What are Performance modes and what do they do?
You can improve your desktop/laptop's performance while using BlueStacks 5 and enhance your overall experience by selecting any of the three Performance modes available on BlueStacks 5.
Click on any of the links below to learn more about:
- How to select a Performance mode that is right for you
- Low Memory mode
- Balanced mode
- High-performance mode
- Additional information about Performance modes
Take a look at the video below for a quick walkthrough!
Which Performance mode should I choose?
Make the most of your BlueStacks experience by selecting the Performance mode that fits your desktop/laptop's specifications and your usage style.
Here’s how to decide which Performance mode works best for you:
- If your PC has 8GB – 16GB of RAM and you want to use BlueStacks alongside other applications, using "Balanced" mode provides the ideal combination of performance and resource usage.
- If your desktop/laptop has more than 16GB of RAM, "High Performance" mode is your go-to for when you want to use BlueStacks exclusively for a dedicated gaming session with the best possible experience and performance on your desktop/laptop.
- NOTE: High-performance mode will make maximum use of your system's capabilities to deliver exceptional performance, which is why we recommend not having many other applications open at the same time.
- If your desktop/laptop has 8GB of RAM or less, we recommend using "Low Memory" mode which ensures smoother performance by minimizing system resource usage.
- Additionally, if you plan to run a lot of instances at the same time, we recommend using "Low Memory" mode.
Pick the mode that best matches your desktop/laptop’s capabilities and how you use BlueStacks to get the best gaming experience with optimum performance!
NOTE: If you are updating from an older version of BlueStacks 5, your Performance mode setting will be restored.
What is Low memory Performance mode and how can I switch to it?
Low memory Performance mode allows you to conserve memory/RAM usage on your desktop/laptop as it will ensure BlueStacks uses the least amount of RAM, making it ideal for when you experience heavy RAM usage while running intensive apps. To learn more, refer to this article.
To change the Performance mode of an existing instance, follow the steps given below.
- Click on the gear icon on the Side toolbar to access the BlueStacks 5 Settings menu.
- Under the "Performance" tab, click on the drop-down menu for "Performance mode".
- Select "Low memory" and click on "Save changes".
- A restart will be required, as shown in the pop-up that will appear, for the changes to be applied. Click on "Restart now" to apply the changes.
What is the Balanced Performance mode and how can I switch to it?
With the Balanced Performance mode, BlueStacks will ensure that both performance and memory/RAM usage are optimized, resulting in an enhanced overall experience.
To change the Performance mode of an existing instance, follow the steps given below.
- Click on the gear icon on the Side toolbar to access the BlueStacks 5 Settings menu.
- Under the "Performance" tab, click on the drop-down menu for "Performance mode".
- Select "Balanced" and click on "Save changes".
- A restart will be required, as shown in the pop-up that will appear, for the changes to be applied. Click on "Restart now" to apply the changes.
What is the High Performance mode and how can I switch to it?
By using the High Performance mode, you can unleash your desktop/laptop's full potential despite higher memory consumption for the best experience.
It is beneficial in graphical and performance-intensive apps as it maximizes your system's capabilities and addresses performance/lag-related issues.
To change the Performance mode of an existing instance, follow the steps given below.
- Click on the gear icon on the Side toolbar to access the BlueStacks 5 Settings menu.
- Under the "Performance" tab, click on the drop-down menu for "Performance mode".
- Select "High performance" and click on "Save changes".
- A restart will be required, as shown in the pop-up that will appear, for the changes to be applied. Click on "Restart now" to apply the changes.
Important information:
1. Low memory Performance mode is selected by default as it is more suitable for running multiple instances at the same time for optimum performance.
2. If you have multiple instances installed, you can apply one Performance mode to all instances. To do so, simply select the desired "Performance mode" in settings on your primary instance and then restart all running instances.
Thank you for choosing BlueStacks 5. We hope you enjoy using it. Happy Gaming!