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How to Set Default GPU for Apps in Windows 10

Kishalaya Kundu
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In multi-GPU computers running Windows 10, you can manually specify which graphics card a Windows app should use as default to either improve performance or increase battery efficiency. So today, we will show you how to set default GPU for apps in multi-GPU Windows 10 computers.

Set Default GPU for Apps in Windows 10

Generally, the integrated GPU (IGPU) is more power efficient, while the discrete GPU is better for demanding games and graphics-heavy applications. So if you’re looking to maximize performance without compromising on power efficiency, you’ve come to the right place. That’s because in this tutorial, we’ll show you how to set a preferred GPU for specific apps in Windows 10.

  • Press Windows key+I simultaneously to open your PC Settings. Now click on ‘System’.

Windows 10 Settings > System

  • Next, click on ‘Display’ on the left pane and select ‘Graphics settings’ on the right side.

  • From the drop-down menu, select whether you want to specify settings for desktop (classic) apps or Microsoft Store apps. For desktop apps, you’ll have to click on the ‘Browse’ button to manually specify the executable file of that app.

  • Navigate to the program’s installation directory. Now select the .exe file for that application and click on ‘Add’.

Note: The default installation directory for 64-bit applications in Windows 10 is C:\Program Files, while the default for 32-bit applications is C:\Program Files (x86).

Before we tell you how you can set or change the default graphics card in Windows 10, here’s how you can select a Microsoft Store app:

  • From the drop-down menu in step 3, select ‘Microsoft Store App’ instead of ‘Classic/Desktop app’. You’ll immediately get a second drop-down menu.

  • From the second drop-down menu, select the app that you’re trying to set the GPU preference for.

  • Once you’ve selected the app, click on ‘Add’.

  • Once you’ve added the app, click on the ‘Options’ button in the box that appears.

  • You’ll get three options for the preferred GPU:
  1. Let Windows Decide
  2. Power Saving (typically the integrated GPU)
  3. High Performance (typically the discrete GPU)

Choose the option you want and remember to click on the ‘Save’ button once you’ve taken your pick.

That’s it. You have now successfully specified which GPU your Windows 10 computer should use for a particular app. Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

List of Popular GPUs

The method described below works for all modern graphics processors, so you can use it to set your preferred Nvidia or AMD card as default for any app in Windows 10. We have mentioned a list of popular GPUs below. Note that this is not an exhaustive list and is here to only serve as an example.

