When an app or game uses the wrong graphics processor, you might notice worse battery life, lower frame rates, or higher temperatures. Here’s a step-by-step guide to forcing an app to use either the integrated or discrete GPU on Windows 10/11 and macOS in 2026, plus some troubleshooting tips.

Quick reference

Pick the section you need. Short checklist first:

  • Windows 11/10: Settings > System > Display > Graphics. Vendor control panels: NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Software, Intel Graphics Command Center.
  • MacOS (Intel or Apple Silicon): System Settings > Battery > Automatic graphics switching for Intel Macs; use an app's Get Info > "Prefer External GPU" if you have an eGPU attached. Apple Silicon (M1/2/3/4/5) has unified GPUs — you can't pick a discrete GPU.
  • Hardware/UEFI: Plug displays into the discrete GPU ports and, if needed, set primary display in UEFI (options often labelled IGFX/PEG/PCIe).
  • Costs and electricity: GPU retail ranges in 2026 roughly £100–£200 (entry), £250–£600 (mid), £700–£2,000 (high end). VAT is 20% on UK retail goods (gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/vat-rates).
  • Disposal and recycling: follow UK guidance for electrical items: https://www.gov.uk/dispose-recycle-something-electric.

Prerequisites

Check these things before changing an app’s GPU—they’ll save you time and help avoid chasing non-existent problems.

  • Drivers: Install the latest drivers for NVIDIA, AMD or Intel from vendor sites: NVIDIA (https://www.nvidia.com), AMD (https://www.amd.com), Intel (https://www.intel.com). On Windows, use Display Driver Installation or the vendor's clean install option. On Macs, install all macOS system updates via System Settings > General > Software Update.
  • Monitor connection: If you want the discrete GPU to render, connect the monitor to the discrete card's output, not the motherboard video port. Desktop GPUs usually have HDMI/DisplayPort outputs on the card itself.
  • Laptop utilities: For systems with switchable graphics, check manufacturer utilities — Lenovo Vantage, HP OMEN Hub, ASUS Armoury Crate or Dell Power Manager — because they can override Windows settings. Turn off forced power profiles while troubleshooting.
  • Power and cooling: A mid‑range GPU will draw roughly 150–300W under load. Check your PSU rating and PCIe power connectors. If adding or upgrading a GPU you'll likely need a PSU with enough 12V rail capacity and 6/8‑pin connectors.
  • Backups and safety: For desktop installs, power down, unplug, use an anti‑static wrist strap or touch a grounded metal object. For firmware changes, note any custom settings so you can revert them if needed.

Change an app’s GPU in Windows (system‑wide and per‑app)

Windows 10 and 11 let you set GPU preferences per app right in the system settings. It’s the easiest way and works for most apps.

  1. Open Graphics settings: Press Start, type "Graphics settings" and select it. On Windows 11 the path is Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
  2. Add the app: Under "Choose an app to set preference" pick Desktop app or Microsoft Store app. Click Browse for desktop apps, find the .exe (for games this is often in C:\Program Files (x86) or the Steam folder) and click Add.
  3. Set preference: Click the added app, choose Options, then pick Power saving (integrated GPU) or High performance (discrete GPU). Click Save.
  4. Restart the app: Close and reopen the application. Some apps need a full sign‑out or reboot to honour the change.

Keep in mind, vendor control panels might override or add to Windows settings.

Mastheads
  • NVIDIA Control Panel: Right‑click the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel. Go to Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings. Add the program and select Preferred graphics processor — choose "High‑performance NVIDIA processor" to force the discrete GPU. Click Apply.
  • AMD Radeon Software: Right‑click the desktop > Radeon Software > Gaming > Browse to add an application and set its profile to High Performance or choose the per‑application "Switchable Graphics" setting and assign "High Performance".
  • Intel Graphics Command Center: Open the Intel app, go to System > Power or the Graphics settings. Windows' Graphics settings still provides the easiest per‑app choice for Intel integrated GPUs.

Verify which GPU is used:

  • Task Manager: Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, go to Performance to see GPU activity. In the Processes or Details tab add the "GPU" or "GPU Engine" column to see which GPU a process is using.
  • Dxdiag: Run Win+R, type dxdiag, then look under the Display tab to confirm adapter names.

