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For fewer interruptions while gaming, leave notifications on globally and have Windows silence them automatically when a game is running. In Windows 11, enable Do not disturb for games; in Windows 10, use the Focus assist gaming rule. Then enable Game Mode separately—notification controls and Game Mode do different jobs.
Quick setup
- Windows 11: Open Settings > System > Notifications, then enable Do not disturb automatically When playing a game. Enable Game Mode at Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
- Windows 10: Open Settings > System > Focus assist and enable the automatic rule When I’m playing a game. Enable Game Mode at Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
These paths may look different on older Windows builds or managed PCs. Press Windows + I to open Settings, or search Settings for the feature name.
Choose what to silence
Windows offers several ways to reduce interruptions. Turning off all notifications is the most sweeping; for most people, per-app controls plus automatic quieting during games are a better balance.
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| Goal | Setting | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Stop all Windows and app notifications | Turn off global Notifications | Fewer alerts, but you can miss useful security, system, or communication notices. |
| Stop alerts from particular apps | Turn off or customize those apps’ notifications | Other apps can still notify you. |
| Silence ordinary interruptions only while gaming | Automatic Do not disturb (Windows 11) or Focus assist rule (Windows 10) | Suppressed notifications are generally kept in the notification history rather than deleted. |
| Keep notifications but remove pop-ups or sounds | Adjust an app’s banner and sound options | Notification Center entries can remain, depending on the options you choose. |
Microsoft’s current instructions use Do not disturb and Notifications in Windows 11; Windows 10 guides may still say Focus assist, Notifications & actions, or Action Center.
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Windows 11: turn off or customize notifications
Turn off every notification
- Open Settings > System > Notifications.
- Switch Notifications off.
This is a global change. To restore alerts later, return to the same page and turn the switch back on.
Disable only selected apps, banners, or sounds
- Go to Settings > System > Notifications.
- Under Notifications from apps and other senders, select an app.
- Turn off that app’s notifications, or leave them enabled and adjust options such as banners, Notification Center entries, sounds, and lock-screen notifications.
App-specific options let you remove the interruption without necessarily losing the notification from Notification Center. The exact options can vary by app.
Silence notifications automatically during games
- Open Settings > System > Notifications.
- Expand Turn on do not disturb automatically.
- Enable When playing a game.
When Do not disturb is active, Windows suppresses notifications and collects them in Notification Center, which you can open with Windows + N. Do not disturb is not a guarantee that every alert will be blocked: alarms, reminders, and notifications allowed through your priority settings may still get through. Windows can also apply Do not disturb for other rules, such as full-screen use or display duplication.
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If you need to hear from selected people or apps, review the Set priority notifications options on the Notifications page. Add only the calls, reminders, or apps you genuinely want to allow during a session. Details are in Microsoft’s Windows notification guidance.
Windows 10: turn off or customize notifications
Turn off all notifications or selected apps
- Open Settings > System > Notifications & actions.
- To stop notifications from apps and other senders, switch off Get notifications from apps and other senders.
- To keep some alerts, leave the global switch on and adjust individual apps in the same area.
Windows 10 also lets you manage notification presentation for supported apps, including banners and sounds. Missed notifications may be available in Action Center, opened with Windows + A.
Use Focus assist’s gaming rule
- Go to Settings > System > Focus assist.
- Under Automatic rules, select When I’m playing a game and turn the rule on.
- Choose the Focus assist level you want, if prompted: Priority only allows selected priority alerts; Alarms only is more restrictive.
Focus assist may also be set to activate when you use an app full screen, duplicate a display, or reach scheduled hours. Review those rules if Windows becomes quiet outside games. See Microsoft’s Focus assist guide for the Windows 10 controls.
Enable Game Mode
Game Mode is independent of notification suppression. It is a Windows gaming setting intended to optimize system behavior while games run; it does not control banners, sounds, or Do not disturb.
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Windows 11
- Press Windows + I.
- Select Gaming > Game Mode.
- Turn Game Mode on.
Windows 10
- Press Windows + I.
- Select Gaming > Game Mode.
- Turn Game Mode on.
If the page is hard to find, press Windows + R, enter ms-settings:gaming-gamemode, and press Enter. Microsoft documents this direct Settings URI in its Settings URI reference. The Gaming section contains Game Mode controls; see Microsoft’s Windows Settings overview.
