How To Turn OFF Game Mode in Windows 11 (& Turn ON)

If you don’t want to use the Game Mode feature in Windows 11, learn how to turn it OFF in simple and quick steps (and turn it back ON when needed).

By default, the Game Mode feature, which optimizes the system slightly for improved game performance, is enabled. One of the best things about Game Mode is that it gives you a consistent frame rate, which results in a smooth overall gaming experience. While this feature is useful, it can also cause unintended problems, especially on older systems. For example, it can result in frame rate stutters, slower loading times, game freezing, and crashing.

Whatever your specific reason is, if you think the Game Mode is the reason for your game(s) working as they should, you can easily disable it via the Settings app or the Registry Editor. In this quick and easy guide, I will show you the steps to turn OFF Game Mode in Windows 11 and turn it back on when needed. Let’s get started.

Turn OFF Game Mode in Windows 11 Using Settings

Like most other options, you can disable the Game Mode feature in Windows 11 via the Settings app. Here’s how.

1. Open Settings using the “Windows key + I” shortcut.
2. Go to the “Gaming” tab on the sidebar.
3. Click the “Game Mode” option.
4. Turn OFF the “Game Mode” toggle.
5. Close the Settings app.
6. With that, the Game Mode is turned off in Windows 11.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

First thing, open the Settings app. You can either click on the “Settings” icon on the taskbar (if it is pinned) or press the “Windows key + I” shortcut. As an alternative, you can also search for “Settings” in the Start menu and open it from there.

Once the Settings window opens, go to the “Gaming” tab on the sidebar. This is the page where you can manage various gaming settings. Click the “Game Mode” option on the right page.

Now, turn OFF the “Game Mode” toggle.

That is it. With that, the Game Mode feature is turned off instantly. You can now close the Windows 11 Settings app. There is no need to restart your computer.

Turn OFF Game Mode in Windows 11 Using Registry Editor

Note: Please back up the registry before proceeding with the steps below.

If the Settings app is not working correctly, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also disable this feature using the Registry Editor. Here’s how:

1. Open the Run dialog by pressing “Windows key + R”.
2. Type “regedit” and click “OK“.
3. Go to the “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\GameBar” folder.
4. Right-click the “GameBar” folder on the sidebar.
5. Select the “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.
6. Set the name to “AutoGameModeEnabled“.
7. Double-click the value.
8. Type “0” in the “Value Data” field.
9. Click “OK“.
10. Close the Registry Editor.
11. Reboot the computer.
12. With that, you’ve disabled Game Mode.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

Press the “Windows” key on your keyboard to open the Start menu, search for “Registry Editor“, and click “Open“. This opens the Registry Editor. After that, go to the “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\GameBar” folder.

Note: You can copy the path, paste it in the address bar, and press Enter.

Once you are here, right-click the “GameBar” folder on the sidebar and select the “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value“. Name the new value as “AutoGameModeEnabled“.

Since we want to disable Game Mode, we need to set its value to 0. So, double-click the “AutoGameModeEnabled” value, type “0” in the Value Data field, and click the “OK” button.

Finally, close the Registry Editor and reboot the computer. After rebooting, the Game Mode feature is disabled in Windows 11.

Turn ON Game Mode in Windows 11

1. Press “Windows key + I” to open Settings.
2. Select “Gaming” on the sidebar.
3. Click the “Game Mode” option.
4. Turn ON the “Game Mode” option.
5. Close the Settings app.
6. With that, the Game Mode feature is turned on in Windows 11.

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That is it. It is that simple to turn Game Mode on or off in Windows 11.

If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.

Update: This tutorial has been updated to reflect the changes in Windows 11, simplify the steps, and remove unnecessary information.