How to Make Steam Big Picture Use Your Dedicated GPU on Windows PCs

Steam’s Big Picture Mode is designed for a console-like gaming experience on your PC, especially when using a controller. However, on systems with both integrated graphics (iGPU) and a dedicated GPU (dGPU), Steam may default to the integrated GPU, resulting in poor performance, lag, or low FPS.

To get the best performance, you need to force Steam (and Big Picture Mode) to use your dedicated GPU. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to ensure Steam runs on your high-performance graphics card in Windows 11.

How to Make Steam Big Picture Use Your Dedicated GPU

Follow the methods below to force Steam to use your dedicated GPU.

1. Set Steam to High Performance in Windows Graphics Settings

Windows allows you to assign GPU preference for apps.

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to System → Display.
3. Scroll down and click Graphics.
4. Click Browse.
5. Navigate to the Steam executable: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe
6. Select steam.exe and click Add.
7. Click Options next to Steam.
8. Select High performance (this uses your dedicated GPU).
9. Click Save.

This ensures Steam launches using the dedicated GPU.

2. Set Dedicated GPU in NVIDIA Control Panel

If you have an NVIDIA GPU, you can force Steam to use it.

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Select NVIDIA Control Panel.
3. Go to Manage 3D settings.
4. Click the Program Settings tab.
5. Click Add and select Steam.
6. Under Preferred graphics processor, choose:
   • High-performance NVIDIA processor
7. Click Apply.

This overrides default GPU selection.

3. Set Dedicated GPU in AMD Radeon Settings

For AMD users:

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Open AMD Radeon Software.
3. Go to Settings → Graphics.
4. Locate Steam or add it manually.
5. Set it to High Performance.
6. Apply the changes.

This ensures Steam uses your AMD GPU.

4. Force GPU Usage via BIOS (Optional)

Some systems allow you to prioritize the dedicated GPU.

1. Restart your computer.
2. Enter BIOS/UEFI settings (usually F2, Delete, or Esc).
3. Look for Graphics settings.
4. Set the primary display to:
   • Discrete GPU (dGPU)
5. Save changes and restart.

This forces the system to prioritize the dedicated GPU.

5. Verify GPU Usage in Task Manager

After applying changes, confirm Steam is using the correct GPU.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. Locate Steam.
4. Check the GPU Engine column.
5. Ensure it shows your dedicated GPU (e.g., GPU 1).

This confirms that Steam is using the correct GPU.

6. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause incorrect GPU usage.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click your GPU.
4. Select Update driver.
5. Install the latest version.
6. Restart your PC.

Updated drivers improve GPU detection and performance.

Conclusion

Running Steam Big Picture Mode on the integrated GPU can significantly reduce performance, especially for gaming. By configuring Windows graphics settings, using NVIDIA or AMD control panels, adjusting BIOS settings, and verifying GPU usage, you can ensure Steam uses your dedicated GPU.

By following these steps, you can enjoy smoother performance, higher frame rates, and a better gaming experience when using Steam Big Picture Mode on your Windows 11 PC.