How to enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling on Windows 11

Windows 11 can reduce latency and improve graphics performance with the Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling feature, and here's how to enable it.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
Pureinfotech Logo
Windows 11 hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling
Windows 11 hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling

Windows 11 comes with Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling, a feature that helps to reduce latency and improve performance by allowing the graphics card to manage its memory. However, since this is still a new feature, you must be running the latest graphics driver from the manufacturer, and only certain cards are supported.

Nvidia supports Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling, starting with its driver version 451.48 and higher releases. If you have Intel integrated graphics, the feature is available since driver version 27.20.100.8190. If you have an AMD card, you will need a 56000 series or later card.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling on Windows 11.

Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling on Windows 11

To turn on hardware scheduling on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Display page on the right side.

  4. Under the “Related settings” section, click the Graphics settings option.

    Windows 11 graphics settings

  5. Click the Change Default Graphics Settings option.

  6. Turn on the Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling toggle switch to enable the feature on Windows 11.

  7. Restart your computer.

Once you complete the steps, the new option should apply, and you should be able to see better latency and performance playing games.

Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling from Registry

To enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling with the Registry, use these steps:

Warning: It’s important to note that modifying the Windows Registry can cause serious problems if not used properly. It’s assumed you know what you’re doing and that you have created a full backup of your system before proceeding.

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry Editor.

  3. Browse the following path:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers

  4. Right-click the GraphicsDrivers (folder) key, select the New submenu and click on DWORD (32-bit) value.

    Registry HwSchMode

  5. Name the key HwSchMode and press Enter.

  6. Double-click the newly created key and sets its value from 0 to 2.

    Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU scheduling

  7. Click the OK button.

  8. Restart your computer.

After you complete the steps, Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling should now be enabled on the computer.

If you want to revert the changes, you can use the same instructions, but on step No. 4, right-click the HwSchMode key and select the Delete option. If the key was already available, you could change its value from 2 to 1 to disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].