GitHub

This is a Windows Consolizer tool supporting Win10, Win11, x86, x64, ARM32 and ARM64 (should also work on Win7 & Win8)
This tool can significantly reduce memory (by GBs) and CPU/GPU cycles for games
You can use this with any Windows flavor like Tiny10 or Tiny11 as well.
Bypass explorer and even Win11 Xbox mode bloat if you only care about Steam for example.

Steam, Playnite, GOG, Itch.io, Epic, Ubisoft, EA, Battlenet & Polymega should work.

How to use

  • You can config Windows to skip login etc (optional: go to Settings→Accounts→Sign-in options and disable login after sleep)
  • Steam App Left/Right menus can be opened by holding Back/Select button then tapping Left/Right Bumper
  • In Control-Center, you can use a Gamepad to navigate
  • I suggest making Steam default boot into BigPicture mode (better after it updates). And disable Steams auto-start.

Portable/Optimized Install (Win10, Win11 etc)

  • Download and Install (For upgrading, uninstall first)
  • Click "Enable Game Mode" (This will modify a single reg value and reboot)
  • NOTE: If the app fails to run you may need to disable "Smart App Control"

FSE [Full Screen Experience] / Xbox Mode (Win11 Only)

  • You can install this tool in FSE mode giving you extended features (WinStore, Xbox bar etc)
  • You must put Win11 into Developer Mode: Settings => "System/Advanced/Developer Mode"
  • Then run "Install_WBOX_FSE.bat"
  • Now got to: Settings => "Gaming/XBOX mode"
  • Under "Choose home app" select WBOX.FSE
  • Then enable "Enter XBOX app on startup"
  • Reboot

Gotchas

  • If Steams window is not fully in focus it may not detect virtual menu buttons (just click/tap it to focus it)

HDR

Other info

The reg value changed is "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell" (yes thats it, unless you're using FSE)
If you ever need to manually revert simply do these steps (but Control Center does it for you)

  • Open Task-Manager (can be done with Ctrl+Alt+Del)
  • Click "Run new task" and enter "regedit"
  • Navigate to the "Shell" key listed above and change it to explorer.exe
  • Click "Run new task" again and enter "explorer.exe"
  • Everything should work as normal again.

Known issues

  • If TDP control requires Xbox Gamebar and this is a must for you, this tool may not be for you.
  • UWP/WinRT style apps don't tend to work as they require extra bloat explorer loads.

Screenshots

Read the original on github.com ↗