The Graphics settings section in Windows is designed to give you more control over how your computer handles applications that use the GPU. This can be especially helpful if your computer has both integrated graphics and a dedicated graphics card.
For example, a laptop might use integrated graphics for everyday tasks to save power while using a dedicated GPU for demanding games or video-editing applications. Windows allows you to assign a graphics preference to supported applications.
Keep in mind that the available options depend on your Windows version, hardware, graphics driver, and computer manufacturer. Some computers may show additional graphics options that are not available on another system.
Below, I have explained several ways to open Graphics settings in Windows 11/10 and show you where to find the high-performance graphics options.
Open Graphics Settings in Windows 11/10
If you simply want to get to the Graphics settings page as quickly as possible, follow these steps:
- To do this, press Windows + I to open Settings.
- In Windows 11, go to System > Display > Graphics.
- In Windows 10, go to System > Display, then select Graphics settings.
- From there, you can manage graphics preferences for supported apps and games.
- Select an application and choose the available graphics preference, such as letting Windows decide, Power saving, or High performance.
Let’s learn in detail!
1: Open Windows Settings
The easiest way to access Graphics settings is through the main Windows Settings application.
On your keyboard, press Windows + I. This shortcut immediately opens Settings without requiring you to search through the Start menu. You can also open the Start menu and select Settings if you prefer using the mouse.
In Windows 11, once Settings opens, select System from the left side of the window. Then select Display. From the Display page, scroll down until you find Graphics.
The navigation path is:
Settings > System > Display > Graphics
Select Graphics, and Windows will open the page where you can configure graphics preferences for applications.
2: Open Graphics Settings Through Search
If you do not want to navigate through several Settings pages, Windows Search provides another convenient option.
Select the Search button on the taskbar or press Windows + S. Type Graphics settings into the search box. When the corresponding Settings result appears, select it.
Windows should take you directly to the Graphics page.
This method is particularly useful if you frequently forget where a particular Windows setting is located. Instead of remembering the complete Settings path, you can simply search for the name of the setting.
For Windows 11, you can use:
Windows Search > Graphics settings > Open
For Windows 10, search for Graphics settings and open the matching Settings result.
3: Open Graphics Settings From Display Settings
Another approach is to start from your desktop.
Right-click an empty area of your desktop and select Display settings. This opens the Windows display configuration page.
On Windows 11, select System > Display > Graphics if you have reached the main Settings area. You can also scroll through the Display page and select Graphics when the option is available.
On Windows 10, open Display settings, then look for Graphics settings farther down the page.
The navigation can generally be described as:
Desktop > Right-click > Display settings > Graphics
This method is convenient when you are already working with display-related settings and want to move directly into graphics preferences.
4: Select an App for Graphics Preferences
Once you have opened the Graphics page, you can choose which applications should receive a particular graphics preference.
Depending on your Windows version, you may see options for adding an application or selecting an existing application. Choose the appropriate app type and browse to the application’s executable file if Windows asks you to locate it.
After adding the application, select it from the list and choose Options or the available graphics preference control.
Windows may provide choices such as Let Windows decide, Power saving, and High performance.
The exact choices can vary depending on your system’s hardware.
For example, if you have a laptop with integrated and dedicated graphics, Power saving may favor the less power-hungry GPU, while High performance may favor the more powerful GPU.
5: Save Your Graphics Preference
After selecting a graphics preference, make sure you apply the change.
Choose Save if Windows displays a Save button. If the application is currently running, close and restart it so that the new graphics preference can take effect.
For a game or graphics-intensive application, restarting the program is particularly important because the application may have already selected a GPU when it started.
The basic navigation is:
Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Select an app > Options > Select preference > Save
If you do not see a Save button on your particular Windows version, Windows may apply the setting immediately after you make your selection.
6: Check Your Graphics Hardware
If you are trying to select High performance because you have a dedicated graphics card, it is useful to check which graphics hardware Windows recognizes.
Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand Display adapters. You should see the graphics hardware detected by Windows.
For example, a computer might show an integrated graphics processor along with a dedicated NVIDIA or AMD graphics processor.
The navigation is:
Start > Right-click > Device Manager > Display adapters
If your expected graphics adapter does not appear, there could be a driver, hardware, or Windows detection issue that needs additional troubleshooting.
High Performance or Accelerated Graphics Settings on Windows
The High performance graphics preference can be useful when you want a demanding application to use the more powerful graphics processor available on your computer.
This is particularly relevant for PC games, 3D applications, video editors, CAD software, and other GPU-intensive programs.
To configure it in Windows 11, open:
Settings > System > Display > Graphics
Find the application you want to configure. Select it and choose Options. If your system supports multiple graphics processors, you may see a High performance option.
Select High performance and save the setting.
However, using the high-performance GPU can increase power consumption, heat, and fan activity, especially on laptops. For that reason, it may not make sense to use the highest-performance option for every application.
For example, a demanding game may benefit from High performance, while a simple text editor generally does not need it.
Also remember that the Windows graphics preference is only one part of overall GPU performance. Graphics drivers, application settings, power settings, thermal conditions, and the hardware itself can all affect performance.
FAQs
Where are Graphics settings in Windows 11?
Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics. This takes you to the Windows Graphics page, where you can configure graphics preferences for supported applications.
How do I open Graphics settings quickly?
Press Windows + S, type Graphics settings, and select the matching Settings result. You can also press Windows + I and navigate through System > Display > Graphics.
How do I open Graphics settings in Windows 10?
Open Settings, select System, choose Display, and look for Graphics settings. You can also search for Graphics settings using Windows Search.
Can I choose which GPU an app uses?
Yes, on systems that support the feature. Open the Graphics settings page, select the application, choose Options, and select the available graphics preference.
What does High performance mean in Graphics settings?
High performance tells Windows to favor the higher-performance graphics processor for the selected application when your system has multiple supported GPUs.
Why don’t I see High performance?
The option depends on your graphics hardware, Windows version, drivers, and system configuration. A computer with only one supported graphics processor may not display multiple GPU choices.
Will High performance improve every application?
No. Applications that do not place significant demands on the GPU may see little or no benefit. High-performance graphics settings are generally more relevant to games and graphics-intensive software.
Can changing Graphics settings damage my computer?
Changing the Windows graphics preference normally does not damage your hardware. However, selecting a high-performance GPU can result in higher power usage and increased heat, particularly on laptops.