7 Ways to Boost FPS in Windows 11 Without Upgrading Hardware

Gaming on Windows 11 can be a thrilling experience, but sometimes the frame rates just don’t cut it, especially if you're working with modest hardware. If your FPS (frames per second) dips or feels choppy, you don’t always need to splurge on new parts. There are plenty of system settings tweaks and graphics options you can adjust to get smoother gameplay right now. In this listicle, we’ll explore seven practical ways to boost FPS in Windows 11 without upgrading your hardware, making the most of game mode, disabling unnecessary effects, and other low-end PC tweaks that really work.

Context and Relevance

Windows 11 has introduced a bunch of new features designed to enhance user experience, but some system defaults can actually hamper gaming performance, especially on older or less powerful machines. With the increasing popularity of gaming on PCs, plus the ease of streaming and content creation, optimizing your system for gaming is more relevant than ever. This article is perfect for gamers stuck with a low-end PC or those wanting to extend the life of their hardware before upgrading. Whether you’re playing competitive shooters or open-world adventures, these boosts will help you get smoother frame rates and better responsiveness in 2025 and beyond.

1. Enable Game Mode for Prioritised Performance

Windows 11’s built-in Game Mode is a simple yet effective way to prioritise your gaming experience by allocating more system resources to your active game.

How Game Mode Works

Game Mode limits background processes and prioritises CPU and GPU usage for games. This reduces interruptions from system notifications, Windows updates, and other software hogging resources.

How to Enable Game Mode

• Open Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
• Toggle Game Mode to On.

You can also open the Xbox Game Bar during gameplay with Win + G and ensure that it shows Game Mode active.

Why It Matters

On low-end PCs, this tiny performance boost can mean the difference between average and smooth FPS, especially in resource-demanding games.

2. Disable Visual Effects to Free Up System Resources

Windows 11 has sleek animations and effects that look great but consume CPU and GPU cycles unnecessarily when gaming.

Steps to Disable Effects

• Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press enter.
• Go to the Advanced tab and click Settings under Performance.
• Select Adjust for best performance to turn off all animations and effects, or pick Custom and disable non-essential features like transparency, animations, and shadows.

Real-World Impact

Disabling these effects can release up to 5-10% of your CPU and GPU power, which can translate into smoother gameplay, especially on machines with integrated graphics or older processors.

3. Optimise Graphics Settings Per Game

Sometimes, the biggest FPS killer is in-game graphics settings that are cranked too high.

Key Settings to Adjust

• Resolution: Lower your resolution to 720p or 900p for a big FPS gain if you’re running a very old or low-powered machine.
• Shadows: Turn them to low or off; shadows are notorious for sucking up performance.
• Anti-Aliasing (AA): Try disabling AA or use a lighter variant like FXAA instead of MSAA.
• Texture Quality: Lowering texture resolution can vastly improve performance on PCs with limited VRAM.
• Post-Processing Effects: Disable bloom, motion blur, and depth of field.

Why Tailoring Graphics Settings Helps

If you’re on a low-end PC you’ll see the biggest FPS improvements here since games can be very demanding. Most titles allow custom profiles—experiment to find a balance between visuals and smooth playback.

4. Update Graphics Drivers and Windows

Drivers act as the interface between your OS and hardware. Outdated or incompatible drivers can reduce performance or cause stuttering.

How to Check for Updates

• For Nvidia GPUs, use GeForce Experience.
• For AMD cards, open Radeon Software.
• Alternatively, check the GPU manufacturer’s website directly.
• Keep Windows 11 updated through Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Importance of Keeping Drivers Updated

Manufacturers frequently release optimisations for new games and patches for performance bugs. In 2025, keeping drivers current is essential to maximise FPS and stability on Windows 11.

5. Disable Background Apps and Startup Programs

Unnecessary apps running silently in the background can devour CPU and memory, hurting game performance.

How to Manage Background Processes

• Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
• Review apps set to run in the background and turn off those unneeded.
• Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), switch to the Startup tab.
• Disable apps that don’t need to run at startup (social media messengers, updaters).

Why This Boosts FPS

Stopping background activity frees up RAM and processing power for your game, reducing lag and improving responsiveness.

6. Adjust Power Settings for Maximum Performance

Windows power plans often prioritise battery life or quiet operation, throttling CPU and GPU performance.

How to Set High-Performance Mode

• Go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
• Click Power mode and select Best performance.

On laptops, consider plugging in the charger when gaming, as performance can be limited on battery mode.

Effect on Gaming

Setting power to maximum performance makes sure your CPU and GPU operate at full throttle, increasing FPS, although it might cause your PC to run hotter.

