To make sure your PC is using your graphics card, you need to force Windows to use your dedicated GPU instead of the integrated one. This is done either through Windows Graphics settings or your GPU manufacturer's control panel, as outlined below.
Check for an installed graphics card
Before you can force an app to use a dedicated GPU, you must verify it's present. Open Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select it), then expand "Display adapters." If you see a model name from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel (other than "Intel HD Graphics" or similar), you have a dedicated card. If only integrated graphics appear, the system has no discrete GPU installed, but you can still force laptop to use NVIDIA GPU if the hardware is simply not being detected correctly.
Update your graphics card drivers
Outdated or faulty drivers are a common reason a dedicated GPU might not be utilized correctly. Download the latest driver package from the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) for your specific card model. Install it, restart your PC, and the operating system will then be able to properly communicate with the GPU.
Force an app to use the dedicated GPU in Windows settings
This is the primary method for Windows 10 and 11. Follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics (or "Graphics settings" on older builds).
- Choose "Desktop app" or "Microsoft Store app" from the dropdown menu. For desktop apps, click "Browse" to locate the application's .exe file; for Microsoft Store apps, select it from the list.
- After adding the application, click on it, select "Options," and then choose "High performance" to ensure it uses your dedicated GPU. "Power saving" uses the integrated GPU, and "Let Windows decide" allows the system to choose automatically.
- Click "Save" and restart the application for changes to take effect.
Set a default GPU in the NVIDIA or AMD control panel
As a secondary method, you can use the manufacturer's software. For NVIDIA GPUs: right-click the desktop, select "NVIDIA Control Panel," go to "Manage 3D Settings," and then either set "High-performance NVIDIA processor" under "Global Settings" or specify it for individual applications under the "Program Settings" tab. For AMD GPUs, use the Radeon Settings app to set a preferred GPU per application. A crucial note: beginning with Windows 10 version 20H1, Windows manages graphics processor assignments and can override settings made in the NVIDIA Control Panel for specific applications. It is recommended to synchronize settings in both Windows Graphics settings and the GPU manufacturer's control panel, though you can still use NVIDIA control panel without NVIDIA graphics card to adjust 3D settings if your display is connected to integrated graphics.
Change the primary display adapter in your BIOS (advanced)
For desktop PCs, you can force the dedicated GPU at a hardware level. Enter your BIOS/UEFI settings during startup (typically by pressing Del, F2, or F12). Look for a setting labeled "Primary Display Adapter" (often listed as PEG, PCIe, or Discrete Graphics) and set it to prioritize the dedicated GPU. This can override Windows settings by ensuring the discrete card is used from boot.
Troubleshoot common problems
If the 'High performance' option in Windows settings doesn't seem to work, first verify the application is actually running (some launchers use integrated graphics while the game itself uses the GPU). A commonly claimed but potentially problematic fix is disabling the integrated GPU directly in Device Manager; this might force the dedicated GPU, but it can also lead to Windows defaulting to a basic display adapter if the dedicated GPU isn't properly recognized, causing display issues. For laptops, check your power plan: setting it to "High performance" ensures the system doesn't switch to the integrated GPU to save battery. If problems persist, reinstall your graphics drivers using a clean installation option from the manufacturer's installer. You can also check how many pcie lanes my GPU is using to confirm a physical bottleneck isn't limiting performance.
