How to Adjust Visual Effects in Windows

Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, press Enter, click the Advanced tab, then click Settings under Performance. In this window, you can choose to adjust visual effects in Windows for best performance, best appearance, or pick your own custom mix. Changes take effect right away.

For most users, the best approach is to select "Custom" and turn off animations while keeping font smoothing and thumbnail previews on. This gives you a faster system that still looks clean. If your computer feels really slow, choosing "Adjust for best performance" turns off all 17 visual effects at once.

How to Open Performance Options

Windows stores visual effect settings inside a menu called Performance Options. There are several ways to get there.

Both methods open the same Performance Options window. The Run command method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11 without any differences.

Understanding the Four Main Options

At the top of the Performance Options window, you'll see four radio buttons. Each one controls all 17 visual effects at once.

Let Windows Choose What's Best

Windows looks at your computer's hardware and picks settings automatically. This sounds helpful, but Windows often leaves too many effects turned on, even on older machines. Most users get better results by making their own choices.

Adjust for Best Appearance

This turns on all 17 visual effects. Windows will show smooth animations, transparent title bars, shadows under windows, and fade effects on menus. Pick this option if you have a newer computer with at least 8 GB of RAM and a dedicated graphics card.

Adjust for Best Performance

This turns off all visual effects. Your computer will feel snappier because the CPU and GPU stop drawing animations. Menus pop up instantly. Windows minimize without sliding effects. The trade-off is that Windows looks plainer, similar to older versions like Windows 2000.

Custom

This lets you check or uncheck each effect one by one. Most people who want both speed and good looks will use this option.

Which Effects to Turn Off for Better Speed

When using Custom mode, certain effects have a bigger impact on performance than others. Animation effects use the most CPU and GPU resources because they require Windows to redraw the screen multiple times per second.

These animation effects look nice but don't add any real function. Turning them off makes menus and windows respond faster.

Font smoothing uses very little processing power, and reading blurry text can cause eye strain over time. Thumbnail previews help you find files faster without opening them.

How Much Performance Will You Actually Gain?

The performance boost depends on your computer's specs. Older machines see bigger improvements.

Computers with 4 GB of RAM or less often feel sluggish because Windows and your programs compete for limited memory. Turning off visual effects frees up RAM that Desktop Window Manager would normally use. You might notice menus open faster, switching between programs feels smoother, and your computer responds quicker when you click things.

On computers with 8 GB of RAM or more, the difference is smaller but still noticeable. The main benefit comes from reduced CPU usage during animations. This matters most when you're running demanding programs like video editors, games, or software that uses lots of browser tabs.

Systems with 16 GB of RAM and a modern processor likely won't feel much difference in everyday use. The visual effects at that level use such a small percentage of available resources that turning them off doesn't create a noticeable speed boost.

Testing Your Changes

After adjusting settings, click Apply to see the results without closing the window. This lets you test different combinations quickly.

Try these actions to feel the difference:

• Open and close the Start menu
• Minimize and restore a window
• Right-click on the desktop to open the context menu
• Switch between open programs using Alt + Tab

If you turned off too many effects and Windows looks too plain, just check the boxes again. The Performance Options window stays open after clicking Apply, so you can keep adjusting until you find the right balance.

Why Animations Use Computer Resources

Visual effects work by drawing multiple frames very quickly to create smooth motion. When you minimize a window, Windows doesn't just make it disappear. Instead, it draws that window getting smaller over about 200 milliseconds, which means rendering around 12 frames for that one action.

Your graphics processing unit (GPU) handles most of this work through a feature called hardware acceleration. But if your computer has only integrated graphics (the type built into Intel or AMD processors), the CPU has to help with rendering. This takes processing power away from the programs you're actually trying to use.

Transparency effects work by blending colors from multiple layers. When you have a window with a transparent title bar, Windows has to combine the colors of everything behind that window in real time. More layers means more math for your graphics chip to do.

Recommended Settings Based on Your Hardware

Use these suggestions as a starting point, then adjust based on what feels right.

For Older Computers (4 GB RAM or Less)

Select "Adjust for best performance" to turn everything off. Then check just two boxes: "Smooth edges of screen fonts" and "Show thumbnails instead of icons." This gives you readable text and image previews while keeping your system fast.

For Mid-Range Computers (8 GB RAM)

Select "Custom" and turn off all animation-related effects. Keep font smoothing, thumbnails, and visual styles on. This balance works well for most people doing office work, web browsing, or light gaming.

For Newer Computers (16 GB RAM or More)

Leave all effects on unless you notice slowness in specific programs. Modern hardware handles these effects without breaking a sweat. Only turn things off if you want the snappiest possible feel.