What Axion changes, and why

How Windows schedules your game, powers your CPU and GPU, and gets frames to the screen.

• High performance power planOff until you turn it onSwitches to the strongest power plan Windows has, so the CPU stops dropping into low power states between frames.
• Hardware GPU scheduling (HAGS)Turns on hardware GPU scheduling, so the graphics card manages its own memory instead of the CPU.
• Xbox Game DVRTurns off Xbox Game DVR, the background capture hook that loads with every game.
• Multi-plane overlay (MPO)Turns off multi-plane overlay, a known cause of flicker and micro-stutter on some NVIDIA and Windows 11 setups.
• Game scheduling priority (MMCSS)Off until you turn it onTells the Windows multimedia scheduler to put game threads first.
• Game process priorityRuns your games at a higher CPU and disk priority and keeps Windows from power-throttling them.
• Fullscreen optimizations offTurns off fullscreen optimizations for your games, so they run in true fullscreen with one layer less.
• Memory managerOff until you turn it onKeeps the Windows kernel in RAM and gives apps priority over file cache. Only on PCs with 8 GB or more.
• Paging fileGives the paging file a fixed floor, so Windows stops resizing it in the middle of a game.
• Visual effectsOff until you turn it onTurns off the Windows animations and shadows that compete with your game for the GPU.
• Idle background servicesOff until you turn it onSwitches off background services a gaming PC has no use for. Each one comes back with Revert.
• Services for hardware this PC does not useOff until you turn it onTurns off services for hardware you don't have, like printing, Bluetooth or fingerprint sign-in.
• Xbox servicesOff until you turn it onTurns off the Xbox services on a PC that doesn't use Game Pass or the Xbox app.
• SysMain (Superfetch)Off until you turn it onTurns off SysMain background preloading on SSD systems with 16 GB of RAM or more.
• Pin the game to the dedicated GPUMakes sure your games run on the dedicated graphics card, not the one built into the CPU.
• Windows Game Mode onMakes sure Windows Game Mode is on. Other tools sometimes turn it off.
• Optimizations for windowed gamesMoves windowed and borderless games to the modern flip model for lower latency.
• Global timer resolutionLets a game's high-precision timer request apply system-wide again, like before Windows 11.
• Fast startup offOff until you turn it onTurns off Fast Startup, so every boot starts clean instead of restoring a saved session.
• Display refresh rate to maximumSets your monitor to the highest refresh rate it supports at the resolution you use.
• Remove the frame limit in every game foundRemoves the frame limit, V-Sync and dynamic resolution in every supported game on this PC.
• Shader cache on and uncappedMakes sure the shader cache is on and unlimited, so shaders aren't rebuilt at every launch.
• Cap frames at the screen's refresh rateOff until you turn it onCaps every supported game at your screen's refresh rate instead of removing the limit.
• True exclusive fullscreenOff until you turn it onMakes sure Windows honours a game's request for exclusive fullscreen.
• Stop Windows Update replacing your graphics driverAsks before it runsSets ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate, the documented Windows Update policy for 'do not include drivers'. Security and quality updates keep installing.
• Potato graphics in every game foundAsks before it runsTurns the graphics settings down in every supported game. Each settings file is backed up first.
• Render at a lower internal resolutionAsks before it runsRenders supported games at a lower internal resolution and scales the picture back up.
• Unreal engine overrides (Lumen, virtual shadows, post)Off until you turn it onTurns off heavy Unreal Engine features in single-player Unreal games. Never Fortnite or Valorant.
• Group the svchost processesOff until you turn it onGroups Windows services into fewer processes, which cuts background overhead.
• NVIDIA maximum performance in the driver keyOff until you turn it onSets the NVIDIA driver's 'prefer maximum performance' power mode.
• Remove every CPU power limitAsks before it runsRemoves every CPU power limit on a desktop: no idle states, no core parking, processor always at 100%. Skipped on laptops.
• AMD: stop the GPU dropping to its low power stateOff until you turn it onStops AMD graphics cards dropping into their deepest power saving state.
• Hibernation off on desktopsDeletes the hibernation file on a desktop PC, which frees space on your system drive. Skipped on laptops.

Less delay on the small packets a game sends, and priority for game traffic.

