How to Force a Game to Use Your Dedicated GPU on Windows

Windows sometimes launches a game on your integrated GPU (Intel or AMD iGPU) instead of your dedicated card (NVIDIA or AMD). This usually causes lower frame rates, stuttering, and reduced visual quality. There are three ways to fix it. Pick the one that matches your hardware.

Method 1: Windows Graphics Settings (universal)

This is the recommended starting point. It works for any GPU brand and overrides both NVIDIA Control Panel and AMD Radeon Software for the affected app.

1. 1
   Open Settings → System → Display.
2. 2

   Scroll down and click Graphics settings (Windows 10) or Graphics under Related settings (Windows 11).

3. 3
   Click Browse, locate the game's .exe file, and click Add.
4. 4
   Once the game appears in the list, click Options.
5. 5
   Select High performance and click Save.

Method 2: NVIDIA Control Panel

Use this method if you have an NVIDIA dedicated GPU and want per-application control through the NVIDIA driver.

1. 1
   Right-click the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. 2
   In the left panel, go to 3D Settings → Manage 3D settings.
3. 3
   Click the Program Settings tab.
4. 4

   Click Add and browse to the game's .exe file. If the game is already in the list, select it.

5. 5

   Under Select the preferred graphics processor for this program, choose High-performance NVIDIA processor.

6. 6
   Click Apply.

→ How to update your GPU drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)

Method 3: AMD Radeon Software

Use this method if your dedicated GPU is an AMD card.

1. 1

   Right-click the desktop and open AMD Radeon Software, or find it in the system tray.

2. 2
   Click the Gaming tab at the top.
3. 3

   Click Add a Game, then browse to the game's .exe file and click Open.

4. 4
   Select the game from the list to open its settings.
5. 5

   Under Graphics, find GPU Selection and set it to your discrete AMD GPU.

Still running on the wrong GPU?

If the game still uses the integrated GPU after applying one of the methods above, try the following:

• Disable the iGPU in Device Manager. Open Device Manager → Display adapters, right-click the integrated GPU, and select Disable device. Only do this if you are using an external monitor connected to the dedicated GPU.
• Check your BIOS/UEFI. Some laptops have a setting that forces integrated graphics for all apps. Look for an option labelled Switchable Graphics, mSHYBRID, or Optimus and set it to Discrete or dGPU Only.
• Verify the game actually uses the correct GPU. Open Task Manager → Performance → GPU, or use a tool like GPU-Z while the game is running to confirm which adapter is active.