Guide to Preventing Specific Windows Apps from Using Your Nvidia GPU

If you want to prevent specific Windows applications from using your Nvidia graphics card, luckily, you can manage this settings through the Nvidia Control Panel. Here's a step-by-step guide to ensure your apps run more efficiently without your Nvidia GPU.

Steps to Prevent Windows Apps from Using Nvidia GPU

Step 1: Open Nvidia Control Panel

To begin, you first need to open the Nvidia Control Panel.
Right-click on your desktop. Select 'Nvidia Control Panel' from the context menu.

Step 2: Manage 3D Settings

Navigate to the 'Manage 3D settings' from the left sidebar. There, you will find two tabs: 'Global Settings' and 'Program Settings'.

Step 3: Use Program Settings

Click on the 'Program Settings' tab. Here, you can find dropdown options to select the application you wish to modify. If the app is not listed, click 'Add', browse to the application's table file, and select it.

Once selected, you can find a list of settings for that application. Look for the 'Preferred graphics processor'. Change this setting to 'Integrated graphics' or another option that does not use the Nvidia GPU.

Step 4: Save Changes

Click 'Apply' at the bottom right of the window to save your changes.

Step 5: Check Windows Graphics Settings (Optional)

For an additional layer of control, go to 'Settings > System > Display' and scroll down to 'Graphics settings'. Here, you can set specific apps to 'Power saving', which typically uses integrated graphics, or 'High performance' which uses the Nvidia GPU.

Additional Tips

Update Drivers: Ensure your Nvidia drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can affect how applications interact with the GPU.
Game Mode: If you use Windows Game Mode, it might prioritize GPU usage for certain apps. You can toggle this in 'Settings > Gaming > Game Mode'.

By following these steps, you should be able to control which applications run on your Nvidia GPU. If you continue to experience issues, consider also checking the app's own settings, as some applications have their own GPU selection options.

Important Note: Understanding the nature of a GPU, such as its role in function acceleration rather than directly managing application execution, is critical. Nvidia does not provide the source for their drivers, only API and function services. This is true for Linux as well. This information is less relevant to most users looking to optimize their application performance.