• Nagle's algorithm off on the adapters in useOff until you turn it onTurns off Nagle's algorithm, so small game packets are sent and answered right away.
• TCP profile for low latencyOff until you turn it onSets TCP to a low latency profile without capping your download speed.
• IPv6 tunnel transition technologies offOff until you turn it onTurns off Teredo, 6to4 and ISATAP, old IPv6 tunnels no game needs.
• Adapter offloads that trade latency for throughputTurns off adapter features that hold packets back to save CPU or power.
• Network priority for every game foundOff until you turn it onGives network priority to every game Axion found on this PC.
• DNS resolver with a lower lookup timeOff until you turn it onSwitches DNS to Cloudflare for faster name lookups. Off by default.
• NetBIOS over TCP/IP offOff until you turn it onTurns off NetBIOS over TCP/IP, a 1980s naming protocol that still broadcasts on your network.
• Adapter power saving and Energy Efficient Ethernet offOff until you turn it onTurns off the power saving your wired adapter’s driver does between packets. Off until you turn it on.

Programs and Windows features that run in the background and compete with your game.

• Telemetry servicesOff until you turn it onTurns off telemetry, error reporting and peer-to-peer update sharing. Windows Update keeps working.
• Background apps offStops Store apps running and updating in the background while you play.
• Shell clutter offOff until you turn it onTurns off Widgets, Copilot, the taskbar search box and the ads in Explorer.
• Suggested content and silent app installsOff until you turn it onTurns off Start menu suggestions, tips and promoted apps that install themselves.
• Discord: hardware acceleration and autostart offTurns off Discord's hardware acceleration and stops it starting with Windows.
• Chrome: stop running after you close itMakes Chrome really close when you close it, instead of staying in the tray.
• Stop the heavy programs starting with WindowsAsks before it runsStops known heavy programs starting with Windows. Shows what it found first.
• Remove preinstalled Store appsCan't be undone by AxionRemoves the preinstalled Store apps. This one can't be undone with Revert.
• Startup list: dead entries and everything else that is not MicrosoftAsks before it runsCleans out dead startup entries and lists the other programs that start with Windows.
• Close the heavy background programs that are running right nowCan't be undone by AxionCloses heavy background programs like RGB, fan control and overlay apps that are running now.
• Empty the Recycle Bin and reclaim disk spaceCan't be undone by AxionEmpties the Recycle Bin and clears update caches, crash dumps and old logs.
• Keep the disk clean by itself (Storage Sense)Off until you turn it onTurns on Storage Sense, so Windows keeps temp files and the Recycle Bin clean by itself.
• No update restarts while you are signed inWindows Update waits for you instead of restarting the PC by itself while you play.
• No 'finish setting up your PC' screen after updatesAfter a big update, the PC goes straight to your desktop instead of a setup screen.
• Microsoft Edge: shopping and sidebar offTurns off Edge's shopping helper and sidebar, which run in the background of every page.
• Teams chat button off the taskbarRemoves the Teams chat button from the Windows 11 taskbar.
• Microsoft Store: no automatic app updatesOff until you turn it onStore apps stop downloading updates in the background. You update them yourself. Off until you turn it on.
• Phone Link does not run in the backgroundPhone Link stops running in the background. It still works when you open it.
• Windows Search indexing offOff until you turn it onTurns off Windows Search indexing and the disk activity that comes with it.
• Ads, popups and notifications offOff until you turn it onTurns off toasts, the notification centre, News and interests and the advertising ID.
• Clean temp and log filesCan't be undone by AxionDeletes temp files, thumbnail caches and old Windows logs.
• Disable startup appsOff until you turn it onStops launchers like Steam, Epic and Discord starting with Windows.
• Debloat Google ChromeOff until you turn it onRemoves Chrome's background extras and update checks. Safe Browsing stays on.
• Disable useless scheduled tasksOff until you turn it onTurns off scheduled tasks that run in the background and do nothing for games.
• Uninstall preinstalled appsCan't be undone by AxionUninstalls preinstalled apps. This one can't be undone with Revert.
• Windows 11 AI, Widgets and web search offOff until you turn it onTurns off Windows 11's Recall, Copilot, Widgets and web results in Start.
• Teams and OneDrive do not start with WindowsStops Teams and OneDrive starting with Windows. Both still work when you open them.
• No manufacturer software with new devicesOff until you turn it onStops Windows installing the manufacturer’s app when you plug in a new mouse, headset or controller.

