Do you know that Windows 10 Game mode can be missing from your computer even though your computer supports it?
One of the absolute worst things is to be in the middle of your favorite video game, your fingers ready to wreak havoc on your opponent and your eyes squinted with laser-like precision, and then you suddenly experience micro stutters, dropped frame rate, or poor responsiveness.
It would be a total shame to lose your game because your personal computer could not keep up!
This is why the 2017 Windows 10 Creators Update had a special feature called the Game Mode. It promises the best gaming experience for gamers. So if Windows 10 Game Mode is missing from your computer then you will be missing out on its benefits.
Why you should not have Windows 10 Game Mode missing
The Windows 10 Game Mode was one of the most anticipated features in the Windows 10 Creators Update. Microsoft explains, “When you use Game Mode, gaming becomes the priority on your PC so you get better game quality and performance.”
In essence, Game Mode gives you a better experience by allowing your computer to harness CPU and GPU resources for your game and cut down resources allocated to other applications running in the background.
Therefore, if you have Windows 10 Game Mode missing, your gaming experience may be hampered, especially if you have other applications running in the background and you are using a low-end system.
Read also: How to Use Laptop as Monitor for PS4
How to know if Windows 10 Game Mode is missing
Before we get into it, you should know that some editions of Windows 10 lack some media functionality due to some anti-trust issues, such as versions made for parts of Europe and North Korea.
However, enabling Game Mode is pretty straightforward. In fact, in the May 2019 update, it is enabled by default. If you are using earlier versions, you could:
- Go through the ‘Start Menu’ >> Click on ‘Settings’ >> Click on ‘Gaming’ >> in the gaming category, click on ‘Game Mode’, if it is not already on.
- Enable it while playing a game if your OS, for some reason, does not recognize your game by Opening the game you want to play >> Simultaneously press ‘Windows’ and alphabet ‘G’ to launch the Game Bar >> in the Game Bar, click on ‘Settings’ >>Go to the ‘General’ tab >> Click on ‘Remember this is a game’ >> Exit the Game Bar by pressing ‘Windows’ and alphabet ‘G’ once more.
If either of these steps does not activate Game Mode then it means it is missing. Some reasons why the Windows 10 Game Mode could be missing from your PC are that:
- You are using Windows 8, 8.1, or Windows 10 meant for some parts of Europe and North Korea (N and KN respectively)
- You have issues registering and authenticating your version of the OS
- You may have accidentally uninstalled it
How to fix Windows 10 Game Mode missing from your computer
Download the Windows 10 Media Feature Pack
If you’re using Windows 8, 8.1, or Windows 10 including N and KN, you could visit here to download the Windows 10 Media Feature Pack so that missing features such as Game Mode, Groove Music, Voice Recorder, and others can be restored.
Read also: How to Connect a Wired and Wireless PS4 Controller to Laptop
Fix registry issues
Your registry might be missing an entry. Yes, such errors happen. Follow this guide to open the Registry Editor then type these in the search bar:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft \GameBar
The result should show ‘Allow Auto Game Mode’ on the right-hand side of the screen. If you don’t see that option, right-click in the right pane and select ‘New>DWORD (32-bit Value)’.
Next, name the new key ‘Allow Auto Game Mode’, double click it, and change the Value data thus:
0-Game Mode off
1-Game Mode on
Re-install it
You might have accidentally removed Game Mode or some of its features while using a third-party uninstaller, and that might have broken something. If that is the case, simply use an app like O&O AppBuster to check if you had uninstalled it and then try re-installing the Game Mode.
Did you find this helpful? Let us know if you successfully fixed your Windows 10 Game Mode missing error on your from your PC!
Read also: Best Affordable Gaming Laptop Under $1000
John follows everything happening in the tech industry, from the latest gadget launches to some of the big-name moves in the industry. He covers opinionated pieces and writes on some of the biggest names in the industry. John is also a freelance writer, so he shares articles on freelancing every now and then. email: john@tekpip.com Learn more about tekpip and the team here on our about us page.