Basic settings

Configure essential Windows features and system options to match your needs. These settings control core functionality like Bluetooth, Game Mode, notifications, and more.

Configuration files are in the Atlas folder on your Desktop:

  • Most settings: 3. General Configuration
  • Bluetooth, Network Discovery, Printing, etc.: 6. Advanced Configuration Services
  • Driver updates: 2. Drivers Drivers from Windows Update

If you can’t find the Atlas folder, see our guide to restore the Atlas folder.

Restart required

Most changes require a restart. A reminder appears when needed.

Before you start

These settings control Windows features that Atlas modifies by default. Before changing:

  • Understand what each feature does
  • Have a reason to change the default
  • Atlas defaults are optimized for performance and responsiveness

For more configuration options, check:

Background apps

When to use: Enable if you need apps to run in the background (e.g., Sea of Thieves requires this).

By default, AtlasOS disables background apps to improve system responsiveness and reduce resource usage. Some games and applications require background apps to function properly.

To enable background apps, run the Enable Background Apps.cmd script in 3. General Configuration Background Apps and restart your system.

Bluetooth

When to use: Enable if you need to connect Bluetooth devices like headphones, speakers, or game controllers.

AtlasOS disables Bluetooth by default to reduce system overhead. If you use Bluetooth devices, you’ll need to enable this feature.

  1. Run the Enable Bluetooth.cmd script in 6. Advanced Configuration Services Bluetooth
  2. Restart your system
  3. You may need to install Bluetooth drivers from your motherboard manufacturer’s website

Tip

Need help finding Bluetooth drivers? Check our drivers guide for instructions.

Driver updates

When to use: Switch between automatic and manual driver installation based on your preference.

When installing AtlasOS, you choose between Automatic Driver Installation (via Windows Update) or Manual Driver Installation. You can change this choice later if needed.

To switch methods:

  1. Open the Drivers from Windows Update folder (in 2. Drivers)
  2. Run the appropriate script or registry file for your desired method
  3. Restart your system

Automatic: Windows Update handles all driver installations automatically. Manual: You install drivers yourself for full control over versions.

FSO and Game Bar

When to use: Enable Game Bar if you want to record gameplay, take screenshots, or monitor performance. Disable FSO if you prefer fullscreen exclusive mode.

Game Bar is a Windows feature for screen recording, screenshots, and performance monitoring. It relies on Fullscreen Optimizations (FSO), which AtlasOS enables by default.

Enable Game Bar

AtlasOS removes Game Bar by default. To enable it:

  1. Run the Enable FSO and Game Bar Support (default).cmd script in 3. General Configuration FSO and Game Bar
  2. Install Game Bar from the Microsoft Store

Disable FSO (Fullscreen Exclusive Mode)

If you prefer fullscreen exclusive mode (better for some games with frame limiting), disable FSO:

  1. Run the Disable FSO and Game Bar Support.cmd script in 3. General Configuration FSO and Game Bar
  2. This fixes compatibility with the “Disable fullscreen optimizations” option in game compatibility settings

Info

Learn more about Fullscreen Optimizations and Fullscreen Exclusive modes.

HAGS (Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling)

When to use: Test if you want to improve GPU performance, but results vary by system.

HAGS is a Windows feature that can improve performance in GPU-intensive tasks by allowing the GPU to manage its memory more efficiently. However, it doesn’t always produce positive results on every system.

To test HAGS:

  1. Check if your GPU supports it (NVIDIA 10-series or newer, AMD RX 5000 series or newer)
  2. Enable it in Windows Settings System Display Graphics settings
  3. Restart your system
  4. Test your applications to see if performance improves

Info

HAGS is controlled through Windows Settings, not the Atlas folder. The impact varies by system and application, so testing is recommended.

Lanman workstation (SMB)

When to use: Disable only if you don’t need file sharing and don’t use software that requires SMB (like AMD Ryzen Master).

SMB (Server Message Block) enables file sharing over a network. It’s also required by some software like AMD Ryzen Master. AtlasOS enables it by default.

To disable SMB, run the Disable Lanman Workstation.cmd script in 6. Advanced Configuration Services Lanman Workstation (SMB) and restart.

Network discovery

When to use: Disable if you don’t need to see or share with other computers on your network.

