Minecraft Not Using GPU: 3 Ways to Fix in 2024

This issue is caused by an improperly configured GPU

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Key notes

  • Ensure that your dedicated graphics card is set as default.
  • Configure Minecraft to use high-performance mode.

Many users reported that Minecraft is not using GPU, and this can cause various performance issues.

This is why many are eager to fix this issue, and in today’s guide, we’re going to show you the best ways to do that.

Why is my GPU not being used in Minecraft?

Incorrectly configured dual graphics cards usually cause this problem. If your dedicated graphics isn’t selected, you’ll encounter this issue. In addition, outdated drivers can also cause this issue.

How do I fix Minecraft not using GPU?

1. Select the NVIDIA GPU

  1. Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. Select Manage 3D Settings on the left of the window.
  3. Select the High-performance NVIDIA processor option on the Global Settings tab.
    Manage 3D settings tab minecraft not using gpu
  4. Click the Program Settings tab to select the NVIDIA GPU, more specifically for Minecraft.
    Program Settings tab minecraft not using gpu
  5. Click the Add button.
  6. Click Browse on the Add window.
    Add window minecraft not using gpu
  7. Then open the Minecraft folder in the Add window.
  8. Open Minecraft’s bin subfolder.
  9. Select Javaw.exe in the bin folder.
  10. Then click the Open option.
  11. With the Javaw.exe path selected, click the Select the preferred graphics card for this program drop-down menu.
  12. Select the High-performance NVIDIA processor option.
  13. Press the Apply button.

Note: Users with NVIDIA laptops can also select a High-performance NVIDIA processor context menu option. Right-click Minecraft’s icon to open its context menu.

Then select the High-performance NVIDIA processor option on the Run with Graphics processor context menu submenu.

2. Select the AMD GPU

  1. Right-click the desktop and select AMD Radeon Settings.
  2. Then click the System tab.
    Switchable Graphics tab
  3. Click the Switchable Graphics tab.
  4. Select the Installed Profile Applications option to overview your installed software.
    Apps on the Switchable Graphics tab minecraft not using gpu
  5. Click the Browse option to select Javaw.exe for Minecraft.
  6. Click Javaw.exe to select the High-Performance option for the discrete GPU.

Quick Tip

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3. Select the High-Performance GPU via Settings

  1. Open the Start menu, type the keyword graphics settings and open it.
  2. Select the Universal app if you got Minecraft from the MS Store.
  3. Click the Select an app menu to select Minecraft.
  4. Click the Options button for Minecraft.
  5. Select the High-performance radio button.
    Graphic specifications options minecraft not using gpu
  6. Press the Save button.

How do I fix Minecraft not using GPU on Windows 11?

The above solutions also apply to Windows 11 PCs. Here are a few advanced solutions you can opt for if none of the above resolutions fix the problem.

  • Reinstall Minecraft.
  • Reinstall the graphics driver on your PC.
  • Reset your PC.
  • Check for Windows updates.

Why is Minecraft barely using CPU?

If Minecraft is not using enough CPU, verify that there’s no limit placed. Also, it could be a one-time problem, and restarting Minecraft might fix things.

If the problem continues, check that you have enough RAM installed since, in the absence of that, Minecraft wouldn’t run well and, in turn, not use the CPU.

Is Minecraft CPU or GPU intensive?

Well, the popular Minecraft game isn’t GPU intensive. However, having a better GPU won’t hurt much. Notably, Minecraft is more CPU intensive.

So, any PC with an integrated GPU will also run Minecraft perfectly fine. You may come across a few glitches here and there, but they are easily fixable.

How much RAM should I allocate to Minecraft?

  1. Open the Minecraft launcher.
  2. Click on the Installations tab.
  3. Hover your mouse to the Minecraft version and click on the 3-dot icon.
  4. Select Edit.
  5. Click on More Options at the bottom of the screen.
  6. Under the JVM Arguments field, you will see a command starting with -Xmx2G.
  7. Replace the 2G in the text with 4G, which will allocate 4GB RAM to Minecraft.

So, that’s how you can configure Minecraft to utilize a discrete GPU instead of the integrated alternative. Then you’ll get better graphics performance for Minecraft when you play it.

Many users reported a different problem, and their main concern was high GPU usage in Minecraft, but we managed to fix that issue in another guide.

If this problem still persists, we have a great guide on how to force a game to run on GPU, so don’t miss it for more solutions.

You can also configure dual GPU graphics settings much the same for other games.

More about the topics: Minecraft Issues