Use Game Mode on Mac

Game Mode automatically prioritises the performance of your game for smoother, more consistent frame rates and improved in-game responsiveness.

What does Game Mode do?

• Game Mode optimises your gaming experience by giving your game the highest priority access to your CPU and GPU, lowering usage for background tasks. This can result in smoother, more consistent frame rates and improved in-game responsiveness.

• Game Mode doubles the Bluetooth sampling rate, which reduces input latency and audio latency for wireless accessories such as games controllers and AirPods.

Requirements for using Game Mode

To use Game Mode, you need:

• A Mac with Apple silicon and macOS Sonoma 14 or later

• A game that supports the full-screen mode that is built into macOS. If your game supports this full-screen mode, it shows the macOS full-screen button in the corner of the game window.

Turn Game Mode on or off

When your game enters full screen as described above, Game Mode automatically turns on for that game. Exiting full screen or quitting the game will turn Game Mode off automatically. You can also follow the steps below to turn Game Mode off or on while your game is still in full screen.

macOS Tahoe 26 or later

1. While your game is in full screen, press Command-Esc (Escape) to open Game Overlay in the corner of the screen. Or click the Game icon in the menu bar. (To show the menu bar while in full screen, move your pointer to the top of the screen.)

2. In Game Overlay, click the Settings button, then click Game Mode. If you turn Game Mode off in this way, it will remain off for that game until you turn it on again – even if you quit and reopen the game.

macOS Sequoia 15 or macOS Sonoma 14

1. While your game is in full screen, click the Game menu in the menu bar. (To show the menu bar while in full screen, move your pointer to the top of the screen.)

2. Choose Turn Game Mode Off or Turn Game Mode On. If you turn Game Mode off in this way, it will remain off for that game until you turn it on again – even if you quit and reopen the game.

Learn more

• Find out how to connect a wireless games controller to Mac.

• To filter notifications and distractions while you’re gaming, you can set up a Focus that turns on whenever you connect a wireless gaming controller.