Windows gives you plenty of control over how your computer looks and how smoothly it runs. You can adjust visual effects, animations, fonts, shadows, transparency, and other settings to make Windows look more polished.
At the same time, you can reduce some of those effects if your PC feels slow or if you want Windows to put more resources toward everyday performance.
Windows includes a straightforward Performance Options window where you can decide which visual effects should stay enabled and which ones can be turned off.
If you are using an older computer, notice lag when opening windows, or simply want to customize the Windows interface, adjusting appearance and performance settings can make a noticeable difference.
This guide walks you through the process step by step and explains what each option actually does.
Adjust Appearance and Performance in Windows
To adjust appearance and performance in Windows,
- Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
- Select the Advanced tab in System Properties, then select Settings under Performance.
- Open the Visual Effects tab to see the available appearance and performance options.
- Select Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer, Adjust for best appearance, or Adjust for best performance.
- Choose Custom if you want to manually enable or disable individual visual effects.
- Select Apply, then select OK to save your changes.
The Custom option lets you keep the visual features you like while disabling the ones you do not need. Let’s learn in detail!
Step 1: Open the Run Dialog Box
The easiest way to access the Windows performance settings is through the Run dialog box. You do not need to search through several Settings pages to find the correct option.
Press Windows + R on your keyboard. A small Run window will appear near the lower-left area of your screen. In the text box, type sysdm.cpl and press Enter.
Windows will open the System Properties window. This window contains several tabs related to system configuration, including computer name, hardware, system protection, and advanced settings.
If the command does not open immediately, make sure you typed sysdm.cpl correctly. The command is not case-sensitive, so uppercase or lowercase letters will work.
Step 2: Open Advanced System Settings
Inside the System Properties window, select the Advanced tab at the top.
You will see several sections on this page. Look for the Performance section. This area controls settings related to Windows visual effects, processor scheduling, memory usage, and other performance-related behavior.
Under Performance, select the Settings button.
A new window called Performance Options will open. This is where you can make the actual appearance and performance adjustments.
Step 3: Open the Visual Effects Options
In the Performance Options window, make sure the Visual Effects tab is selected.
You will now see several choices for controlling the appearance of Windows. Depending on your Windows version, the available options can include animations, shadows, thumbnail previews, smooth edges for screen fonts, and other graphical effects.
This list may look a little technical at first, but you do not need to understand every option before making a change. Windows provides preset choices that make the process much easier.
Before changing anything, take a moment to look through the available settings. If you are happy with how Windows currently looks, you can always return to this window later and restore the previous configuration.
Step 4: Choose the Best Appearance Setting
If your computer performs well and you care more about appearance than resource usage, select Adjust for best appearance.
This option enables the available visual effects that Windows considers appropriate for creating a polished desktop experience. You may notice smoother animations, shadows around windows, better-looking fonts, and other graphical details.
This setting is a good choice for a relatively modern computer where performance is not an issue.
Keep in mind that visual effects are not usually responsible for major performance problems on a powerful PC. If your computer is already running smoothly, there may be little reason to disable them simply to save a small amount of system resources.
Step 5: Choose the Best Performance Setting
If Windows feels sluggish, select Adjust for best performance.
This option disables many visual effects so Windows can focus more of its available resources on running applications and completing tasks.
The interface may look simpler after you apply this setting. Animations, shadows, fading effects, and other graphical features can disappear or become less noticeable.
This can be especially useful on computers with limited RAM, older processors, or older graphics hardware.
However, you do not necessarily need to sacrifice every visual effect. If the change makes Windows look too plain, you can use the Custom option described in the next step.
Step 6: Customize Individual Visual Effects
For most users, Custom is the most flexible choice.
Select Custom, and then review the list of available visual effects. You can check the effects you want to keep and clear the effects you do not care about.
For example, you might want to keep Show thumbnails instead of icons because it makes browsing folders easier. You might also want to keep Smooth edges of screen fonts because text can look more comfortable to read.
At the same time, you could disable effects such as unnecessary animations or fading options if you are trying to improve responsiveness.
The key idea is to create a balance between appearance and performance. You do not have to choose between a beautiful desktop and a responsive computer. With Custom settings, you can keep the effects that matter to you and remove the ones that do not.
Step 7: Apply Your Changes
After choosing your preferred settings, select Apply.
Windows will immediately apply the selected visual effects. You may notice the desktop or open windows change slightly.
Take a few seconds to use your computer normally. Open a folder, switch between applications, move windows around, and check whether the interface feels better.
If you like the changes, select OK to close the Performance Options window. You can then select OK again in the System Properties window.
If you do not like the result, simply return to the same location and select another option. Your changes are not permanent, so you can experiment without worrying about damaging Windows.
Adjust Windows Appearance From Settings
The Performance Options window controls many classic visual effects, but Windows also provides modern appearance controls through the Settings app.
Open Settings by pressing Windows + I. Depending on your Windows version, go to Personalization > Colors to adjust options such as transparency and Windows color preferences.
You can also explore Personalization > Themes to change the overall theme, desktop background, sounds, and related appearance settings.
These options work alongside the Performance Options settings. For example, you can customize your desktop appearance while reducing resource-heavy visual effects.
Check Accessibility Options
If you are adjusting Windows appearance because certain effects are distracting or difficult to use, check the accessibility settings as well.
Press Windows + I, then go to Accessibility. From there, Windows provides options related to visual presentation, including settings for contrast, transparency, animation, and other display-related preferences.
Turning off unnecessary animation can make Windows feel calmer and more straightforward. Likewise, changing contrast or text-related options can make the interface easier to read.
This is particularly useful if your goal is not just better performance but also a more comfortable Windows experience.
Restart Only If Necessary
Most changes to visual effects take effect immediately, so you normally do not need to restart your computer.
After changing the settings, use Windows normally and see whether the changes solve the problem you were experiencing. If an application or particular visual element does not immediately reflect your changes, closing and reopening that application may be enough.
A full restart is generally worth trying only when Windows does not appear to have applied a setting correctly.
FAQs
Does adjusting visual effects make Windows faster?
It can make Windows feel more responsive, particularly on hardware with limited resources. Disabling animations and other graphical effects reduces some of the work Windows has to perform. However, visual effects are only one part of overall system performance.
Which setting should I choose for an older PC?
If your computer is struggling with responsiveness, start with Adjust for best performance. If the resulting appearance is too basic, switch to Custom and turn a few useful effects back on.
Should I use Adjust for best appearance on a new PC?
If your computer has modern hardware and runs smoothly, Adjust for best appearance is perfectly reasonable. The performance impact may be minimal on a capable system.
Can I change these settings later?
Yes. You can return to System Properties > Advanced > Performance > Settings whenever you want. You can switch between the presets or create your own Custom configuration.
Will these changes damage Windows?
No. Adjusting the visual effects in Performance Options does not damage Windows. These settings simply control how certain interface elements are displayed.
What if my PC is still slow after changing visual effects?
If Windows remains slow, visual effects may not be the main cause. Check Task Manager for applications consuming excessive CPU, memory, disk, or network resources. You should also make sure Windows and your hardware drivers are up to date and that your storage drive has sufficient free space.