Draft for review, 26 October 2026. Not the live site. Planned URL: /guides/hardware-accelerated-gpu-scheduling.

Should you turn on hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling?

By Austin Copeland, founder of Hypertune. Austin to confirm: one line on why he knows
Last updated 25 October 2026.

Turn on hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling if your graphics card supports it, then keep it on if your games run the same or smoother. In most games the FPS change is small, and NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation needs the setting switched on.

The short version:

1. Check that your graphics card and driver support it.
2. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings.
3. Turn on Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling and restart.
4. Keep it on if your games run the same or smoother, and turn it off if one stutters.

What is hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling?

Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (HAGS) is a Windows setting that hands most of the job of scheduling graphics work to a dedicated processor on your graphics card, instead of Windows doing that job on your CPU. Microsoft added the setting in the Windows 10 May 2020 Update (Microsoft DirectX blog, 30 June 2020).

In practice, hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling lowers the CPU time spent on scheduling. Most games already batch their graphics work to hide that cost, so Microsoft expected most people to see little change (Microsoft DirectX blog, 30 June 2020).

Does hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling increase FPS?

Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling usually moves FPS a little, up or down, depending on the game, graphics card and driver. Tom's Hardware measured gaming performance as virtually identical on or off, with some drops (Tom's Hardware, 6 December 2023). PCWorld's review of Gamers Nexus and BabelTechReview tests found small gains at most (PCWorld, 28 May 2024).

The clear benefit is the features that depend on it. NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation, on GeForce RTX 40 series and newer cards, works only with hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling turned on (CD PROJEKT RED support; Tom's Hardware, 6 December 2023).

Before you start: does your PC support it?

You need a supported graphics card, a current driver and time for one restart.

Update your driver first, as in step 1 of our guide on how to optimize your PC for gaming. If the switch is still missing after the update, your graphics card or driver lacks support, and Windows keeps scheduling on your CPU.

How to turn on hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Windows 11

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Display > Graphics.
3. Select Change default graphics settings. On some Windows 11 versions this link is called Advanced graphics settings.
4. Turn on Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, and select Yes if Windows asks for permission.
5. Restart your PC.

Many Windows 11 PCs have the setting on already, so this step may be a check. to confirm: on by default for new Windows 11 installs

Screenshot still needed: the Windows 11 Graphics page, and the switch turned on.

How to turn on hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Windows 10

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Display > Graphics settings.
3. Turn on Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.
4. Restart your PC.

Windows 10 needs version 2004 (the May 2020 Update) or newer, and the setting usually starts off.

Screenshot still needed: the Windows 10 Graphics settings page with the switch.

Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling on or off: test it in your games

The right setting for hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling depends on your PC, so a short test settles it. Press Windows + G, open the Performance widget, and note your FPS in one spot in a game you play often. Switch the setting, restart, and check the same spot.

How to turn off hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling

To disable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, follow the same path for your Windows version, turn the switch off, and restart your PC. Windows then schedules graphics work on your CPU again.

Let Hypertune do it

Hypertune handles the PC tuning that takes longer by hand.

Austin to confirm (C11-9): whether Hypertune changes this setting, and the exact line

Hypertune reads your CPU, GPU, memory and storage once, then applies only the features you turn on, such as CPU Overclocking, GPU Overclocking and Windows Debloating. Hypertune creates a Windows restore point automatically, and you can undo any change in the app: open the Restore tab, select the most recent restore point, and select Restore.

Users see up to 60% higher FPS.

See how Hypertune works. For the other free steps, read how to optimize your PC for gaming. See plans.

Questions

Why can't I find the hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling switch?

Windows shows the switch only when both your graphics card and its driver support the feature. The usual reasons for a missing switch are an older graphics card, an AMD card older than the RX 7000 series, an Intel Arc A-Series card, or an out-of-date driver.

Can hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling cause stuttering?

Yes, in some games and on some drivers. If a game stutters with the setting on, turn it off, restart, and test that game again. Try it once more after your next driver update, since driver fixes can change the result.

Is this the same as hardware acceleration in Chrome or Discord?

They are separate settings. Hardware acceleration in an app such as Chrome or Discord lets that one app use your graphics card to draw its window. Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling is a Windows-wide setting that changes how all graphics work on your PC is queued.