Graphics Card NamesCUDA Cores / Stream processorsGame Clock / Boost ClockVRAMTDPArchitectureGPUManufacturing Process
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT80Up to 2250 MHz16GB300 WRDNA 2.0Navi 217 nm
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT72Up to 2250 MHz16GB300 WRDNA 2.0Navi 217 nm
AMD Radeon RX 680060Up to 2105 MHz16GB250 WRDNA 2.0Navi 217 nm
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary40Up to 1980 MHz8GB235 WRDNA 1.0Navi 107 nm
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT40Up to 1905 MHz8GB225 WRDNA 1.0Navi 107 nm
AMD Radeon VII60Up to 1750 MHz16GB300 WGCN 5.1Vega 207 nm
AMD Radeon RX 570036Up to 1725 MHz8GB180 WRDNA 1.0Navi 107 nm
AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT36Up to 1560 MHz6GB150 WRDNA 1.0Navi 107 nm
AMD Radeon RX 560032Up to 1560 MHz6GB150 WRDNA 1.0Navi 107 nm
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT22Up to 1845 MHz8GB130 WRDNA 1.0Navi 147 nm
AMD Radeon RX 5700M36Up to 1720 MHz8GB180 WRDNA 1.0Navi 107 nm
AMD Radeon RX 5600M36Up to 1265 MHz6GB150 WRDNA 1.0Navi 107 nm
AMD Radeon RX 550022Up to 1845 MHz4GB150 WRDNA 1.0Navi 147 nm
AMD Radeon RX 530022Up to 1645 MHz3GB100 WRDNA 1.0Navi 147 nm
AMD Radeon RX 5500M22Up to 1645 MHz4GB85 WRDNA 1.0Navi 147 nm
Radeon RX Vega 64 Liquid Cooled64Up to 1677 MHz8GB345 WGCN 5.0Vega 1014 nm
AMD Radeon RX 5300M22Up to 1445 MHz3GB85 WRDNA 1.0Navi 147 nm
Radeon RX Vega 6464Up to 1546 MHz8GB295 WGCN 5.0Vega 1014 nm
Radeon RX Vega 5656Up to 1471 MHz8GB210 WGCN 5.0Vega 1014 nm
Radeon RX 59036Up to 1545 MHz8GB175 WGCN 4.0Polaris 3012 nm
Radeon RX 58036Up to 1340 MHz8GB185 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2014 nm
Radeon RX 580 (OEM)361266-1340 MHz8GB185 WGCN 4.0Ellesmere14 nm
Radeon RX 6408/ 10Up to 1287 MHz4GB50 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2314 nm
Radeon RX 580X36Up to 1340 MHz8GB185 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2014 nm
Radeon RX 57032Up to 1244 MHz8GB150 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2014 nm
Radeon RX 570 (OEM)1206-1244 MHz8GB150 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2014 nm
Radeon 6308Up to 1219 MHz4GB50 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2314 nm
Radeon RX 570X32Up to 1244 MHz8GB150 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2014 nm
Radeon RX 560 (OEM)14/161200-1275 MHz4GB60-80 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2114 nm
Radeon 6256Up to 1024 MHz4GB50 WGCN 3.0Polaris 2428 nm
Radeon RX 56014/16Up to 1275 MHz4GB60-80 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2114 nm
Radeon RX 560X14/16Up to 1275 MHz4GB75 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2114 nm
Radeon 6206Up to 1024 MHz4GB50 WGCN 3.0Polaris 2428 nm
Radeon RX 550Up to 1183 MHz4GB50 WGCN 4.0Lexa14 nm
Radeon RX 550X8/ 10Up to 1287 MHz4GB50 WGCN 4.0Lexa14 nm
Radeon RX 5408Up to 1219 MHz4GB50 WGCN 4.0Lexa14 nm
Radeon 6105Up to 1030 MHz4GB50 WGCN 1.0Banks28 nm
Radeon RX 540X8Up to 1219 MHz4GB50 WGCN 4.0Polaris 2314 nm
Radeon 550X08/10/2021Up to 1287 MHz4GB50 WGCN 4.0Lexa14 nm
Radeon 5408Up to 1124 MHz4GB50 WGCN 4.0Lexa14 nm
Radeon 540X8Up to 1219 MHz4GB50 WGCN 4.0Lexa14 nm
Radeon 5356Up to 1024 MHz4GB50 WGCN 3.0Polaris 2428 nm
Radeon 5306Up to 1024 MHz4GB50 WGCN 3.0Weston28 nm
Radeon 5205Up to 1030 MHz4GB50 WGCN 1.0Banks28 nm
AMD Radeon RX 48036Up to 1266 MHz4GB150 WGCN 4.0Ellesmere14 nm
Radeon RX 47032Up to 1206 MHz4GB120 WGCN 4.0Ellesmere14 nm
Radeon RX 46014Up to 1200 MHz2GB70 WGCN 4.0Baffin14 nm
GeForce GT 10102561253 MHz2 GB30 WPascalGP10814 nm
GeForce RTX 305023041750 MHz4 GB90 WAmpereGA1078 nm
GeForce RTX 306035841875 MHz12 GB170 WAmpereGA1068 nm
GeForce RTX 3060 Max-Q30721375 MHz6 GB60 WAmpereGA1068 nm
GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile30721750 MHz6 GB80 WAmpereGA1068 nm
GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q51201250 MHz8 GB80 WAmpereGA1048 nm
GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile51201500 MHz8 GB115 WAmpereGA1048 nm
GeForce RTX 3070 Ti74241188 MHz10 GB200 WAmpereGA1038 nm
GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q61441500 MHz8 GB80 WAmpereGA1048 nm
GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile61441500 MHz8 GB115 WAmpereGA1048 nm
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti104961219 MHz20 GB350 WAmpereGA1028 nm
RTX A40107521812 MHz48 GB300 WAmpereGA1028 nm
RTX A400061442000 MHz16 GB150 WAmpereGA1048 nm
