What is Game Mode Windows? Should You Use It? (2026 Guide)

Quick Answers

Common questions answered at a glance

What is Game Mode?

Game Mode is a Windows setting that takes the priority away from your processors and RAM and gives those to your game. It limits what types of programs can run in the background, including Windows Update, telemetry and other non-essential applications, giving your game the best chance to run smoothly. Game Mode doesn’t overclock your processors, it simply changes the order in which your computer handles background tasks.

Does Game Mode actually help?

Yes, however, the impact is going to be minimal. In benchmark testing by XDA Developers (tested on an RTX 4070 Ti Super with a Ryzen 5 7600X and 32GB of RAM at 1440p), Game Mode provided a 2.7-3.3% FPS improvement across three games — with the biggest gains in frame time consistency (1% lows) rather than average FPS. On lower end computers this could make the difference between a smooth gaming experience and a poor one. For higher end computers, you probably won’t notice the difference because the computer already has enough processing power.

Should I enable or disable Game Mode?

Is Game Mode the same as Game Bar?

Game Mode is a Windows 10 and 11 setting that will give your game preference over all other processes on your computer. When you start a game, Game Mode will move all background processes out of the way so your processor and RAM are working solely for your game.Game Mode is like a “Do Not Disturb” for your computer — it doesn’t add performance to your gaming system, but rather takes away all other tasks that could be stealing those resources from you.

IQON's automatic optimizations can help resolve many of these issues with one click.

Learn more

This article will discuss what Game Mode actually does, who it helps and if you should leave it on or turn it off. We will also go over how Game Mode relates to Game Bar, another Windows feature often confused with Game Mode.

What Game Mode actually does

When Game Mode is enabled, Windows performs three functions:Reduces background task priority. Windows Update, search indexing, and telemetry tasks fall to the bottom of the list behind your current game. As such, your game has first dibs on your processor and RAM.Blocks driver installations. While you’re playing, Windows won’t install any new drivers. Game Mode suppresses Windows Update driver installs and blocks restart notifications while you’re in a game. This means no surprises with regard to restarting your PC during gameplay, and no slowdowns from driver installations happening in the background.Adjusts processor scheduling. Your processor is able to spend more time executing code for your game and less time executing code for background processes that you don’t care about during gameplay. As a result, you see fewer random slowdowns and a smoother, more consistent frame rate.In simpler terms, Game Mode is a straightforward, unobtrusive priority system. It doesn’t change your hardware or adjust any low-level settings; it simply informs Windows that a game is currently running and that it needs to prioritize that game.

Real-world benchmark results

In XDA Developers’ benchmark comparison, Abhinav Raj tested Windows 11 Game Mode on an NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti Super paired with an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM. All games were tested at 1440p using MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner Statistics Server for frame capture. Here’s what they found:Fortnite (Epic, DLSS Quality): baseline 165 FPS → Game Mode 170 FPS (+3.0% average, +3.6% in 1% lows).The Last of Us Part II (Max, DLSS Frame Gen): baseline 150 FPS → Game Mode 155 FPS (+3.3% average, +2.8% in 1% lows).Hogwarts Legacy (Ultra, DLSS Quality): baseline 183 FPS → Game Mode 188 FPS (+2.7% average, +2.6% in 1% lows).The XDA review concluded that Game Mode “effectively averts sub-100 FPS hiccups” and “delivers perceptible stability for competitive and immersive play.” The gains are small in raw FPS, but the consistency improvements (1% lows) are where Game Mode makes the real difference — fewer stutters during the moments that matter most.

Who benefits from Game Mode

Low to mid range PC users. If you have a PC with 8GB of RAM and a Video Card in the middle of the pack, every little bit of extra resources that Game Mode can provide can make a huge difference in your gaming experience. The XDA benchmarks were run on a high-end system — on lower-spec hardware where resources are tighter, the improvement is likely larger. Game Mode can greatly reduce stuttering during the most resource-intensive parts of the game, and keep your frames per second at a consistent level. This is the main place where Game Mode really shines.High end PC users. If you have a PC with 32GB of RAM and a super strong Video Card, then Game Mode will hardly have any impact on your gaming experience. Even on the high-end XDA test system, the gains were only 2.7-3.3%. Since your system already has a ton of headroom, the priority adjustments made by Game Mode are negligible.Users who multi-task. If you game with Discord open, a browser open and Spotify open, then Game Mode will help ensure that your game remains the number one priority. The more items you have open alongside your game, the more Game Mode will have to do to keep your game at the top of the priority list.To put it bluntly: Game Mode is a minor positive for systems that need it. Game Mode is not a magical button that will boost your FPS by 30%. However, it’s free, always available and will not harm your computer in any way to leave it turned on.

Game Mode vs Game Bar: they’re not the same

Most people tend to confuse Game Mode and Game Bar. Game Mode and Game Bar are two separate Windows features, located under Settings, next to one another.Game Mode is invisible. It works in the background, requires almost zero CPU usage and simply moves the priority of your background tasks around.Game Bar is a full overlay that provides screenshots, recording and an FPS counter. Working behind the scenes is the Game DVR, which continually records your screen in the background. Both together consume 200-400MB of RAM and add CPU overhead, even when you’re not recording.Optimal configuration for most players: Game Mode on, Game Bar off. You get the benefit of background priority without the additional 200-400MB of overhead. If you need to record, ShadowPlay or OBS Studio are better options than Game Bar.To get a complete breakdown of Game Bar, DVR and how to disable them, go to our complete guide: Game Bar & DVR: What It Is & How to Disable It.

The Verdict

Competitive gamers. Leave Game Mode on. Turn Game Bar off. If you need to record, use ShadowPlay or OBS. This is the least amount of overhead for you — the benefits of having background priority without the overhead of the overlay.Casual gamers. Leave both on. If you are playing single player games or casual multiplayer where perfect timing for frames isn’t important, Game Bar is a nice feature. Fast screenshots, instant replay and an FPS counter without having to download anything. The cost of 200-400MB of overhead is worth it for the added functionality, especially if you have 16GB+ of RAM in your computer.Having trouble with Game Mode? Older games (particularly those from 2015-2018) occasionally conflict with Game Mode. If a game is stuttering or crashing only when Game Mode is on, try turning it off for that game. If not, there’s no reason to turn it off since Game Mode is free, invisible and easily reversible.

What is Game Mode Windows? Should You Use It?

Quick Answers

What Game Mode actually does

Real-world benchmark results

Who benefits from Game Mode

Game Mode vs Game Bar: they’re not the same

The Verdict

Related Articles

What is PC Optimization? Simple Guide for 2026

How to Disable Background Apps in Windows (Free 100-300MB RAM)

Why Windows Update Slows Your PC (And What to Do About It)