7. Advanced: Use Low-End PC Tweaks (Disable Full-Screen Optimisations & Turn Off Background Recording)

If you have an older or low-spec PC, some advanced tweaks can shake out extra FPS.

Disable Full-Screen Optimisations

• Right-click the game’s .exe file or shortcut.
• Go to Properties > Compatibility.
• Check Disable full-screen optimisations.
• Click Apply.

This can fix certain compatibility issues causing stutter or lower FPS in some games under Windows 11.

Turn Off Background Recording and Game Bar

• Open Settings > Gaming > Captures.
• Turn off Background recording.
• Also disable Xbox Game Bar if not needed as it can consume resources.

Why These Matter

Background recording and overlays are handy but cost FPS, especially on lower-end machines. Disabling them can ensure all resources go towards gameplay.

Expert Insights: What Gamers Often Overlook

Many Windows 11 users focus only on upgrading hardware or fiddling with in-game settings and miss system-level optimisations that have no cost other than a few clicks.

• Overclocking might gain FPS but risks overheating and instability; it’s not recommended for casual users or low-end PC owners without proper cooling.
• Some gamers forget to check that Windows itself isn’t throttling CPU or GPU for power saving.
• Background processes like antivirus scans can spike at inconvenient times; scheduling them outside of gaming hours makes a difference.
• The balance between smooth FPS and visual quality is subjective; test changes incrementally with benchmarks or in-game trials.

Alternatives and Comparisons

While these steps help without hardware upgrades, sometimes the bottleneck is your machine’s physical limits.

• RAM upgrades can noticeably improve performance if you have less than 8GB.
• Switching to a Solid-State Drive (SSD) improves load times though doesn’t boost raw FPS.
• If your CPU or GPU is too old (e.g., from 2015 or earlier), consider mid-tier upgrades like the Nvidia RTX 4050 ($250-$300) or AMD Ryzen 5 7600X ($230) for substantial FPS gains.
• For mobile gamers on Windows 11 tablets or laptops, tweaking graphics settings is usually most effective, as hardware is fixed.

Quick Summary: Best Ways to Boost FPS on Windows 11

• Enable Game Mode for optimised resource allocation.
• Disable Windows visual effects to free CPU/GPU cycles.
• Tweak in-game graphics settings like shadows and resolution.
• Keep drivers and Windows updated.
• Stop unnecessary background apps and startup programs.
• Switch to High-Performance power mode.
• Use low-end PC tweaks such as disabling full-screen optimisations and background recording.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will enabling Game Mode always increase FPS?
A: Usually yes, but improvements vary by system and game; it prioritises resources but doesn’t change hardware capability.

Q: Can disabling effects affect my Windows 11 experience outside gaming?
A: Yes, you might lose animations and visual flair, but system responsiveness often improves.

Q: How often should I update graphics drivers?
A: Check monthly or when new games release to ensure optimised performance and bug fixes.

Q: Is lowering resolution the only way to increase FPS?
A: No, but it’s one of the fastest methods; combining this with other tweaks yields best results.

Q: Can these tweaks help with VR gaming on Windows 11?
A: They help somewhat, but VR demands usually require powerful hardware for smooth FPS.

Q: How can I monitor the effect of these changes on FPS?
A: Use in-game FPS counters or tools like MSI Afterburner for real-time performance tracking.

Q: Will disabling Xbox Game Bar reduce performance drops in games?
A: It can, since Xbox Game Bar overlays use CPU/GPU resources; disabling it can free those for games.

Pricing and Availability

Most of the performance boosts in this article come at no cost, relying solely on Windows 11’s settings and free tools. Updating drivers is free via manufacturers’ official software like Nvidia GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software.

For hardware upgrades, budget-friendly options like the Nvidia RTX 4050 start around $250, while mid-range CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X can be found for about $230. These offer substantial FPS improvements if software tweaks aren’t enough.

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

If gaming on Windows 11 feels sluggish but your hardware isn’t ready for an upgrade, these seven tips can boost FPS and create a smoother experience with little effort and no added expense. Prioritise enabling Game Mode, turning off unnecessary effects, and tweaking your game’s graphics settings first. From there, controlling background apps and optimising power settings adds an extra layer of performance.

For the best long-term experience, a software-optimized system combined with occasional hardware refreshes will keep your gaming crisp and enjoyable in 2025. If you want to dive deeper, check out our related guides on improving gaming latency and streaming performance on PC.

Happy gaming, and here’s to those buttery smooth frames!

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