RTX A500081922000 MHz24 GB230 WAmpereGA1038 nm
GeForce GT 10102561253 MHz2 GB30 WPascalGP10814 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 TU1168961500 MHz4 GB80 WTuringTU11612 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 TU1068961500 MHz4 GB90 WTuringTU10612 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Mobile10241500 MHz4 GB50 WTuringTU11612 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile10241500 MHz4 GB50 WTuringTU11712 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q10241250 MHz4 GB30 WTuringTU11712 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q10241250 MHz4 GB50 WTuringTU11712 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Mobile10241500 MHz4 GB50 WTuringTU11712 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 68961500 MHz4 GB75 WTuringTU11712 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER12801500 MHz4 GB100 WTuringTU11612 nm
GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER14081750 MHz6 GB125 WTuringTU11612 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q10241751 MHz4 GB30 WTuringTU11712 nm
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q15361500 MHz6 GB60 WTuringTU11612 nm
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile15361500 MHz6 GB80 WTuringTU11612 nm
GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile10242001 MHz4 GB50 WTuringTU11712 nm
GeForce GTX 16508962001 MHz4 GB75 WTuringTU11712 nm
GeForce GTX 166014082001 MHz6 GB120 WTuringTU11612 nm
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti15361500 MHz6 GB120 WTuringTU11612 nm
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile 3 GB7681752 MHz3 GB75 WPascalGP10714 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 8 GB 5X12801001 MHz8 GB120 WPascalGP10416 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB 5X12801001 MHz6 GB120 WPascalGP10416 nm
GeForce GT 1030 GK1073841250 MHz2 GB65 WKeplerGK10728 nm
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 10 GB32001376 MHz10 GB250 WPascalGP10216 nm
GeForce GTX 1050 3 GB7681752 MHz3 GB75 WPascalGP10714 nm
GeForce GT 1030 DDR43841050 MHz2 GB20 WPascalGP10814 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB GP10412802002 MHz6 GB120 WPascalGP10416 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB Rev. 212802002 MHz6 GB120 WPascalGP10616 nm
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q7681752 MHz4 GB75 WPascalGP10714 nm
GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q6401752 MHz4 GB75 WPascalGP10714 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 5 GB12802002 MHz5 GB120 WPascalGP10616 nm
GeForce GTX 1070 Ti24322002 MHz8 GB180 WPascalGP10416 nm
GeForce GT 720 OEM192891 MHz1024 MB50 WKeplerGK10728 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q12802002 MHz6 GB80 WPascalGP10616 nm
GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q25601251 MHz8 GB150 WPascalGP10416 nm
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q20482002 MHz8 GB115 WPascalGP10416 nm
GeForce GT 10303841502 MHz2 GB30 WPascalGP10814 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB 9Gbps12802257 MHz6 GB120 WPascalGP10616 nm
GeForce GTX 1080 11Gbps25601376 MHz8 GB180 WPascalGP10416 nm
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti35841376 MHz11 GB250 WPascalGP10216 nm
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile7681752 MHz2 GB75 WPascalGP10614 nm
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile6401752 MHz2 GB75 WPascalGP10714 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB GP10411522002 MHz3 GB120 WPascalGP10416 nm
GeForce GTX 760 OEM13441650 MHz2 GB130 WKeplerGK10428 nm
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti7681752 MHz4 GB75 WPascalGP10714 nm
GeForce GTX 10506401752 MHz2 GB75 WPascalGP10714 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB11522002 MHz3 GB120 WPascalGP10616 nm
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile12802002 MHz6 GB80 WPascalGP10616 nm
RTX A500081922000 MHz24 GB230 WAmpereGA1038 nm
GeForce RTX 3070 Ti74241188 MHz10 GB200 WAmpereGA1038 nm
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti104961219 MHz20 GB350 WAmpereGA1028 nm
RTX A400061442000 MHz16 GB150 WAmpereGA1048 nm
RTX A40107521812 MHz48 GB300 WAmpereGA1028 nm
GeForce RTX 305023041750 MHz4 GB90 WAmpereGA1078 nm
GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile30721750 MHz6 GB80 WAmpereGA1068 nm
GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q61441500 MHz8 GB80 WAmpereGA1048 nm
GeForce RTX 3060 Max-Q30721375 MHz6 GB60 WAmpereGA1068 nm
GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile51201500 MHz8 GB115 WAmpereGA1048 nm
GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q51201250 MHz8 GB80 WAmpereGA1048 nm
GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile61441500 MHz8 GB115 WAmpereGA1048 nm
GeForce RTX 306035841875 MHz12 GB170 WAmpereGA1068 nm
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti48641750 MHz8 GB200 WAmpereGA1048 nm
RTX A6000107521750 MHz48 GB300 WAmpereGA1028 nm
GeForce RTX 307058881750 MHz8 GB220 WAmpereGA1048 nm
GeForce RTX 3090104961219 MHz24 GB350 WAmpereGA1028 nm
GeForce RTX 308087041188 MHz10 GB320 WAmpereGA1028 nm
GRID RTX T10-1646081575 MHz16 GB260 WTuringTU10212 nm
GRID RTX T10-846081750 MHz8 GB260 WTuringTU10212 nm
GRID RTX T10-446081750 MHz4 GB260 WTuringTU10212 nm
Quadro RTX 6000 Mobile46081750 MHz24 GB260 WTuringTU10212 nm
Quadro RTX 5000 Mobile Refresh30721750 MHz16 GB110 WTuringTU104B12 nm
GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Max-Q30721375 MHz8 GB80 WTuringTU10412 nm
GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER Max-Q25601375 MHz8 GB90 WTuringTU10412 nm
GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER Mobile25601750 MHz8 GB115 WTuringTU10412 nm
GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Mobile30721750 MHz8 GB150 WTuringTU10412 nm
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q Refresh23041375 MHz8 GB115 WTuringTU106B12 nm
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile Refresh23041375 MHz8 GB115 WTuringTU106B12 nm
GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q19201375 MHz6 GB65 WTuringTU10612 nm
GeForce RTX 2060 TU10419201750 MHz6 GB160 WTuringTU10412 nm
GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER30721937 MHz8 GB250 WTuringTU10412 nm
GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER21761750 MHz8 GB175 WTuringTU10612 nm
GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER25601750 MHz8 GB215 WTuringTU10412 nm
Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile Refresh19201750 MHz6 GB80 WTuringTU10612 nm
Quadro RTX 5000 Max-Q30721750 MHz16 GB80 WTuringTU10412 nm
Quadro RTX 5000 Mobile30721750 MHz16 GB110 WTuringTU10412 nm
Quadro RTX 4000 Mobile25601750 MHz8 GB110 WTuringTU10412 nm
Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q19201500 MHz6 GB60 WTuringTU10612 nm
Quadro RTX 3000 Mobile19201750 MHz6 GB80 WTuringTU10612 nm
Quadro RTX 4000 Max-Q25601625 MHz8 GB80 WTuringTU10412 nm
GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q Refresh19201353 MHz6 GB115 WTuringTU106B12 nm
GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile Refresh19201375 MHz6 GB65 WTuringTU106B12 nm
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q23041500 MHz8 GB90 WTuringTU10612 nm
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q29441500 MHz8 GB90 WTuringTU10412 nm
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile23041750 MHz8 GB115 WTuringTU10612 nm
GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile19201750 MHz6 GB115 WTuringTU10612 nm
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile29441750 MHz8 GB150 WTuringTU10412 nm
GeForce RTX 206019201750 MHz6 GB160 WTuringTU10612 nm
TITAN RTX46081750 MHz24 GB280 WTuringTU10212 nm

Choose Your Preferred Graphics Processor for Apps on Your Computer

Using the method above, you can set your default graphics card preference (either Nvidia or AMD) for any number of apps in Windows 10. Starting with build 20190, Windows 10 is also letting users specify graphics cards on a per-application basis for even more granular control. It was rolled out late last year to Windows Insiders in the Dev channel, so if you are OK with the bugs and the potential instability, you can join the Windows Insider program by clicking through this link.

While we’re talking about extracting the best out of your Windows 10 PC in terms of both performance and efficiency, you can also check out our Windows 10 tips and tricks, how to use God Mode and how to use PowerToys on Windows 10 to get even better control of your computer. Also, don’t forget to check out the tools to stress test GPUs so you can check how your GPU stack against the competition.

#Tags
#Windows 10

Kishalaya Kundu

Passionate techie. Professional tech writer. Proud geek.

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