Minecraft can sometimes run on your computer’s integrated graphics instead of the dedicated NVIDIA or AMD GPU. When that happens, you may notice lower FPS, stuttering, poor graphics performance, or higher CPU usage, especially when using shaders, high render distances, or resource-heavy Minecraft mods.
This issue is common on laptops and some desktop PCs that have both integrated graphics and a dedicated GPU. Windows may decide which graphics processor Minecraft should use, or Minecraft may launch through a configuration that does not select the GPU you expect.
You can usually fix the problem by changing Windows graphics preferences, checking your GPU drivers, and making sure Minecraft is launching with the correct executable.
Let’s go for it!
Minecraft Using Integrated Graphics, Not GPU
If Minecraft is using your integrated GPU instead of your dedicated NVIDIA or AMD GPU, try these steps in order:
- Open Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics and add Minecraft or the Minecraft Launcher to the graphics list.
- Select Minecraft, choose Options, and set the graphics preference to High performance.
- Open the NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software and assign Minecraft to the dedicated graphics processor.
- Update your NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics driver from the appropriate manufacturer’s software or website.
- Connect your laptop to its charger and check whether its manufacturer has a performance mode that affects GPU selection.
- Restart Minecraft and verify GPU usage through Task Manager while the game is running.
The following steps let you manually tell Windows and your graphics software to prioritize the high-performance GPU.
Step 1: Set Minecraft to High Performance in Windows
The first thing to check is Windows’ graphics preference. This is one of the easiest ways to tell your computer which GPU should handle Minecraft.
Open Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I. Select System, then choose Display. Scroll down and select Graphics.
Look for Minecraft or the Minecraft Launcher in the application list. If you do not see it, select the option to add a desktop application and browse for the appropriate Minecraft executable or launcher.
Once Minecraft appears, select it and choose Options. You should see graphics preferences such as Let Windows decide, Power saving, and High performance.
Select High performance, then choose Save.
The navigation path is:
Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Minecraft > Options > High performance > Save
Close Minecraft completely and launch it again. Windows should now prioritize the higher-performance graphics processor for the selected application.
Step 2: Select the Dedicated GPU in NVIDIA Control Panel
If your computer uses an NVIDIA graphics card, you can also configure Minecraft through NVIDIA Control Panel.
Right-click an empty area of the Windows desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel. Select Manage 3D settings, then open the Program Settings tab.
Find Minecraft in the application list. If it is not listed, select Add and locate the Minecraft executable associated with the version you are playing.
Look for the graphics processor preference and select the high-performance NVIDIA processor. Apply the changes when prompted.
The navigation path is:
NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings > Program Settings > Minecraft > High-performance NVIDIA processor > Apply
After making the change, restart Minecraft.
Keep in mind that the exact executable can vary depending on whether you are playing Minecraft Java Edition, using a third-party launcher, or running another Minecraft version. If changing the launcher does not affect GPU usage, you may need to select the actual Minecraft process rather than only the launcher.
Step 3: Configure AMD Software for Minecraft
For systems with an AMD Radeon GPU, AMD Software can provide application-specific graphics settings.
Open AMD Software from the Windows Start menu. Look for the gaming section and find Minecraft if it appears in the application list. If it does not appear automatically, you may need to add the appropriate Minecraft executable manually.
Check the available graphics or application settings and select the option that prioritizes high-performance graphics when available.
The general navigation is:
AMD Software > Gaming > Minecraft > Graphics Settings > High Performance
The exact wording and available options can differ between AMD Software versions and graphics hardware.
After saving the setting, close Minecraft and start it again. Then check GPU usage in Windows to see whether the dedicated Radeon GPU is being used.
Step 4: Update Your Graphics Drivers
An outdated or corrupted graphics driver can cause Windows to select the wrong graphics processor or cause Minecraft to behave unexpectedly.
If you have an NVIDIA GPU, check for available driver updates through NVIDIA’s software. For an AMD GPU, check AMD Software. Intel graphics drivers can also be updated when necessary, particularly if your system relies on Intel integrated graphics.