Network Discovery allows your computer to find and be found by other devices on your local network. AtlasOS enables it by default.

Disable network discovery

To disable network discovery, run the Disable Network Discovery Services.cmd script in 6. Advanced Configuration Services Network Discovery and restart.

Enable file sharing

AtlasOS disables file sharing by default. To share files with other Windows devices on your network:

  1. Run the Enable File Sharing.cmd script in 3. General Configuration File Sharing
  2. Restart your system

Network navigation pane

Control whether the “Network” section appears in File Explorer. To enable it, run the User Network Navigation Pane choice.cmd script in 3. General Configuration File Sharing Network Navigation Pane and restart.

Power settings

Control power-related behavior that affects performance, responsiveness, and power consumption.

CPU idle

When to use: Disable only if you need maximum responsiveness and have adequate cooling. Not recommended for laptops or systems left running unattended.

Disabling CPU idle prevents the CPU from entering power-saving states, which reduces jitter and improves responsiveness by keeping the CPU at C-State 0. However, this increases power consumption and heat.

Warning: Only disable CPU idle if:

  • You have adequate cooling
  • You don’t leave your PC running unattended for long periods
  • You’re not using a laptop
  • You’re comfortable managing power consumption

To disable CPU idle, use the appropriate script in 3. General Configuration CPU Idle.

Hibernation

When to use: Enable if you want your system to save its state to disk when shutting down (useful for quick resume).

Hibernation saves your system’s current state to disk so you can resume where you left off. AtlasOS disables it by default due to potential stability issues.

To enable hibernation, run the Enable Hibernation.cmd script in 3. General Configuration Hibernation.

Power saving

When to use: Adjust based on your priority, performance vs. power efficiency.

Control your system’s power-saving behavior. These settings affect both the power scheme and related system behavior, impacting performance.

To modify power saving settings, use the scripts in 3. General Configuration Power-saving.

Timer resolution

When to use: Increase if you use multimedia applications or frame rate limiters that benefit from precise timing.

Increasing timer resolution improves precision for applications requiring consistent pacing, such as multimedia apps and frame rate limiters. This comes at the cost of increased power consumption.

Adjust timer resolution using the scripts in 3. General Configuration Timer Resolution. Test to see if your applications benefit.

Printing

When to use: Enable if you need to print documents.

AtlasOS disables printing by default to improve responsiveness. Enable it if you use printers.

To enable printing, run the Enable Printing (default).cmd script in 6. Advanced Configuration Services Printing and restart.

Search indexing

When to use: Enable if you frequently search for files and want faster search results.

Search Indexing speeds up file searches by indexing your files in the background. AtlasOS uses minimal search indexing by default to reduce system overhead.

The Search Indexing folder offers three options: Minimal Search Indexing (default).cmd (Atlas default), Enable Search Indexing.cmd (full indexing), and Disable Search Indexing.cmd. Run the appropriate script in 3. General Configuration Search Indexing and restart.

Tip

Search indexing uses system resources. Only enable if you frequently search for files and need faster results.

Start menu

When to use: Install Open-Shell if you prefer a classic Start menu experience.

Customize your Start menu experience with Open-Shell, a tool that provides a customizable classic Start menu.

Install Open-Shell

  1. Run the Install Open-Shell.cmd script in 4. Interface Tweaks Start Menu
  2. Follow the installation prompts
  3. Optionally use the Atlas Open-Shell Preset.xml file for a pre-configured setup

Learn more about Open-Shell and customize it to your preferences.

System restore

When to use: Disable only if you don’t need the ability to restore your system to a previous state and want to save disk space.

System Restore creates snapshots of your system that you can use to revert to a previous state. It’s enabled by default but uses disk space.

To disable System Restore, run the Disable System Restore.cmd script in 3. General Configuration System Restore and restart.

Warning

Disabling System Restore removes the ability to roll back system changes. Only disable if you’re confident you won’t need this feature.

Visual effects

When to use: Enable if you prefer Windows’ visual animations and effects over maximum performance.

Windows includes visual effects like animated menus, tooltips, and window transitions. These enhance appearance but can slightly reduce performance. AtlasOS disables them by default for better performance.

To restore Windows visual effects, run the Default Windows Visual Effects.cmd script in 4. Interface Tweaks Visual Effects (Animations).