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Game Mode, Xbox Game Bar, and notification settings are different
| Feature | What it controls | How to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Game Mode | Windows gaming behavior while a game runs. Its effect varies with the game, hardware, drivers, Windows version, and background workload. | Settings > Gaming > Game Mode |
| Xbox Game Bar | A gaming overlay for widgets and features such as captures and recording. It opens with Windows + G. | Open the overlay with its shortcut; its controls are separate from the Game Mode switch. |
| Do not disturb / Focus assist | Whether and when Windows suppresses notifications. | Notifications in Windows 11; Focus assist in Windows 10. |
Turning off Game Bar does not itself turn off Game Mode, and enabling Game Mode does not silence notifications. Microsoft describes Game Mode as a gaming-performance setting, but does not promise a particular FPS increase for every PC. It is not a substitute for suitable hardware, updated graphics drivers, or managing demanding background apps.
A sensible gaming setup
- Leave global notifications on.
- Turn off notifications from distracting or nonessential apps under each app’s notification settings.
- Enable the automatic gaming rule: Do not disturb > When playing a game in Windows 11, or Focus assist > Automatic rules > When I’m playing a game in Windows 10.
- Allow only essential calls, reminders, or apps through priority settings if you need them.
- Turn on Game Mode separately. Keep or disable Xbox Game Bar according to whether you use its overlay features.
Troubleshooting
Notifications still appear during a game
- Confirm the automatic game rule is enabled. For Windows 11, check Settings > System > Notifications > Turn on do not disturb automatically; for Windows 10, check Settings > System > Focus assist > Automatic rules.
- Review priority notifications, alarms, and reminders; selected alerts may be allowed by design.
- Windows may not recognize every game or launch mode. Try the full-screen automatic rule as an alternative where available.
- Check notification settings inside the game launcher, Discord, Xbox app, GPU utility, antivirus software, or other overlay. Those apps may have their own notification behavior.
- If you enabled global Do not disturb manually, check that it is still active; a separate rule or app may be responsible for the alert.
Windows’ rule is not a universal blocker for every third-party app or overlay.
Game Mode is missing
- Make sure you are looking under Gaming, not System.
- Search Settings for Game Mode, or open
ms-settings:gaming-gamemode. - Restart Windows and install appropriate pending updates, then check again.
- If this is a work- or school-managed PC, an administrator policy may restrict the setting; ask the administrator before changing system configuration.
Windows build differences, a malfunctioning Settings app, or confusion with Xbox Game Bar can also explain why instructions do not match what you see.
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Game Mode is on, but performance did not improve
There is no guaranteed FPS or latency gain. If performance seems worse after changing the setting, compare with Game Mode off and on under the same game, graphics settings, and workload. Look at frame-time consistency, average and 1% low FPS, stutter, input response, and background CPU, memory, or disk usage. Change one setting at a time so you can identify what made a difference.
On a laptop, Game Mode does not override battery or thermal limits, Windows power mode, manufacturer performance profiles, or GPU selection. Check that the charger is connected when appropriate, that the game is using the intended GPU, and that the machine is not throttling from heat.
The setting will not stay enabled
Restart and check the setting again. On a managed PC, policy may reset it. If the normal control is missing or will not persist on a personal PC, use the registry fallback below only if you are comfortable editing the registry.
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Advanced fallback: check the Game Mode registry value
Use this only after trying Settings. Editing the registry incorrectly can cause problems; do not use this workaround on a managed computer without administrator approval.
- Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and press Enter. - Before editing, back up the key using Registry Editor’s File > Export option.
- Go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftGameBar. - Find the DWORD value
AutoGameModeEnabled. If it is absent, create a DWORD (32-bit) Value with that name. - Set its value to
1to enable Game Mode or0to disable it. Restart or sign out, then check the Game Mode page again.
Microsoft documents this value’s association with the Game Mode setting, but registry editing is an advanced fallback—not the preferred way to change the setting. Do not delete the GameBar key or alter unrelated values. See the Microsoft registry settings reference.
Windows 10 support status
Windows 10 reached end of normal support on October 14, 2025. The operating system can still run, but Microsoft no longer provides its normal free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes. Separate extended-support arrangements may apply depending on edition and program. If your hardware supports it, moving to a supported Windows version is worth considering for security; these notification and gaming settings do not change Windows 10’s support status.
For current Windows support details, consult Microsoft’s notification and Do not disturb documentation.
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