Before updating, identify your graphics hardware. Press Windows + X, select Device Manager, and expand Display adapters.
You may see two entries, such as an Intel integrated GPU and an NVIDIA or AMD dedicated GPU.
The navigation path is:
Windows + X > Device Manager > Display adapters > Identify your GPUs
Do not disable the integrated GPU simply because Minecraft is using it. On many laptops, the integrated graphics processor is part of the normal display system, and disabling it can cause display or power-management problems.
Step 5: Make Sure Your Laptop Is Using Performance Mode
Laptop manufacturers often provide power-management settings that can influence gaming performance.
If your laptop has a performance utility, open it and check for modes such as Performance, Gaming, or Maximum Performance.
Also connect the laptop to its AC power adapter before testing Minecraft. Many laptops reduce GPU performance when operating on battery power to extend battery life.
The general process is:
Laptop Power Settings > Performance Mode > Select Performance > Connect AC Power > Restart Minecraft
The exact controls depend on your laptop manufacturer and model.
If Minecraft suddenly performs better while connected to power, your previous problem may have been related to the laptop’s power-management settings rather than Minecraft itself.
Step 6: Check Which GPU Minecraft Is Actually Using
After making your changes, verify the result instead of assuming that Minecraft switched GPUs.
Start Minecraft and enter a world. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Select the Processes tab and look for Minecraft. You may need to right-click the column headings and enable GPU and GPU Engine if those columns are not visible.
The navigation path is:
Minecraft > Task Manager > Processes > GPU > GPU Engine
The GPU Engine information can help identify which graphics processor is handling the game.
You can also open the Performance tab and monitor the GPU graphs while Minecraft is running. If your computer has multiple GPUs, Windows may show separate GPU entries.
Do not worry if the integrated GPU shows some activity. On laptops, the integrated processor can still perform certain display-related tasks while the dedicated GPU handles the demanding game rendering.
Step 7: Check Minecraft’s Video Settings
If Minecraft is still performing poorly after selecting the correct GPU, the problem may not actually be GPU selection.
Open Minecraft’s Video Settings and check the Render Distance, Simulation Distance, graphics quality, particles, clouds, and other performance-related settings.
A very high render distance can place significant demands on your system even when Minecraft is using the dedicated GPU.
If you are using shader packs, high-resolution resource packs, or graphics mods, temporarily disable them and test Minecraft again.
The testing path is:
Minecraft > Options > Video Settings > Reduce Graphics Load > Apply Changes > Test FPS
This helps determine whether the issue is GPU selection or simply a demanding graphics configuration.
FAQs
Why is Minecraft using my integrated graphics?
Windows may assign Minecraft to the integrated GPU to reduce power consumption. This is especially common on laptops with both integrated and dedicated graphics processors. Setting Minecraft to High performance in Windows Graphics settings can change this behavior.
How do I know if Minecraft is using my NVIDIA GPU?
Open Minecraft, then open Task Manager > Performance and monitor your NVIDIA GPU. You can also check the GPU Engine column under the Processes tab to see which GPU is handling Minecraft.
Should I disable my integrated graphics?
Generally, no. Do not disable your integrated graphics just because Minecraft is using it. Many laptops rely on the integrated processor for display output and power management.
Why does Minecraft still use the integrated GPU after I changed the setting?
Make sure you changed the setting for the correct Minecraft executable rather than only the launcher. Also restart Minecraft after changing the graphics preference. If you use a third-party launcher, its Java process may need separate configuration.
Does using the dedicated GPU increase Minecraft FPS?
It can, particularly when the dedicated GPU is substantially more powerful than the integrated graphics processor. However, Minecraft performance also depends on your CPU, RAM, render distance, mods, shaders, Java settings, and game version.
Can Minecraft use both GPUs?
On some laptop configurations, Windows may use different GPUs for different parts of the display and application workflow. That does not necessarily mean Minecraft is rendering the game equally across both GPUs.