However, a lot of individuals don’t know how to switch from an integrated to a dedicated graphics card or vice versa, which may be really frustrating if you need to run software that demands a specific graphics card. In order to help you overcome this difficulty, we will cover how to set the default graphics card on a Windows 11 computer in this article.

Set Default Graphics Card in Windows 11

There are two methods you can use to set default graphics cards in Windows 11 computers in case your computer uses both an integrated graphics card and a dedicated graphics card. Here is a complete guide on how to use each of the methods:

1. Using Dedicated Graphics Card App 

Graphics cards have built-in programs, so you can make changes to their settings on your computer. This program called Control Panel can be used to set the default graphics card on Windows PC, and here is how you can do it for NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards:

For NVIDIA GPU

To use the NVIDIA Control Panel to set the NVIDIA graphics card as the default on a Windows 11 PC, follow the steps below:

  1. Right-click on a blank space on your desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. After opening the program, tap on Manage 3D Settings under the 3D Settings option.
  3. Tap on the Program Settings tab and Add the program you want to customize. However, if you’re going to set the default graphics card, you have to click on Global Settings tab. 
  4. Then choose Preferred graphics processor,  select High-Performance NVIDIA processor and hit Apply.

For AMD GPU

Here is how to set AMD as the default graphics card in Windows 11:

  1. Right-click on a blank space on your desktop screen and select AMD Radeon Settings to show the GPU’s control panel.
  2. Go to System and select Switchable graphics. 
  3. Now locate the game you want to set the default graphic card for using the search bar. You may need to select the Running Applications option and change it to Installed Profiled Application if all your apps are not showing on the page.
  4. Tap on the game and select High performance from the drop-down menu.
  5. Click Apply to save the changes. To allow this change to take effect, you should close and relaunch the game. Also, you can add applications by clicking the Add application option at the bottom of the page.  Note: The Power saving GPU is the graphics card with lower performance, while the High Performance GPU is the one that provides better performance.

2. Via Windows Settings 

Instead of using the method above, you can set the default graphics card on your Windows 11 PC through Windows Settings. Here is how to go about it:

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings on your computer.
  2. Tap on System and select Display.
  3. Then scroll down and click on Graphics.
  4. Under the Add an app option, select whether you’re setting the default GPU for Desktop App or Microsoft Store App, and then tap on Browse.
  5. For desktop apps, you’ll have to go to the C drive, open the Program Files where your programs are being stored, and select the .exe file of the app you want to change its GPU.
  6. After successfully adding the program, tap on it and select Options.
  7. On the resulting menu, you can either select the Power saving GPU or the High performance GPU, depending on your preference.
  8. Afterward, you should click on Save to apply the settings. 

How do I disable an integrated graphics card in Windows 11/10?

If you want to disable the integrated graphics card in a Windows 11/10 computer, follow the steps below: Right-click the Start menu on the Windows taskbar and select Device Manager. In the Device Manager window, double-click the Display adapters option and right-click on the integrated graphics driver. Now, tap on the Disable device option.

Can I set the AMD GPU as the default graphics card for a particular game in Windows 11?

If you notice that your PC running an integrated GPU and an AMD dedicated graphics card isn’t performing well while playing a specific game, it may be because the game is using the wrong graphics card. Hence, you may check the AMD settings to ensure that the AMD GPU is set as the default graphics card for the game.

How do I check if my PC has more than one graphics card? 

To know if your PC has more than one graphics card, you should open Device Manager and go to Display adapters. If you find more than one display driver under the Display adapters, your computer has more than one graphics card. 

How do I see the graphics card my PC is currently running?

To know the graphics card your computer is currently running, follow these steps. Press Windows + R to open the Run Command Box, type dxdiag, and hit Enter. On the DirectX Diagnostic Tool windows, switch to the Display tab. You’ll see the name of the graphics card your PC is currently running in front of the name option. 

Final Words

For individuals using a PC with more than one GPU, you may be required to set a default to use for programs on your computer in order to get better performance. When required to do so, you can either use the GPU app or Windows settings to do this, and a full guide on how this is done has been covered in this article.   Recommended Reads:

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