IObit Updates Windows 11 Gaming Guide With Six Performance Tips

IObit updated its guide to optimizing Windows 11 for gaming on October 19, 2026; the guide was first published on July 16, 2026. It outlines six ways to reduce unnecessary system activity and improve frame rates and responsiveness, noting that graphics-setting results vary by game, driver, and hardware.

Windows settings and graphics drivers

The guide recommends enabling Game Mode under Settings > Gaming > Game Mode, then closing and reopening the game. It says the feature reduces some background activity, limits Windows Update driver installations during gameplay, and allocates more system resources to the running game.

It also recommends updating Windows, GPU drivers, and DirectX components. To update Windows, open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, install recommended updates, and restart the PC. To update a graphics driver, identify the GPU in Device Manager under Display adapters, then download a compatible driver from its manufacturer.

For laptops with customized graphics drivers, the guide says to check the laptop manufacturer's support page first. Another option is to right-click the GPU in Device Manager, select Update driver, and choose Search automatically for drivers. The guide says Windows Update installs supported DirectX components and that keeping Windows updated is usually sufficient.

The graphics settings covered are Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, Variable Refresh Rate if supported by the monitor, and Optimizations for Windowed Games. Find them at Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings. HDR and Auto HDR can be enabled under Settings > System > Display > HDR.

The guide explains that GPU scheduling changes how GPU work is scheduled, while windowed-game optimizations can reduce presentation latency in compatible games. VRR can improve visual smoothness, and Auto HDR enhances image quality rather than increasing FPS. It advises testing the settings individually.

Background apps and system optimization

The fourth tip is to disable unnecessary startup apps at Settings > Apps > Startup. To close apps already running, open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, review CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network use, and close apps that are recognized and not needed. The guide cautions against ending unfamiliar Windows processes, security software, or services required by a game, and advises saving open work first.

For apps with the option, Background apps permissions can be set to Never; desktop apps can instead be closed through their own settings or the system tray. Disabling a startup app affects future sign-ins and does not close it immediately.

The guide presents IObit Advanced SystemCare as an option for automating cleanup, startup management, and system optimization, describing features including AI Mode, Turbo Boost, and CPU and memory resource management. Figures displayed by IObit say the product has removed 420 billion traces and cleaned 85 EB of junk files, blocked 80 million unauthorized access attempts, fixed 20 million bugs, and saved 6 million hours of startup time. These are figures attributed to the product page.

To use the program, install and open it, select AI Mode, then run Scan and Fix. In Manual Mode, users can scan junk files, startup items, and system issues, review the results, and select Fix. Under Speed Up, run Startup Optimization to disable apps not needed when Windows starts, and repeat scans and optimization regularly.

The guide also describes cleaning temporary files and caches, selecting Game Mode in Turbo Boost, scanning for invalid registry entries and repairing selected items, and applying Speed Up optimizations, restarting if prompted.

Network, power, and additional tips

For online games, the guide recommends connecting directly to the router over Ethernet when possible and pausing downloads, cloud backups, streaming, and other bandwidth-heavy activity. It also suggests occasionally power-cycling the router and enabling Quality of Service (QoS). A faster DNS service may improve connection setup or game-launcher responsiveness, but usually has little effect on in-game ping after a server connection is established.

An additional setting is Best performance under Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode. The guide advises using it on a laptop while plugged in because it increases power consumption and may produce more heat; users who prioritize battery life can switch back to Balanced.

Other suggestions include keeping at least 20% of an SSD free, disabling unnecessary notifications and system-tray apps, verifying game files if crashes occur, removing unused software, updating graphics drivers, restarting before long gaming sessions, using wired peripherals, and avoiding multiple game launchers running at once.

For Marvel Rivals, the guide recommends enabling Game Mode and Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling, updating the graphics driver, and assigning the game to the high-performance GPU in Windows Graphics settings. It also suggests lowering shadows, effects, reflections, and other GPU-heavy options before reducing resolution, aiming to improve FPS while preserving image clarity.