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How to Improve Gaming Performance on a Windows on Arm Laptop

Check compatibility first, then tune per-game graphics settings and test eligible Windows 11 features such as windowed-game optimizations and Auto SR.
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Start by checking that your game works on Windows on Arm; then tune Windows graphics settings and, if your laptop and game qualify, try Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR). Compatibility, game mode and hardware determine which changes help, so adjust one setting at a time and check the result in your own game.

Check game compatibility before tuning

Some Windows 11 games may not work on Arm-based PCs because they depend on anti-cheat drivers that were not built for Windows 11 Arm. Check the game’s publisher for supported platforms and requirements. You can also consult Works on WoA, a third-party crowdsourced compatibility list to which Microsoft says it contributes data. Compatibility reports can help you decide what to try, but they are not a guarantee that a game will work on your specific laptop.

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When a game offers a native Arm build, prefer it where practical. Microsoft says apps rebuilt for Windows Arm-based PCs have the best performance. Windows 11 version 24H2 also includes Prism emulation for apps that are not native to Arm, with improvements to emulated app performance. Those general statements do not predict how a particular game will run. Check Microsoft’s Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ for its compatibility and emulation guidance.

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Choose a graphics preference for the game

Windows 11 lets you set a graphics preference per game. Microsoft lists the options as Let Windows decide, Power saving and High performance on PCs with more than one GPU. The available choices depend on the hardware; selecting High performance does not add graphics capability the laptop does not have.

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  1. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
  2. Select the game in the app list. If it is not listed, add or browse for the game’s executable.
  3. Select Options, choose a graphics preference if available, and select Save.
  4. Restart the game and see whether the change helps.

Change one setting at a time so you can tell which, if any, makes a difference. Microsoft’s instructions are in Optimizations for windowed games in Windows 11.

Try windowed-game optimizations for DirectX 10 and 11 games

Windows 11’s windowed-game optimizations target DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running in windowed or borderless windowed mode. Microsoft says the feature moves compatible games from the legacy blt presentation model to flip model, which can reduce frame latency and enable features such as Auto HDR and variable refresh rate on supported displays. The benefit depends on the game and display; it is not a universal fix or a promise of higher frame rates.

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  1. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
  2. Open Default graphics settings or the equivalent graphics settings section shown on your Windows build.
  3. Turn on Optimizations for windowed games.
  4. Restart the game and use windowed or borderless windowed mode if you want to test the feature.

If you normally play fullscreen, compare the game’s supported modes rather than assuming this optimization applies to that session. Microsoft’s feature guidance describes the supported modes and settings.

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Use Auto SR only if your PC and game are eligible

Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) is an optional Windows feature for supported games, not a general-purpose setting on every Windows on Arm laptop. Microsoft’s current requirements include a Copilot+ PC with Snapdragon X or X2 and a Hexagon NPU, Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, a 1080p-or-higher display, and current graphics and neural processor drivers plus the latest Auto SR package. For Snapdragon Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft identifies 1280 × 800 as an ideal input resolution.

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The game must use DirectX 10 or later and run natively on x64, through x64 emulation, or as Arm64. Auto SR does not support DirectX 9, Vulkan, OpenGL, x86-only games, HDR content, or certain formats such as 10-bit. Check Microsoft’s Automatic Super Resolution requirements before troubleshooting the setting.

Enable and verify Auto SR in the game

  1. Update Windows and the graphics and neural processor drivers, and install the latest Auto SR package required for your PC.
  2. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics and enable Auto SR for the supported game, or use the Auto SR tab in the Xbox Game Bar Display widget.
  3. Set the game to a supported resolution and use Fullscreen or Exclusive Fullscreen as applicable.
  4. Check the widget or its status indicator while the game is running. An enabled setting can remain inactive if the resolution is unsupported or the game needs a restart.

Balance image quality and resolution

Auto SR can make fine text or interface elements less clear at low render resolutions, and its reconstruction may not look right in every scene. If the image looks worse, try another supported resolution or turn Auto SR off. Because Auto SR does not support HDR content, choose between those features based on the experience you want rather than expecting them to work together.

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Use Auto HDR for appearance, not as an FPS fix

Auto HDR is a separate feature from Auto SR. It requires an HDR-capable display and can expand the color range and brightness of supported SDR games; it is about how the picture looks, not a guaranteed frame-rate improvement. Microsoft’s windowed-game instructions say enabling Auto HDR also turns on windowed-game optimizations automatically. For setup details, see Use Auto HDR for better gaming in Windows.

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Choose settings around your game and laptop

There is no single best configuration for every Windows on Arm laptop. The useful choices depend on whether the game is compatible and has anti-cheat support, whether it runs natively or through emulation, its graphics API and display mode, your laptop’s processor and graphics hardware, and whether Auto SR is available. Image quality and HDR preference matter too: Auto SR does not support HDR, while Auto HDR does not promise higher frame rates.

  • Confirm compatibility before spending time on performance tuning.
  • Try a per-game graphics preference where Windows offers one.
  • Test windowed-game optimizations only with supported DirectX 10 or 11 games in windowed or borderless mode.
  • Check Auto SR’s device and game requirements, then verify that it is active in the running game.
  • Change one setting at a time and judge the result in the game you actually play.

Microsoft’s support guidance establishes feature requirements and supported scenarios, not a measured FPS gain for Windows on Arm laptops. Results will vary by device and game.

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