Game Mode and Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling on Windows 11: Should You Turn Them On?

Game Mode and Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS) are two separate Windows 11 options that people often lump together. Game Mode is on by default and is worth leaving on for most players, while HAGS is optional and depends on your graphics card, driver and the games you play. This guide covers where both switches live in Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, how to check whether HAGS is supported, and how to decide with your own games. Plan on about ten minutes, including one restart.

Quick Answer

• Game Mode: Settings > Gaming > Game Mode, switch to On.
• HAGS: Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Default graphics settings, switch Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling to On, then restart.
• If the HAGS switch is missing, your GPU or driver does not support it. Update the graphics driver first.
• Keep HAGS on if a game feature requires it, such as NVIDIA frame generation. Otherwise compare on and off in your own games.
• If stutter, crashes or capture problems appear after a change, set it back and restart.

Before You Start

Neither setting touches the BIOS, and both can be reversed in a minute. They are still system-level graphics changes, so it helps to prepare.

• You need administrator rights to change HAGS, and the change takes effect only after a restart.
• HAGS requires a graphics driver built for WDDM 2.7 or newer and a GPU generation that supports it. Microsoft’s own description is that it moves some scheduling work from the CPU to a dedicated GPU-based scheduler, and that the benefits can be subtle because applications already hide scheduling costs through buffering. Gains vary by game and hardware, and some systems see none.
• Microsoft kept HAGS opt-in at launch, noting it touches a fundamental part of the graphics system, and early users reported occasional freezes and compatibility problems. Drivers have matured since, but this is a reason to compare rather than assume.
• Create a restore point if you like to have a safety net. Search Create a restore point in Start, select your system drive, and click Create.
• Install the newest driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel before you test, since HAGS behavior depends heavily on it.

Method 1: Turn On Game Mode

Game Mode tells Windows to prioritize the game you are playing. According to Microsoft, it prevents Windows Update from installing drivers and sending restart notifications, and it can help produce a steadier frame rate depending on the game and system.

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Click Gaming in the left pane, then click Game Mode.
3. Set the Game Mode toggle to On. It is usually on already.
4. Launch a game and play briefly. Nothing visible changes; the benefit is fewer interruptions from background tasks.

Game Mode is separate from the Xbox Game Bar, so you can use one without the other. On newer Windows builds, the same Gaming page may show additional Xbox-related options, and the layout can differ slightly from older screenshots you see online.

Why it works: Windows can shift scheduling priority and hold back background maintenance while a game is in the foreground. Reports on its frame rate effect are mixed. Some older titles have been reported to misbehave with Game Mode on, so if one game stutters, turn the setting off and compare.

Method 2: Check and Turn On HAGS

First confirm your PC can use it. Then enable it and verify.

1. Press Win + R, type dxdiag and press Enter. Open the Display tab and look at Driver Model. WDDM 2.7 or higher meets the software requirement. Some builds also list the scheduling status on this tab.
2. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
3. Click Change default graphics settings. On some Windows 11 builds this section is labeled Default graphics settings.
4. Switch Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling to On.
5. Restart the PC when prompted.
6. After the restart, return to the same page and confirm that the switch is still on.

What you should see: the toggle remains on after the reboot. If the toggle is missing, the driver or hardware does not expose the feature. Virtual machines and remote sessions often do not show it, and some laptop makers ship drivers without it. Installing the latest generic driver from the graphics vendor may expose it.

Why it works: with HAGS on, a small processor on the GPU manages queueing of work. The goal is lower scheduling overhead and latency, though results depend on the game.

Method 3: Compare and Decide With Your Own Games

Because results vary, the practical approach is a short, fair comparison.

1. Pick two games you play often, preferably one demanding and one light.
2. With HAGS on, play the same scene or level for five to ten minutes. Note stutter, input feel and any overlay or capture issues. A performance overlay from your GPU software helps you watch frame times.
3. Switch HAGS off, restart, and repeat the exact same scene.
4. Choose the setting that felt smoother and gave fewer problems. If there is no difference you can notice, leave the default for your system.
5. While on the same Graphics page, you will also see Variable refresh rate and Optimizations for windowed games. Variable refresh rate suits a G-SYNC or FreeSync monitor, and the windowed-game option applies to some DirectX 10 and 11 games running windowed or borderless. Leave them alone unless you have a reason to change them, and restart the game after any change.

Why this works: neither HAGS nor Game Mode helps every setup, so a direct comparison on your hardware beats any general rule.

Which Choice Fits You

The frame generation entry reflects reports that DLSS frame generation options stay greyed out when HAGS is off. Check the specific game’s requirements and your GPU vendor’s notes, since support details change with driver releases.

If It Did Not Work

• HAGS toggle is missing. Run Windows Update, install the newest graphics driver from the vendor, and confirm the Driver Model in dxdiag shows WDDM 2.7 or newer. Remote Desktop sessions and virtual machines will not show it.
• Stutter or flicker after enabling. Turn HAGS off, restart, and compare. Then update the driver and try again, as fixes arrive through driver releases.
• Game crashes or black screen. Switch both settings off one at a time. If the crash continues, check Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application for the faulting module, and see the game’s support page.
• Frame generation option is greyed out. Confirm HAGS is on, restart, and verify the game is set to a supported graphics API and that the driver is recent.
• Streaming or recording hitches. Some capture and encoding setups react badly to HAGS. Turn it off for a streaming session and test recording again.
• Game Mode seems to do nothing. That is normal, since the effect is mostly in the background. Leave it on unless a specific game misbehaves.

Common Questions

Are Game Mode and HAGS the same thing?

No. Game Mode is a Windows scheduling hint that prioritizes your game and quiets background updates. HAGS is a graphics scheduling feature that depends on your GPU and driver.

Will HAGS raise my frame rate?

It might, but Microsoft itself notes that benefits can be subtle. Gains vary by game and hardware, so measure with your own games.

Is it safe to leave HAGS on?

For most current systems, yes. It is a standard Windows option, and you can switch it off any time. Keep the graphics driver current.

Should I turn Game Mode off?

Usually not. If a particular game stutters, turn it off and compare, then decide for that game.

Does this affect Windows security?

No. Neither setting changes security features such as Core isolation or Windows Defender, and you do not need to disable anything protective to use them.

Update History

• October 14, 2026 – Initial publication; steps checked against Windows 11 24H2/25H2 and current driver releases.
• Menus can differ slightly by Windows build, BIOS vendor and driver version; check your own screens against the steps.

Sources

• Microsoft DirectX developer blog post on Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling
• Microsoft documentation on Windows 11 graphics settings and Game Mode
• Xbox Support article on using Game Mode on a Windows device
• GPU vendor information on frame generation requirements for GeForce RTX cards