Change an app’s GPU in macOS

Mac behaviour depends on CPU type. Apple Silicon Macs have a single, unified GPU built into the SoC — you can't select a discrete GPU there. Intel Macs may have both integrated and discrete GPUs and support eGPUs. Here's how to handle both cases.

Intel Macs (with discrete GPU)

  1. System Settings: Go to System Settings > Battery. Look for Automatic graphics switching. Turning this off forces the system to favour the discrete GPU for performance at the cost of battery life.
  2. Per‑app (eGPU): If you have an external GPU connected via Thunderbolt, locate the app in Finder, select it and press Command‑I (Get Info). Check the box "Prefer External GPU" to force that app to use the eGPU. This option appears only when an eGPU is present and the app isn't sandboxed in a way that blocks the flag.
  3. Activity Monitor and System Report: Open Activity Monitor to view GPU usage (Window > GPU History) and use About This Mac > System Report > Graphics/Displays to see which GPUs are present.

Apple Silicon Macs

Apple Silicon (M1 and later) combines CPU and GPU into one chip. There's no discrete GPU to switch to. MacOS schedules GPU resources automatically. If an app behaves poorly on Apple Silicon, check for a native Apple Silicon build or a Metal‑optimised version; Rosetta 2 can run Intel apps but some graphical workloads may be slower.

UEFI/BIOS and hardware fixes

That said, if the OS won't force the GPU, the firmware can. On desktops, set the primary display or PCIe slot in UEFI/BIOS.

  1. Enter UEFI: Restart and press Del, F2, F10 or F12 depending on the motherboard. Consult your manual for the exact key.
  2. Find graphics options: Look for settings labelled Primary Display, Initial Display Output, IGFX or PEG/PCIe. Set to PEG/PCIe to prefer the discrete GPU.
  3. Other options: Some notebooks have BIOS options for switchable graphics or iGPU multi‑monitor. Turning those on or off can change how the OS assigns GPUs.

Physical checks: Ensure the GPU is fully seated, power cables are attached (6/8‑pin), and the display cable is in the GPU's port. Faulty cables or adapters can make the machine fall back to the integrated GPU.

Tips

  • Check app type: Windows distinguishes between desktop .exe and Microsoft Store apps. Add the right type in Graphics settings — otherwise your preference won't apply.
  • Use vendor profiles: For games launched via Steam, Epic or other launchers, add the game executable to the vendor control panel rather than the launcher, or add both if unsure.
  • Test with a benchmark or GPU‑heavy scene to confirm changes — desktop rendering, Unigine benchmarks, or in‑game FPS counters are good checks.
  • If drivers cause instability, use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to remove drivers fully then reinstall the latest stable package from the vendor.
  • On laptops, try both AC and battery power while testing — many systems treat power states differently.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Plugging the monitor into the motherboard: that forces the integrated GPU for desktops. Plug into the discrete card instead.
  • Expecting Apple Silicon to switch GPUs — it simply doesn't have a separate GPU to switch to.
  • Forgetting to close and relaunch the app. Many programs read GPU preferences only at start.
  • Assuming Windows' Graphics settings always override vendor tools. Sometimes the vendor control panel has the final say.
  • Changing UEFI without noting defaults. If performance drops, revert the setting or reset to defaults and try a different approach.

Troubleshooting checklist

If changes don't stick, follow these steps in order:

  1. Update GPU drivers and Windows/macOS to the latest stable release.
  2. Confirm monitor is connected to the correct port and that cables/adapters support the needed bandwidth (e.g. DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.0+ for higher resolutions).
  3. Check Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS) to see which GPU the app is using.
  4. Try vendor control panel settings: NVIDIA/AMD/Intel often force behaviour per‑app.
  5. Reinstall drivers with a clean uninstall if necessary. On Macs, reset SMC/NVRAM on Intel machines (Apple Support provides exact steps: https://support.apple.com).
  6. As a last resort, test with a different user account or clean OS install to rule out profile corruption.

Related Articles

Changing which GPU an application uses is usually quick: try Windows Graphics Settings first, then vendor control panels (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel), and finally firmware or hardware fixes if needed. On macOS, Intel machines let you toggle automatic graphics switching and use "Prefer External GPU" with eGPUs; Apple Silicon doesn't support separate GPUs. Keep drivers up to date, connect the display to the correct port, and use Task Manager or Activity Monitor to verify which GPU is active. If problems persist, check power, BIOS/UEFI options and consider a clean driver reinstall or vendor support.

This article was created with AI assistance.