Key Points
- Use Windows Settings first: Open Settings, select Gaming, then Game Mode to turn the feature on or off.
- Use the Registry Editor: Set the AllowAutoGameMode value under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\GameBar to 0, then restart the PC.
- Fix a missing Game Mode option: On N editions of Windows, install the Media Feature Pack from Optional features, then restart and recheck.
- Disable Game Mode when it hurts performance: Turn it off globally in Settings. The change applies to all games, not just one.
- Pair Game Mode with other tuning: Keep GPU drivers current and adjust in-game video settings.
Did you know that Windows notifications were once the bane of PC gamers? That wasn’t until Microsoft introduced Windows Game Mode in 2017. The feature, available in both Windows 10 and Windows 11, limits Windows Update interruptions, background update activity, and notifications while a game runs.
However, Windows Game Mode has been reported to cause performance issues occasionally. Thus, you may be compelled to switch it off or reset its custom settings to their default state. The feature may also stop working after a system update, prompting a reset. With that in mind, here are the steps to configure Game Mode on your Windows device.
Reset Game Mode settings in Windows 10 and 11
The steps below work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. If Game Mode causes issues, you can disable it using Windows Settings or the Registry Editor.
Disable or enable Game Mode using the Windows Settings
Windows Settings offers a quick and straightforward way to enable or disable Game Mode on Windows 10 and 11.
- Open Settings (Windows + I)
- Navigate to Gaming
- Toggle Game Mode on or off from this menu.
That’s it. This might come in handy when testing this mode’s compatibility with games, other settings, or fresh system updates.
Disable or enable Game Mode using the Registry Editor
If the Settings toggle is missing on Windows 10 or 11, you can set the Game Mode values in the Registry Editor:
- Type regedit in Windows Search to open the Registry Editor
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\GameBar
- Look for the AllowAutoGameMode key. (If it doesn’t exist, create it manually.) Set its value to 0 and close the registry. To turn Game Mode back on, you can set both values to 1.
- Reboot your PC to apply the changes.
Tip: Before you start, back up the Windows Registry to undo unwanted changes.
Warning: Exercise caution when editing registry entries. Incorrect changes can cause system instability.
When to reset Game Mode settings
Resetting Game Mode settings reverts all personalized game-related settings to their default state, including custom settings you set for each game that has used Game Mode. This action is also useful when troubleshooting a related issue or testing the performance of a new game.
How to check if Game Mode is enabled
To check whether Game Mode is active, you can use Windows Settings.
- Open Settings (Windows + I)
- Navigate to Gaming
- Go to Game Mode to see if it’s toggled on or off (depending on your OEM configuration and Windows Update behavior, this may already be enabled by default).
Troubleshooting common Game Mode issues
If you encounter further issues while configuring your Game Mode settings, see if these common troubleshooting pointers can get you unstuck.
Game Mode still doesn’t work properly after a reset
If Game Mode continues to cause issues after being reverted to its default settings, consider disabling it and focusing on the manual optimization of in-game and other built-in performance settings. Navigate to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode to toggle this feature off.
Game Mode is missing from Settings
Check if there’s a pending Windows feature update. Install it and confirm if Game Mode is back in Settings.
If not, check your Windows edition. Open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications > Edition. If the edition ends in “N” (for example, Windows 11 Pro N), your PC doesn’t include Microsoft’s media technologies. Without them, gaming features such as Game Bar may not work, and the Gaming page may be missing from Settings. Standard editions already include these features, so you can skip this fix.
To install the Media Feature Pack on an N edition:
- Windows 10 N: Select Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features > Add a feature, then select Media Feature Pack.
- Windows 11 N: Select Start > Settings > Apps > Optional features, select View features next to Add an optional feature, then select Media Feature Pack.
Restart your PC afterward to complete the installation.
Certain games perform worse with Game Mode on
If you’ve confirmed that the game performs better without Game Mode, you can disable it through Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. Keep in mind that this action disables it completely for all programs, not just your game.
Best practices for using Game Mode
Game Mode is very convenient when it works! Luckily, most games are compatible with this Windows built-in tool, and you can pair it with a few other settings to get a better gaming experience.
Test game performance with or without Game Mode
Some games may need Game Mode enabled more than others, while some operate as intended without it. When installing or playing a new game for the first time, you can toggle Game Mode to see how it impacts the application. You don’t have to use Game Mode if you think the game is already in its best settings and performance.
Keep Windows and GPU drivers updated for best performance
Game Mode works best if your GPU drivers are up to date. Ensuring the GPU is on the latest version also prevents compatibility issues with Game Mode and the game itself. You can visit the GPU manufacturer’s website (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce, AMD Radeon) or manually update the driver using Device Manager.
Use Game Mode with other performance optimization settings
Apart from Game Mode, you can configure other native settings on your Windows device to boost gaming performance. For example, you can tweak the game’s video settings if the device doesn’t have the optimal specifications to run the game in maximum settings.
Reducing graphic details and disabling anti-aliasing can help the game run smoothly in exchange for less life-like visuals. You can also turn these settings to the lowest variables and slowly upscale until you find the desired balance between graphics and FPS performance.
Consider third-party performance monitoring tools
Your GPU manufacturer will likely have a dedicated app to help you optimize the hardware’s performance, which you can use together with (or in place of) the built-in Game Mode. You can take this approach with other third-party “game booster” software and fine-tune the setup per game.
You may also want to keep only one of the applications if most of their features overlap.
Reminder: Microsoft stopped deploying free regular software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes for Windows 10 after October 14, 2025. Read our guide to Windows 10 end of life and plan your move to Windows 11.
Optimizing your gaming experience in Windows 10 and 11
Game Mode offers a quick way to optimize games on any Windows PC. However, you shouldn’t treat it as a one-size-fits-all solution since performance varies depending on hardware and software limitations. Some games may need additional software optimization, while others run better without Windows’ built-in game booster.
Testing your games with or without Game Mode enabled is a good practice whenever a new game or update has been installed. With this in mind, remember that Game Mode settings may need to be adjusted depending on the game, or may require minor in-game or system optimization to achieve the best results.
