If you want to boost your PC’s graphics performance and reduce latency, Windows 11 offers a feature called Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling. This feature allows your GPU to manage its own memory and workloads, potentially improving frame rates in games and reducing system lag.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to turn on hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Windows 11, explain what it does, and provide tips to make the most of it.
What is Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling?
Traditionally, the CPU manages most of the work for rendering graphics. With hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, your GPU can handle scheduling tasks on its own. This can lead to:
⚡ Lower latency in games
🎮 Smoother frame rates
💻 Reduced CPU load
Improved performance for graphics-intensive applications
Note: The performance improvement may vary depending on your hardware and software.
System Requirements
Before enabling the feature, ensure your system meets the following requirements:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 Version | 2004 or later |
| GPU | Compatible NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics card |
| Drivers | Updated to the latest version that supports GPU scheduling |
Step 1: Update Your Graphics Drivers
Press Win + X → Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters.
Right-click your GPU → Update driver → Search automatically.
Alternatively, download the latest driver from your GPU manufacturer:
NVIDIA: GeForce Experience
AMD: Radeon Software
Intel: Intel Driver & Support Assistant
Step 2: Open Graphics Settings
Press Win + I to open Settings.
Navigate to System → Display → Graphics.
Scroll down to Related settings → Graphics settings.
Step 3: Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
In the Graphics settings page, scroll to Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.
Toggle it On.
You may need to restart your PC for changes to take effect.
Step 4: Confirm It’s Enabled
After restarting:
Right-click the desktop → Display settings → Graphics settings.
You should see that Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling is On.
For NVIDIA users, you can also confirm in NVIDIA Control Panel → System Information.
Step 5: Optimize Your GPU Performance
Enabling GPU scheduling is just one step. For better results:
Set high-performance mode in Power & Battery settings.
Enable game mode in Windows 11 for consistent performance.
Update DirectX and game patches for optimized GPU usage.
Troubleshooting
Feature is grayed out:
Make sure you have the latest GPU drivers installed.
Your GPU or Windows version may not support the feature.
Performance decreased after enabling:
Some systems may see minimal improvements or slight drops. Test with it on and off to see what works best.
Feature unavailable for integrated GPU:
Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling works best with discrete GPUs (NVIDIA/AMD).
Summary
Enabling hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Windows 11 can help reduce latency and offload work from your CPU to your GPU:
Update your GPU drivers.
Open Settings → System → Display → Graphics settings.
Toggle Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling to On.
Restart your PC.
Optimize your power and performance settings for best results.
While the impact varies per system, gamers and graphics-heavy users often notice smoother performance and reduced stuttering.
FAQs
1. Will this feature make all games run faster?
Not always. Some games may benefit more than others depending on how they use GPU and CPU resources.
2. Can I enable it on an Intel integrated GPU?
It depends on your driver support, but discrete GPUs like NVIDIA and AMD typically benefit more.
3. Do I need to restart after enabling it?
Yes, a restart is required for the changes to take effect.
4. Is hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling safe?
Yes. It’s a built-in Windows 11 feature, though results may vary depending on hardware.
5. Can I disable it later?
Yes. Simply toggle it off in the Graphics settings and restart your PC.