How to Set Preferred GPU for Apps in Windows 10


Starting with Windows 10 build 17093, Microsoft is introducing a new Graphics settings page for Multi-GPU systems that allows you to manage the graphics performance preference of your apps. You may be familiar with similar graphics control panels from AMD and Nvidia, and you can continue to use those control panels. When you set an application preference in the Windows Graphics settings, that will take precedence over the other control panel settings.

This new setting allows you to specify which GPU you prefer to use by default for specific Store (universal) and Desktop (classic) apps. Preferences may provide better app performance or save battery life. Choices may not take effect until the next time the app launches.

Generally, the power saving GPU is the integrated GPU on a system, and the high performance GPU is the discrete GPU or external GPU. If you have both a discrete GPU and an external GPU on a system, the external GPU is considered the high performance GPU.

Applications are always allowed to have the ultimate choice of which GPU to use, so you may see additional applications that do not follow the preferences you set. In that case, look for a setting within the application itself to choose a preference.

Starting with Windows 10 build 19564, Microsoft updated the Graphics settings page (Settings > System > Display > Graphics settings), allowing for better control over designating which GPU your apps run on. With this update, the app list and GPU preference are pre-populated on a best effort basis to improve the default preference management experience. If your desired app isn’t pre-populated, you can still add it by using the app selection drop-down. You’ll notice alongside this, Microsoft also added a search box and a filter for the list of apps.

Starting with Windows 10 build 20190, Microsoft has made the following improvements:

• Updated the Graphics Settings to allow users to specify a default high performance GPU.
• Updated the Graphics Settings to allow users to pick a specific GPU on a per application basis.

This tutorial will show you how to set a preferred GPU to use for specific apps for your account in Windows 10.

Contents

• Option One: Add Apps to Set Preferred GPU for in Settings
• Option Two: Set Preferred GPU for Apps in Settings
• Option Three: Remove Apps from Preferred GPU List in Settings

OPTION ONE

Add Apps to Set Preferred GPU for in Settings

1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on Display on the left side, and click/tap on the Graphics settings link on the right side. (see screenshot below)

3 Do step 4 (Desktop apps) or step 5 (Microsoft Store apps) below for which type of app you want to add.

4 To Add Desktop App to Set GPU Preference for

A) Select Desktop app in the "Add an app" drop menu, and click/tap on the Browse button. (see screenshot below)

B) Navigate to and select the .exe file (ex: "mspaint.exe") you want to add, click/tap on Add, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

5 To Add Microsoft Store App to Set GPU Preference for

A) Select Microsoft Store app in the "Choose an app to set preference" or "Add an app" drop menu. (see screenshots below)

B) Perform one of the following actions depending on which build of Windows 10 you currently have installed, and go to step 6 below.

• Select an app (ex: "Paint 3D") in the drop menu you want to add, and click/tap on the Add button.
• Click/tap on the Browse button, and select an app you want to add.

6 When finished adding apps, go to step 3 in Option Two below to set the preferred GPU you want for these apps.

OPTION TWO

Set Preferred GPU for Apps in Settings

1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on Display on the left side, and click/tap on the Graphics settings link on the right side. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on an added app (ex: "Paint 3D") in the list you want to set or change the GPU preference for, and click/tap on the Options button. (see screenshot below)

4 Select (dot) System default (default), Power saving, or High performance for the GPU preference you want for this app, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshots below)

GPU Preference	Description
System default	To let Windows decide the best GPU for your application.
Power saving	A request to run the application on the most power saving GPU available.
High performance	A request to run the application on the most high performance GPU available.

Generally, the power saving GPU is the integrated GPU on a system, and the high performance GPU is the discrete GPU or external GPU. If you have both a discrete GPU and an external GPU on a system, the external GPU is considered the high performance GPU.

Starting with Windows 10 20190, Microsoft has added the ability for you to specify exactly which GPU you want an app to run on using the new “Specific GPU” option.

5 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.

OPTION THREE

Remove Apps from Preferred GPU List in Settings

Removing an added app from your preferred GPU list will have the app use the system default preferences.

1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on Display on the left side, and click/tap on the Graphics settings link on the right side. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on an added app (ex: "Paint 3D") in the list you want to remove, and click/tap on the Remove button. (see screenshot below)

4 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

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