Our free tool to optimize your PC for gaming in two clicks (and undo it), plus the truth about what actually boosts FPS in Windows 11 and what's pure snake oil.
Let's be straight from the start: there are a thousand programs and a thousand videos promising you double the FPS with a couple of clicks. Almost all of them are snake oil, and some will leave your PC worse than it was. This isn't that. This is what actually improves performance in Windows 11, what's a lie, and how to get it all done — and undone — with a tool we built that you can download for free.
No sign-ups, no "premium", no poking around in stuff you don't understand. Let's get into it.
Before anything: download the tool
To avoid going through every setting by hand, we built the XPFeed PC Optimizer. It handles everything in this guide with buttons, and the best part: every change can be undone.
Unzip the file and open `Optimizador.exe`. Since it's not signed with a paid certificate (those cost a fortune per year), Windows will throw up the typical blue SmartScreen warning the first time: click "More info" → "Run anyway". It'll ask for admin permissions because it touches system settings — that's normal.
Inside you'll see options organized in blocks: Cleanup, Gaming, Advanced, and System. Note: the Advanced section is locked by default, with a warning, and only unlocks if you accept the risk. If you're not super confident, stick to Cleanup and Gaming and you'll be fine. I'll explain why below.
And even if you don't download it, this guide still works: I'll walk you through how to do everything manually too. If you're after the advanced tweaks (Ultimate power plan, XMP in the BIOS...), they're all in the complete Windows 11 optimization guide
Before touching anything, it's worth knowing what actually moves the needle. In order of impact:
1. Up-to-date GPU driver. The number one factor, full stop. No Windows tweak beats having the latest NVIDIA or AMD driver. 2. Disable background recording (Game DVR). Windows is recording your last few seconds of gameplay without asking. Turning it off gives you FPS and, more importantly, smoother frametimes (which is what makes gameplay actually feel smooth). 3. Kill overlays and resource hogs while you play: Discord, GeForce Experience, a browser with 40 tabs... 4. Max out the power plan, so your CPU doesn't throttle mid-game. 5. Trim startup bloat, so the system doesn't load a bunch of stuff you never use.
To be clear: none of this doubles your FPS. What it does is give you the performance you should already be getting, with fewer stutters and a snappier PC. Anyone promising double the FPS is selling you a dream.
My experience (RTX 3060 Ti)
This isn't theory — I tested it on my own rig with an RTX 3060 Ti. After removing bloatware, disabling startup programs, and especially enabling Gaming Mode (which kills Game DVR), the difference was crystal clear.
Where I felt it most was in CS2: frametimes flattened out significantly — far fewer micro-stutters in gunfights, which is exactly when you can't afford a hitch. Windows also booted noticeably faster, and the desktop felt lighter overall (less stuff eating RAM at idle).
What helped me the most, by a wide margin, was Gaming Mode — disabling that background recording Windows runs by default. If you're only going to change one thing, make it that.
Step by step: what's actually worth doing
### 1. Clean out the junk Temp files, Windows Update cache, thumbnails, old logs... they take up space and do absolutely nothing. In the tool: Clean junk files and, if you have an SSD, Optimize drive (TRIM).
### 2. Manage startup programs This is where half your slow boot times are hiding. A ton of programs open themselves when you start the PC (launchers, RGB apps, "assistants"...). Under Startup programs you can see which are active or disabled and switch them off with a click, without uninstalling them. Only keep what you actually need.
### 3. Update your GPU driver (the king) The most important thing in this entire guide, and I'll say it again. Check GPU driver tells you what card you have and what driver version you're running, then takes you to the official site to download it. Do this every few weeks — new drivers regularly bring real improvements for current games.
### 4. Enable Gaming Mode (the biggest impact) My favorite, and what helped me most. Gaming Mode does all of this at once: kills Game DVR, enables Windows Game Mode and hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (HAGS), maxes out the power plan, and disables background apps. And if something doesn't feel right, Undo Gaming Mode puts everything back.
### 5. Remove Windows 11 ads and bloatware Windows 11 shoves ads and "suggestions" into the Start menu, lock screen, and even File Explorer, and ships with apps you never asked for. Remove ads and suggestions turns off Widgets, Copilot, Bing search, and all that noise; Remove bloatware uninstalls pre-installed apps you don't use. Both are reversible.
### 6. Before you play: Focus Mode Right before a serious session (a Valorant comp match, a LoL ranked game, whatever), hit Focus Mode: it closes your browser, Discord, OneDrive, and the rest in one shot to free up RAM and CPU, then reopens them when you're done.
### 7. Optimize your GPU Optimize GPU detects your card and puts the recommended control panel settings one click away (max performance power mode, low latency...) — these are the options that actually matter for gaming. If you'd rather do it by hand, there's a step-by-step walkthrough in the NVIDIA control panel guide.
What's SNAKE OIL (don't touch it)
"Registry cleaners" that promise speed. Zero FPS gain, and they can actually break things. Microsoft explicitly advises against them.
Disabling HPET or changing the timer. On modern Windows 11 it's usually the same or worse.
"RAM cleaners". Windows manages memory better than any tool promising to "free it up." Pure marketing.
Disabling your antivirus to go faster. You don't gain a single FPS and you leave yourself completely exposed. Not a chance.
The advanced stuff (use your head)
The tool includes an advanced section for people who know what they're doing: deep debloat, security hardening, low-latency competitive mode, and even removing Edge, OneDrive, or disabling Windows Update and Defender. It's locked behind a warning because it can leave your system without antivirus, without updates, or unstable — and some of it isn't easy to undo.
If you go in there, do it knowing exactly what you're touching and create a restore point first (in System settings). For everyday use, you don't need it at all.
How much does it actually make a difference?
Let's be honest so you're not disappointed: what boosts FPS the most is your GPU driver and the settings inside the game itself. Cleanup, Gaming Mode, and the rest mainly improve smoothness (fewer stutters, fewer microstutters) and leave your PC snappier to boot. In my case it was noticeable — but if you were looking for a magic button that doubles your FPS... that doesn't exist, not here, not anywhere.
FAQ
Does this actually boost FPS? The biggest FPS gains come from your GPU driver and in-game settings. Cleanup and Gaming Mode mainly improve frametimes (smoothness) and cut out stutters; they don't double your FPS. Don't trust anyone promising miracles.
Is it safe? Can I break anything? The Cleanup and Gaming sections are safe and reversible. The Advanced section is locked behind a warning for exactly this reason — it can cause problems: only use it if you know what you're doing. The tool creates restore points so you can roll back.
Why does Windows say it's dangerous when I open it? Because the program isn't signed with a paid certificate and it modifies system settings. It's safe; just click "More info → Run anyway".
Does it work on Windows 10? Most options do. Some (like the classic context menu or certain settings) are specific to Windows 11.
How do I undo the changes? Every mode has its own "Undo" button, and there's a "Restore ALL" that reverts everything at once. System restore points are also created automatically.
