Disable DWM on Windows 11: Can You Still do it?

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Key notes

  • Each day, users are discovering more and more apps and features which won't work on Windows 11.
  • The newest member on this list is the Desktop Windows manager, which won't serve its purpose anymore on the new OS.
  • Many of the users that were utilizing this tool, were doing so in order to improve gaming performance, mainly.
  • Apparently, on Windows 11, the software still tried to complete its task but the results are inexistent. 
kill DWM in Windows 11

Among the many other apps or features that we will inevitably have to part ways with, once we start using Windows 11, is the popular Desktop Window Manager (DWM).

If you, by any chance, are wondering what DWM (dwm.exe) is, know its a compositing window manager that renders all those pretty effects in Windows.

We are, of course, talking about transparent windows, live taskbar thumbnails, Flip3D, and even high resolution monitor support.

No more DWM killing in Windows 11

This subject sparked quite a conversation across social media platforms, as many users that currently have an early version of Windows 11 installed on their devices, are already missing it.

According to a Windows 11 user, that started a thread on Reddit, this is what happens when you disable the DWM on Windows 11.

Many of the respondents to this heated conversation were star-struck that people even use such software, in the first place.

The ones that do utilize DWM state that their only reason for messing with the DWM is to improve gaming performance.

More exactly, on the new operating system, the Device Windows Manager doesn’t function anymore. Even if for some, the software looks like it’s completing its tasks, the results are inexistent.

It reduces input latency in some games that don’t have native exclusive fullscreen, and other things but that’s what I use it for

So you can add this to the long list of pro’s and con’s for the upcoming operating system switch. More and more users are starting to become a bit disappointed with all of Microsoft choices, lately.

We have to understand that Windows 11 still has a long way to go before it can really present itself to the public as an OS.

And we also have to believe that every hard choice that the Redmond tech giant makes is for the bettering of it’s software.

And, most likely, at a certain moment in time, someone will surely come up with another piece of software that will fulfill the same purpose.

Have you tried Windows 11 yet? Tell us about your experience so far, in the comments section below.

More about the topics: Desktop Windows Manager, Windows 11