How To Turn On Hardware Acceleration In Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Published on October 31, 2025

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Hardware acceleration can significantly improve the performance of your Windows 11 system, especially when it comes to graphics-intensive tasks like gaming, video editing, and even everyday browsing. By offloading certain tasks to your computer’s GPU, hardware acceleration can free up your CPU and provide a smoother, more responsive experience.

This guide will walk you through the steps to enable hardware acceleration in Windows 11, covering different aspects such as graphics settings and browser configurations. Follow these instructions to optimize your system for better performance.

How Do I Enable Hardware Acceleration on Windows 11?

Enabling Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

This feature allows Windows to manage your GPU more efficiently, potentially boosting performance.

Open the Settings app. You can do this by pressing Windows key + I.
Click on System in the left sidebar.
Select Display from the System menu.
Scroll down and click on Graphics.
Click on Change default graphics settings.
Toggle the Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling option to On.
Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Enabling Hardware Acceleration in Google Chrome

Most modern browsers support hardware acceleration. Here’s how to enable it in Chrome:

Open Google Chrome.
Click on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner to open the Chrome menu.
Select Settings.
In the Settings menu, click on System in the left sidebar.
Toggle the Use hardware acceleration when available option to On.
Restart Chrome for the changes to take effect.

Enabling Hardware Acceleration in Microsoft Edge

The process is similar to Chrome:

Open Microsoft Edge.
Click on the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner to open the Edge menu.
Select Settings.
In the Settings menu, click on System and performance in the left sidebar.
Toggle the Use hardware acceleration when available option to On.
Restart Edge for the changes to take effect.

Verifying Hardware Acceleration is Enabled

After enabling hardware acceleration, you can verify if it’s working correctly through your browser:

In Chrome or Edge, type chrome://gpu or edge://gpu in the address bar and press Enter.
Look for the “Graphics Feature Status” section.
Check if the features you expect to be hardware-accelerated (e.g., “Video Decode,” “Rasterization,” “WebGL”) are listed as “Hardware accelerated.”

Troubleshooting Hardware Acceleration Issues

If you encounter problems after enabling hardware acceleration, such as graphical glitches or crashes, try the following:

Update your graphics drivers: Ensure you have the latest drivers installed from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
Disable extensions: Some browser extensions can interfere with hardware acceleration. Try disabling them one by one to identify the culprit.
Reset browser settings: Resetting your browser to its default settings can resolve conflicts.
Disable hardware acceleration: If problems persist, temporarily disable hardware acceleration to see if it resolves the issue.

Tips For Optimal Performance

Keep your operating system and drivers up to date.
Close unnecessary applications to free up system resources.
Monitor your GPU temperature to prevent overheating.
Consider upgrading your graphics card for even better performance.

Hardware Acceleration: A Performance Boost

Enabling hardware acceleration is a straightforward way to potentially improve the performance of your Windows 11 system and applications. By following the steps outlined above, you can unlock the full potential of your GPU and enjoy a smoother, more responsive computing experience.

FAQ

What is hardware acceleration? Hardware acceleration is the use of a computer’s hardware (typically the GPU) to perform certain tasks more efficiently than software running on the CPU.

Why should I enable hardware acceleration? Enabling hardware acceleration can improve performance, reduce CPU load, and enhance the overall responsiveness of your system, especially for graphics-intensive applications.

What if I experience problems after enabling hardware acceleration? Try updating your graphics drivers, disabling browser extensions, or resetting your browser settings. If problems persist, disable hardware acceleration temporarily.

Does hardware acceleration work with all applications? No, not all applications are designed to take advantage of hardware acceleration. However, most modern browsers and graphics-intensive applications support it.

Where else can I enable hardware acceleration? Besides the OS and browsers, some specific applications (like video editors or CAD software) may have their own hardware acceleration settings.

Comparison of Hardware Acceleration Settings

Feature	Location	Description
GPU Scheduling	Windows 11 Settings > System > Display > Graphics	Allows Windows to manage GPU resources more efficiently.
Chrome Hardware Acceleration	Chrome Settings > System	Enables the use of the GPU for tasks like video decoding and rendering in Chrome.
Edge Hardware Acceleration	Edge Settings > System and performance	Enables the use of the GPU for tasks like video decoding and rendering in Edge.