Optimize Windows 11 Gaming - PowerShell 7 Script

The following PowerShell script can have a significant positive effect on windows 11 gaming performance. It has been thoroughly tested but may not be perfect. It should be run in a Windows Terminal with PS 7.5.x installed and running (type pwsh) as Administrator. Feel free to customize it for your own system.

<#
Gaming Optimization Script (AWCC-Safe, Maximum Performance)
Author: Blackweb
Purpose: Apply gaming-focused performance optimizations that do NOT
conflict with Alienware Command Center power/thermal profiles.
Includes rollback support.
#>

# ---------------------------
# Require Admin
# ---------------------------
If (-not ([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal] [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()).IsInRole(`
[Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole] "Administrator"))
{
Write-Warning "Run PowerShell as Administrator."
Break
}

# ---------------------------
# Backup Registry Values
# ---------------------------
Function Backup-GamingRegistry {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
[string]$BackupPath
)

$paths = @{
"HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" = @(
"AllowAutoGameMode",
"AutoGameModeEnabled"
)
"HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers" = @(
"HwSchMode"
)
"HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\DirectX\UserGpuPreferences" = @(
"DirectXUserGlobalSettings"
)
"HKCU:\System\GameConfigStore" = @(
"GameDVR_FSEBehaviorMode",
"GameDVR_HonorUserFSEBehaviorMode"
)
"HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters" = @(
"TcpNoDelay",
"TcpDelAckTicks",
"TcpAckFrequency",
"EnableTCPChimney",
"EnableRSS",
"EnableTCPA",
"EnableDCA",
"ECNCapability"
)
"HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Kernel" = @(
"GlobalTimerResolutionRequests"
)
"HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR" = @(
"AppCaptureEnabled",
"AudioCaptureEnabled"
)
}

$backup = @{}

foreach ($path in $paths.Keys) {
foreach ($name in $paths[$path]) {
if (Test-Path $path) {
try {
$value = Get-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name $name -ErrorAction Stop |
Select-Object -ExpandProperty $name
$backup["$path|$name"] = $value
} catch {
$backup["$path|$name"] = $null
}
} else {
$backup["$path|$name"] = $null
}
}
}

$backup | ConvertTo-Json | Out-File $BackupPath -Encoding UTF8
}

# ---------------------------
# Restore Registry Values
# ---------------------------
Function Restore-GamingRegistry {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
[string]$BackupPath
)

if (-not (Test-Path $BackupPath)) {
Write-Host "No gaming backup found." -ForegroundColor Red
return
}

$backup = Get-Content $BackupPath | ConvertFrom-Json

foreach ($key in $backup.PSObject.Properties.Name) {
$parts = $key -split "\|"
$path = $parts[0]
$name = $parts[1]
$value = $backup.$key

if (-not (Test-Path $path)) {
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
}

if ($value -eq $null) {
Remove-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name $name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
} else {
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name $name -Value $value -Force
}
}

Write-Host "Gaming settings restored." -ForegroundColor Green
}

# ---------------------------
# Apply Gaming Optimizations (AWCC-Safe)
# ---------------------------
Function Optimize-Gaming {
Write-Host "Applying AWCC-safe gaming optimizations…" -ForegroundColor Cyan

# --- Game Mode ---
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" -Name "AllowAutoGameMode" -Value 1 -Force
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" -Name "AutoGameModeEnabled" -Value 1 -Force

# --- Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS) ---
$gpuPath = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers"
If (-not (Test-Path $gpuPath)) { New-Item -Path $gpuPath -Force | Out-Null }
Set-ItemProperty -Path $gpuPath -Name "HwSchMode" -Value 2 -Force

# --- Ensure DirectX registry path exists ---
$dxBase = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\DirectX"
$dxPref = "$dxBase\UserGpuPreferences"

If (-not (Test-Path $dxBase)) { New-Item -Path $dxBase -Force | Out-Null }
If (-not (Test-Path $dxPref)) { New-Item -Path $dxPref -Force | Out-Null }

# --- Combined VRR + GPU Preference (single string) ---
$dxValue = "GpuPreference=2;VRROptimizeEnable=1;"

New-ItemProperty -Path $dxPref `
-Name "DirectXUserGlobalSettings" `
-Value $dxValue `
-PropertyType String `
-Force | Out-Null

# --- Fullscreen Optimizations ---
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\System\GameConfigStore" -Name "GameDVR_FSEBehaviorMode" -Value 2 -Force
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\System\GameConfigStore" -Name "GameDVR_HonorUserFSEBehaviorMode" -Value 1 -Force

# --- Network Latency Optimization ---
$tcpPath = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters"
If (-not (Test-Path $tcpPath)) { New-Item -Path $tcpPath -Force | Out-Null }

$netSettings = @{
"TcpNoDelay" = 1
"TcpDelAckTicks" = 0
"TcpAckFrequency" = 1
"EnableTCPChimney" = 0
"EnableRSS" = 1
"EnableTCPA" = 0
"EnableDCA" = 0
"ECNCapability" = 0
}

foreach ($name in $netSettings.Keys) {
Set-ItemProperty -Path $tcpPath -Name $name -Value $netSettings[$name] -Force
}

# --- Timer Resolution Optimization ---
$sysPath = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Kernel"
If (-not (Test-Path $sysPath)) { New-Item -Path $sysPath -Force | Out-Null }
Set-ItemProperty -Path $sysPath -Name "GlobalTimerResolutionRequests" -Value 1 -Force

# --- Disable Game Bar Recording (keep Game Bar itself) ---
$gbar = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR"
If (-not (Test-Path $gbar)) { New-Item -Path $gbar -Force | Out-Null }
Set-ItemProperty -Path $gbar -Name "AppCaptureEnabled" -Value 0 -Force
Set-ItemProperty -Path $gbar -Name "AudioCaptureEnabled" -Value 0 -Force

# --- Optional Xbox Service Trimming ---
$services = @(
"XblAuthManager",
"XblGameSave",
"XboxNetApiSvc"
)

foreach ($svc in $services) {
Set-Service -Name $svc -StartupType Manual -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}

Write-Host "Gaming optimizations applied (AWCC-safe)." -ForegroundColor Green
}

# ---------------------------
# Main Menu
# ---------------------------
Write-Host "`n=== Gaming Optimization Menu (AWCC-Safe) ===" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "1. Apply Gaming Optimizations"
Write-Host "2. Rollback Gaming Optimizations"
Write-Host "----------------------------------------------"

$choice = Read-Host "Select an option"

$backupPath = "C:\Windows11-Optimization-Backup\gaming_backup.json"

switch ($choice) {
"1" {
Backup-GamingRegistry -BackupPath $backupPath
Optimize-Gaming
}
"2" {
Restore-GamingRegistry -BackupPath $backupPath
}
default {
Write-Host "Invalid selection." -ForegroundColor Red
}
}

Write-Host "`nCompleted." -ForegroundColor Green

Can you wrap that in a code tag, por favor?

You should comment if any Window restart is required for all changes to take effect.

pseymour said:

Can you wrap that in a code tag, por favor?

Click to expand...

How would i do that?

Blackweb said:

How would i do that?

Click to expand...

garlin said:

You should comment if any Window restart is required for all changes to take effect.

Click to expand...

I cant seem to edit the post. I will repost with a code window and add restart question. You can lock or delete this post.