---
title: "Windows Game Mode on or off? What AutoGameModeEnabled changes"
description: "Game Mode tells Windows a game is running: it holds back Windows Update driver installs and restart prompts and gives the game priority for processor and."
url: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/windows-game-mode-on-or-off
author: Frost LIVE, Founder of Frozen Tweaks
published: 2026-10-08
updated: 2026-10-08
category: "Windows"
source: Frozen Tweaks (https://frozentweaks.com)
---

# Windows Game Mode on or off? What AutoGameModeEnabled changes

**Short answer:** Game Mode tells Windows a game is running: it holds back Windows Update driver installs and restart prompts and gives the game priority for processor and graphics time. AutoGameModeEnabled and AllowAutoGameMode set to 0 turn it off. In the registry it sets AllowAutoGameMode to 0 under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar, and 1 more value.

## In the app

- Switch: Disable Windows Game Mode (Windows, Pro, Advanced)
- Undo: Yes. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.
- Catalog row: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks#t-1110

## What it does

Game Mode tells Windows a game is running: it holds back Windows Update driver installs and restart prompts and gives the game priority for processor and graphics time. AutoGameModeEnabled and AllowAutoGameMode set to 0 turn it off.

In the app the switch is called "Disable Windows Game Mode", described there as: Turns off OS Game Mode to avoid scheduler bias and frame pacing anomalies.

## When it helps

- The uncommon cases where Game Mode causes stutter, usually while streaming or recording, because the encoder gets less time.

## When it hurts

- For most players Game Mode is neutral or slightly helpful, and it stops updates from interrupting a session. Turning it off gives that up.

## What it writes

Read from the app's source. "Switching it off" is what the app writes when you turn the tweak off again.

Registry values:

| Key | Value | With the tweak | Switching it off |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar` | `AllowAutoGameMode` | `0` | Not set (the value is deleted; Windows decides) |
| `HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar` | `AutoGameModeEnabled` | `0` | Not set (the value is deleted; Windows decides) |

Source: Tweaks/gamemode_off.hpp in the app's source, app 2.0.0, checked 2026-10-08.

## The same change by hand

Run in a Command Prompt opened as administrator. Make a restore point first.

```bat
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" /v "AllowAutoGameMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" /v "AutoGameModeEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
```

Put it back:

```bat
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" /v "AllowAutoGameMode" /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" /v "AutoGameModeEnabled" /f
```

See what it is set to now:

```bat
reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" /v "AllowAutoGameMode"
```

## How to undo it

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. It deletes AllowAutoGameMode, AutoGameModeEnabled, so Windows uses its built-in behavior again.

## Verdict

Leave Game Mode on unless you stream from the same PC and see stutter that stops when it is off.

## Questions

### What does the "Disable Windows Game Mode" tweak change in Windows?

In the registry it sets AllowAutoGameMode to 0 under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar, and 1 more value. The full list is in the table on this page, read from the app's source.

### Is "Disable Windows Game Mode" safe to switch on?

Leave Game Mode on unless you stream from the same PC and see stutter that stops when it is off. The main cost: For most players Game Mode is neutral or slightly helpful, and it stops updates from interrupting a session. Turning it off gives that up.

### How do I undo it?

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.

### Is "Disable Windows Game Mode" free in Frozen Tweaks?

It is part of Frozen Pro and Elite. You can also make the change by hand with the values on this page.

## Related guides

- [Windows 11 Gaming Optimization: What Still Works in 2026](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/windows-11-gaming-optimization)

## More tweak explainers

- [Windows Copilot](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-windows-copilot)
- [Teams Chat](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/remove-teams-chat)
- [Startup programs](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/clean-startup-programs)

---
Written by Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks. Canonical version: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/windows-game-mode-on-or-off