through a newer presentation model, and it can be disabled for an individual title. If Auto HDR is on, Microsoft warns that it may automatically enable the windowed optimization.
After any change, restart the game, compare the same scene and restore the previous setting if the result is worse. A controlled test is more useful than stacking unverified tweaks, and all three checks stay inside Windows' normal settings interface.
Reporting notes