Windows Optimisation

Estimated Lesson Length: 30–40 Minutes

Lesson Overview

Welcome back.

In Lesson 1, we prepared Windows by creating a Restore Point and discussed why Windows plays such an important role in Microsoft Flight Simulator performance.

Now we’re going to begin optimising Windows itself.

Many people believe Flight Simulator performance is only affected by the graphics card.

However, Windows is constantly working in the background.

It manages:

• CPU scheduling
• Memory management
• Storage
• Drivers
• Security
• Background applications
• Updates
• Gaming services

If Windows is poorly maintained, even a high-end gaming PC may not perform as well as it should.

The aim of this lesson is not to disable everything. Instead, we’re going to ensure Windows is organised, efficient and ready to support Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson you will understand:

Why Windows maintenance is important.

How Windows Update affects stability and performance.

Which gaming features are useful.

How startup applications affect boot time and background usage.

How Storage Sense and temporary files work.

How notifications can interrupt gaming.

When Xbox Game Bar can be useful and when it may be unnecessary.

What Windows Search Indexing does.

How File Explorer performance can affect your overall experience.

Windows Update

Windows receives regular updates that improve:

• Security
• Stability
• Hardware compatibility
• Bug fixes
• Driver support

Keeping Windows reasonably up to date helps ensure good compatibility with modern hardware and software, including Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Why It Matters

Some simulator issues aren’t caused by MSFS at all.

Instead…

Windows itself may contain bugs that have already been fixed through updates.

Updates can also improve compatibility with:

• New graphics drivers
• New CPUs
• Storage devices
• USB peripherals

How To Check

Click:

Start

↓

Settings

↓

Windows Update

↓

Check for Updates

If updates are available:

Install them.

Restart the computer if required.

Important Advice

Avoid beginning a long flight while Windows is downloading or installing major updates in the background.

Large updates may temporarily use:

• CPU
• Disk activity
• Network bandwidth

Gaming Features

Windows includes several gaming features designed to improve the gaming experience.

Examples include:

• Game Mode
• Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling (if supported)
• Xbox Game Bar

Let’s look at each one.

Windows Game Mode

Game Mode tells Windows to prioritise the active game.

When enabled, Windows attempts to:

Reduce unnecessary background activity.

Prioritise CPU resources for the game.

Delay some Windows maintenance tasks while you’re playing.

Should You Enable It?

For most modern gaming PCs:

Yes.

It generally helps Windows focus resources on the game without requiring any manual tweaking.

How To Enable

Settings

↓

Gaming

↓

Game Mode

↓

Turn ON

Startup Applications

Every time Windows starts…

Programs may automatically launch.

Examples include:

Discord

Spotify

Steam

OneDrive

Adobe Creative Cloud

RGB software

Printer software

Cloud storage applications

Some of these programs continue running even if you never open them.

Why It Matters

Each application may use:

CPU time

RAM

Disk activity

Network activity

One application alone might have little impact.

Ten or twenty together can add unnecessary background load.

How To Check

Open:

Task Manager

↓

Startup Apps

Look at the “Startup impact” column.

If you see applications you rarely use, you may choose to disable them from starting automatically.

Disabling startup does not uninstall the application—it simply stops it launching every time Windows starts. You can still open it manually whenever you need it.

Storage Sense

Windows constantly creates temporary files.

Examples include:

Update files

Installation files

Log files

Recycle Bin contents

Temporary internet files

Over time these can accumulate.

Storage Sense helps Windows remove files that are no longer needed.

Benefits

Helps free storage space.

Reduces unnecessary file clutter.

Keeps Windows organised.

How To Enable

Settings

↓

System

↓

Storage

↓

Storage Sense

Choose settings that suit your needs, such as cleaning temporary files or emptying the Recycle Bin after a period of time.

Temporary Files

Temporary files are created whenever programs are installed, updated or used.

Normally…

Windows removes them automatically.

Sometimes…

Older temporary files remain.

Why Clean Them?

Cleaning temporary files can:

Recover storage space.

Remove obsolete installation files.

Reduce clutter.

It isn’t usually a direct FPS optimisation, but good system maintenance helps keep your PC organised.

How To Remove

Settings

↓

System

↓

Storage

↓

Temporary Files

Review the categories carefully.

Avoid deleting items you’re unsure about.

Select the files you wish to remove.

Click:

Remove Files

Notifications

Windows notifications can appear while you’re flying.

Examples include:

Email alerts.

Calendar reminders.

Update notifications.

Application pop-ups.

These interruptions can distract you and, in some cases, briefly take focus away from the simulator.

How To Configure

Settings

↓

System

↓

Notifications

Reduce notifications that you don’t need while gaming.

You can also enable “Do Not Disturb” when appropriate.

Xbox Game Bar

This setting is often misunderstood.

Some people recommend disabling it immediately.

The truth is…

It depends on how you use your PC.

What Xbox Game Bar Does

Xbox Game Bar provides:

Game recording.

Screenshots.

Performance monitoring.

Party chat.

Widgets.

Some users rely on these features.

Others never use them.

Should You Leave It On?

If you use:

Performance overlays.

Recording.

Game clips.

Leave it enabled.

If you never use these features and prefer a simpler system, you may choose to disable it.

The performance difference varies between systems and is often small, so don’t expect a dramatic FPS increase just from changing this setting.

Windows Search Indexing

Windows constantly indexes files to make searching faster.

Examples include:

Documents.

Pictures.

Downloads.

Emails.

Desktop files.

The index updates whenever files change.

Why It Matters

Indexing uses:

CPU.

Storage.

RAM.

On modern systems the impact is often low.

However, during periods of heavy indexing, it can briefly increase background activity.

Rather than disabling indexing entirely, it’s often better to leave it enabled unless you have a specific reason not to use Windows Search frequently.

File Explorer Performance

File Explorer is how Windows accesses your files.

A cluttered drive containing millions of files can make navigation slower.

Keeping folders organised can improve your day-to-day experience.

For Flight Simulator users, consider keeping:

• Community folder
• Aircraft downloads
• Liveries
• Charts
• Flight plans

well organised.

This won’t directly increase FPS, but it makes managing your simulator much easier.

Student Exercise

Complete the Windows Optimisation Checklist.

Windows Update checked.

Game Mode reviewed.

Startup applications reviewed.

Storage Sense configured if desired.

Temporary files reviewed and unnecessary items removed.

Notifications reviewed.

Xbox Game Bar reviewed based on your needs.

Windows Search Indexing understood.

Flight Simulator folders organised.

Lesson Summary

Congratulations.

You’ve now completed the first practical optimisation lesson.

Today you’ve learnt that:

Windows plays a significant role in simulator performance.

Keeping Windows maintained supports stability and compatibility.

 Startup applications can consume resources unnecessarily.

Storage Sense and temporary file cleanup help keep your system organised.

Notifications can interrupt flights.

Xbox Game Bar isn’t simply “good” or “bad”—whether to use it depends on your workflow.

Windows Search Indexing and File Explorer management are part of maintaining a healthy PC, even if they don’t directly increase FPS