Use Game Mode

On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can use Game Mode to automatically prioritize the performance of your game for smoother, more consistent frame rates and improved in-game responsiveness.

What does Game Mode do?

• Game Mode optimizes 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 like game controllers and AirPods.

Requirements for using Game Mode

• iPhone with iOS 18 or later and a supported game.

• iPad with iPadOS 18 or later and a supported game.

• Mac with Apple silicon and macOS Sonoma 14 or later and 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 on iPhone or iPad

When your game enters full screen, Game Mode automatically turns on for that game. Quitting the game automatically turns Game Mode off. You can also use the steps below to turn Game Mode off or on while your game is still in full screen.

1. While your game is in full screen, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center.

2. At the top of the screen in Control Center, you should see the name of your game followed by “Game Overlay.” Tap Game Overlay.

3. Tap the Controls button, then tap Game Mode. If you turn Game Mode off in this way, it remains off for that game until you turn it on again — even if you quit and reopen the game.

   

Turn Game Mode on or off on Mac

When your game enters full screen, Game Mode automatically turns on for that game. Exiting full screen or quitting the game automatically turns Game Mode off. You can also use 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 ⎋ 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 remains 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 remains off for that game until you turn it on again — even if you quit and reopen the game.

Learn more

• You can also use a supported wireless game controller to open Game Overlay, depending on your controller's settings. Learn how to connect a wireless game controller to your device.

• To filter notifications and distractions while you're gaming, you can set up a Gaming Focus on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. By default, the Gaming Focus turns on whenever you connect a wireless gaming controller to your device.