How to Turn Off Windows 11 Animations to Speed Up Performance
Windows 11 includes smooth animations and visual effects that enhance appearance, but these features can slow down performance, especially on older or low-end PCs. Disabling unnecessary animations can make Windows 11 feel faster and more responsive.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to turn off Windows 11 animations safely to improve speed without affecting system stability.
What Are Windows 11 Animations?
Animations in Windows 11 include window transitions, taskbar effects, menu fades, and visual motion effects. While visually appealing, they require additional CPU and GPU resources.
If your PC feels laggy, animations may be contributing to the problem.
Why Disabling Animations Improves Performance
- Reduces CPU and GPU workload
- Improves system responsiveness
- Helps low-end or older hardware
- Creates a smoother user experience
For general performance issues, you may want to start here:
How to Fix Windows 11 Slow Performance
Method 1: Turn Off Animations via Windows Settings
- Open Settings
- Go to Accessibility
- Select Visual effects
- Turn off Animation effects
This method is simple and effective for most users.
Method 2: Disable Animations Using Advanced System Settings
- Open Settings → System → About
- Click Advanced system settings
- Under Performance, click Settings
- Select Adjust for best performance
This option disables most visual effects at once.
Method 3: Reduce Visual Effects for Balanced Performance
If you prefer not to disable all animations, you can manually select which effects to keep.
- Uncheck window animations
- Disable fade and slide effects
- Keep font smoothing enabled
Animations and High CPU or RAM Usage
Animations can indirectly increase CPU and memory usage, especially when combined with background apps. If you experience high resource usage, check these guides:
Combine Animation Tweaks with Other Optimizations
Disabling animations works best when combined with other performance improvements. You can further optimize your system by stopping unnecessary background apps:
How to Stop Background Apps in Windows 11
Who Should Disable Windows 11 Animations?
- Users with older or low-end PCs
- Systems with limited RAM
- Users experiencing lag or stuttering
High-end systems may not need this change, but it can still improve responsiveness.
Final Thoughts
Turning off Windows 11 animations is a quick and safe way to speed up performance. By reducing visual effects, your system can focus resources on essential tasks, resulting in smoother and faster operation.
For complete optimization, explore:
Best Windows 11 Settings for Better Performance