Mouse and keyboard settings for steadier aim and quicker response.

• Input buffer sizeOff until you turn it onMakes the mouse and keyboard input queues smaller.
• Mouse acceleration offTurns off mouse acceleration, so the same hand movement always moves your aim the same distance.
• USB selective suspend offOff until you turn it onStops USB ports sleeping, which can delay the first click or key press after a pause.
• Faster key repeatMakes a held key start repeating in about half the time.
• Sticky Keys and Filter Keys popups offStops the Sticky Keys and Filter Keys popups from throwing you out of a game.
• Xbox button on a controller does not open Game BarA press of the Xbox button on your controller no longer opens Game Bar in the middle of a game.
• Mouse Keys shortcut offStops the Mouse Keys popup (Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock) from throwing you out of a game.
• USB power saving off for keyboards and miceOff until you turn it onStops Windows turning your keyboard and mouse off to save power, which delays the first click after a pause.

Deeper latency and power tuning for PCs that are mainly for gaming. This group is off until you turn it on, and the app explains each tweak first.

• Optimize Windows settingsOff until you turn it onTurns off telemetry, update sharing, suggestions and a set of background Windows features.
• Explorer tweaksOff until you turn it onTurns off recent-program tracking, low-disk checks and taskbar animations.
• Windows tweaksOff until you turn it onStops Edge running in the background and turns off settings sync and Remote Assistance.
• Additional Windows tweaksOff until you turn it onTurns off feedback prompts, Wi-Fi Sense and web content checks.
• Unhide the hidden power settingsUnhides the advanced power settings Windows keeps out of sight.
• Additional power tweaksOff until you turn it onKeeps CPU cores unparked from boot and turns off power throttling.
• Kboost (NVIDIA PowerMizer to maximum)Off until you turn it onHolds NVIDIA PowerMizer at maximum performance.
• Storage power management offOff until you turn it onStops storage controllers and drives going into power saving states.
• Game priority: Fortnite and ValorantOff until you turn it onGives Fortnite and Valorant network packets priority on your connection.
• Additional latency tweaksOff until you turn it onSpreads timers across CPU cores and stops NVMe drives idling.
• Animation and visual tweaksOff until you turn it onTurns off transparency, animations and extra taskbar features.
• Advanced CPU registry tweaksOff until you turn it onKeeps every core unparked with the minimum processor state at 100% and aggressive turbo.
• Scheduler, timer and throttling maximumOff until you turn it onFrees the CPU time Windows keeps for background media and turns off network and power throttling.
• GPU interrupts: MSI mode, priority and core affinityAsks before it runsMoves the graphics card to MSI interrupts with high priority on a CPU core of its own.
• Timer coalescing and package idle offOff until you turn it onTurns off timer coalescing and CPU package idle, so timers fire exactly on time.
• ETW autologgers offOff until you turn it onTurns off the event logging sessions Windows runs in the background all the time.
• USB controller interrupts and driver thread priorityOff until you turn it onMoves USB controllers to MSI interrupts and raises driver thread priority.
• PCIe link power and firmware settingsTurns off PCIe link power saving, so the graphics card never waits to wake up.
• Extra background services offOff until you turn it onTurns off more background services, like remote registry, maps and retail demo.
• NTFS filesystem tuningCan't be undone by AxionTunes NTFS memory use and turns off legacy short file names.
• NVIDIA driver profile for every game foundAsks before it runsWrites a performance driver profile for every NVIDIA game found.
• Network adapter interrupts: MSI modeOff until you turn it onMoves the network adapter to MSI interrupts, the same setting x28 writes for the graphics card.

The few tweaks that turn a Windows protection off, or tell Defender to leave a folder alone. They are off until you turn them on, each one says what it costs, and Undo everything puts them back.

• Defender exclusions for game foldersOff until you turn it onStops Defender rescanning your game folders while a game loads. Only those folders, never the whole PC.
• Memory Integrity (VBS/HVCI) offOnly when picked on its ownTurns off Memory Integrity to win back CPU time. Off by default because it removes a security protection.
• Spectre and Meltdown mitigations off (older CPUs only)Asks before it runsTurns off the Spectre and Meltdown mitigations, only on older CPUs where they cost real speed. Removes real protection.