How to show hidden Performance Overlay in Windows 11

Discover the hidden Performance Overlay in Windows 11 with our comprehensive guide. Optimize your system's performance effortlessly. Explore now!

Windows 11 has brought with it a slew of new features and improvements, making it one of the most anticipated updates for PC users. One of the most useful features in Windows 11 is the Performance Overlay, which provides real-time information about your system's performance. This can be especially helpful for gamers and power users who want to keep a close eye on their system's resources. However, many users have reported that the Performance Overlay is hidden by default in Windows 11. In this article, we will discuss how you can easily show the hidden Performance Overlay in Windows 11.

The Performance Overlay can be displayed in two ways in Windows 11 – through the Game Bar and Task Manager. Let's take a look at both methods in detail.

Using the Game Bar

The Game Bar is a built-in feature in Windows 11 that allows users to take screenshots, record gaming, and view real-time system performance. By default, the Game Bar is disabled in Windows 11, so you'll need to enable it first. Here's how:

1. Open the Settings app by clicking on the Start button and selecting the gear icon.

2. In the Settings app, click on the Gaming tab from the left-hand menu.

3. In the Gaming settings, click on the Game Bar tab from the top menu.

4. Toggle the switch under the 'Allow your controller to open Game Bar' option to the On position.

5. You can also customize the keyboard shortcut to open the Game Bar by clicking on the 'Open Game Bar using this button on a controller' option and selecting your desired shortcut.

6. Once the Game Bar is enabled, you can open it by pressing the designated keyboard shortcut or by pressing the Windows key + G on your keyboard.

7. The Performance Overlay will now be displayed on your screen, showing real-time CPU, GPU, RAM, and network usage, along with a FPS counter.

Using the Task Manager

The Task Manager is another built-in utility in Windows 11 that allows users to manage processes, view system performance, and more. Here's how you can use it to display the Performance Overlay:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager from the context menu.

2. Alternatively, you can also press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.

3. In the Task Manager window, click on the Options menu from the top menu bar.

4. From the drop-down menu, uncheck the 'Always on top' option.

5. Now, resize the Task Manager window by dragging the edges to your desired size.

6. You will now see the Performance Overlay displayed in a small window on your desktop.

7. You can also customize what information is displayed in the Performance Overlay by right-clicking on the graph and selecting the desired options.

Windows 11 provides two easy methods to display the hidden Performance Overlay on your PC – through the Game Bar and Task Manager. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily enable and customize the Performance Overlay to suit your preferences. This feature can be extremely helpful for gamers and power users who want to keep track of their system's resources and performance in real-time. So go ahead and try it out on your Windows 11 PC and take your computing experience to the next level!