If you want to squeeze a little more performance out of your Windows 11 PC, one of the easiest settings to tweak is Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS). This feature lets your graphics card handle certain scheduling tasks that would normally fall on the CPU. By shifting work away from the processor, Windows can reduce latency, boost frame rates in games, and make everyday multitasking feel smoother.

HAGS won’t magically turn a low-end PC into a powerhouse, but on supported hardware, it can give you a noticeable performance uplift with almost no downside. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling and make sure your system is ready for it.

How to Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Follow these simple steps to turn on HAGS on your Windows 11 PC.

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

HAGS requires the latest GPU drivers. Updating them ensures proper support and stability.

For NVIDIA:

1. Download GeForce Experience or visit the NVIDIA driver website.
2. Install the latest Game Ready or Studio driver.

For AMD:

1. Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Install the latest driver.

For Intel:

1. Install or open Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
2. Download the latest Arc or integrated GPU driver.

Once your driver is updated, restart your PC.

2. Open Windows Display Settings

1. Right-click the desktop.
2. Select Display settings.
3. Scroll down to the Related settings section.
4. Click Graphics.

This is where Windows stores all GPU-related performance options.

3. Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

1. Inside the Graphics menu, click Change default graphics settings.
2. Look for Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.
3. Turn the toggle On.

If the option doesn’t appear, your GPU or driver doesn’t support HAGS.

4. Restart Your PC to Apply Changes

HAGS only activates after a reboot.

1. Click Start.
2. Select Power.
3. Click Restart.

Once Windows boots up, GPU scheduling will be active automatically.

Optional Tweaks for Better Performance

These extra settings work well alongside HAGS to maximize system performance.

1. Set Specific Apps to Use High-Performance GPU

1. Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
2. Choose an app from the list (or browse to add one).
3. Click Options.
4. Select High performance.

This forces apps like games, browsers, and editors to use the dedicated GPU instead of relying on CPU-heavy integrated graphics.

2. Enable Hardware Acceleration in Your Browser

For smoother video playback and faster scrolling:

Edge or Chrome:

1. Open the browser.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Search for hardware acceleration.
4. Enable Use hardware acceleration when available.
5. Restart the browser.

3. Turn On Game Mode

1. Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
2. Enable Game Mode.

This prioritizes CPU and GPU resources for your active tasks.

Wrapping Up

Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling is one of those small tweaks that can deliver real performance benefits with almost no effort. By shifting scheduling tasks from the CPU to your GPU, you’ll often see smoother gaming performance, reduced latency, and an overall more responsive system.

If your PC supports this feature, turning it on is absolutely worth it. Combine it with updated drivers, app-specific GPU settings, and hardware acceleration in apps, and your Windows 11 system will feel snappier across the board.