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.

Game Mode optimises your gaming experience by giving your game the highest priority access to your CPU and GPU, lowering usage for background tasks. And it doubles the Bluetooth sampling rate, which reduces input latency and audio latency for wireless accessories such as game controllers and AirPods.

Turn on Game Mode

Game Mode will be turned on automatically when you use your game in macOS full-screen mode:

Use apps in full screen on Mac

If your game supports this full-screen mode, a Game Mode menu appears in the menu bar. You can use this menu to confirm that Game Mode is turned on for your game.

Turn off Game Mode

Game Mode turns off automatically when you stop viewing your game in full screen.

You can also turn off Game Mode while your game is still in full screen: from the Game Mode menu in the menu bar, choose Turn Game Mode Off. It remains off for that game until you turn it on again – even if you quit and reopen the game.

Find out more

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

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