How to optimize Windows 11 for windowed games

It’s debatable whether Windows 11 is the best operating system for PC gaming. Microsoft did introduce two gaming-related features in Windows 11: Auto HDR and DirectStorage.

Auto HDR Enables games that do not support HDR functionality on devices connected to HDR-capable displays. DirectStorage is designed to improve the loading performance of games. It was introduced on Xbox before being integrated into Windows 11. Windows 10 also supports DirectStorage.

Ashwin benchmarked some of his favorite games and concluded that Windows 11’s gaming performance is similar to Windows 10.

Optimization for Windowed Gaming

Windows 11 2022 Update is an upcoming feature update for Windows 11 that includes additional optimizations for gaming. Announced by Hannah Fisher on the DirectX Developer Blog in February 2022, optimizations for windowed games are designed to improve the performance of DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed or borderless window modes.

In short, Microsoft is bringing the optimizations introduced in DirectX 12 to games using DirectX 10 or 11. This optimization upgrades the old presentation model used by DirectX 10 and 11 games when running in windowed or borderless window modes to the new presentation mode Microsoft introduced in DirectX 12.

Fisher explained:

Technically, we are moving the application from a traditional blt model presentation to a modern flip model. Many games already take advantage of the modern flip model, but this new optimization will benefit thousands of games as well.

The main impact of this feature on gaming is that it reduces latency.

The optimization of the window game function has a drawback. Optimization may cause screen tearing in some games. Microsoft recommends matching your game's frame rate to your monitor's display refresh rate whenever possible, or enabling V-Sync to avoid this.

Optimization for windowed gaming configurations

Windows 11 users who want to test new gaming features will need to run the latest Windows 11 Insider build . The feature officially launches with the upcoming Windows 11 2022 update.

Here's how you configure it on Windows 11:

1. Select Start > Settings to open the Settings app. You can also open it using Windows-I.
2. Go to System > Display > Graphics.
3. Select "Change default graphics settings".
4. Toggle Optimization for Windowed Games to turn the feature on or off.

When enabled, the option to turn off individual game features will be provided. Return to the Graphics section of the Settings app.

Select an application and activate the options button. There you will find "Do not use optimizations for windowed games" which you can check to disable the feature for selected games.

Microsoft notes that if the game is already running, it will need to be restarted.

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