Ever noticed your PC slowing down when you’re running a heavy program, game, or video editor? One way to boost its performance is by making it a high-priority app in Windows 11. This tells your system to give that app more CPU resources than others, making it run more smoothly.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to set an app to high priority safely and effectively.
What Does Setting High Priority Do?
Setting an app to high priority tells Windows to give it more attention in terms of processing power. However, this doesn’t mean it will magically double your performance—it simply allocates more CPU resources to that app while slightly reducing resources for others.
Think of it as giving someone a VIP pass at a concert—they get in faster, but others may wait a bit longer.
When Should You Set an App to High Priority?
-
Playing resource-heavy games
-
Running video or 3D rendering software
-
Streaming or recording gameplay
-
Using demanding productivity tools (Photoshop, AutoCAD, Premiere Pro)
Avoid setting every app to high priority—it defeats the purpose and can slow down your system.
Method 1 – Set High Priority via Task Manager
-
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
-
Click on Details (bottom-left).
-
Find the app you want to prioritize.
-
Right-click it → Hover over Set priority → Choose High (or Realtime for extreme cases).
-
Click Change priority to confirm.
Note: Realtime priority is not recommended for most apps as it can cause system instability.
Method 2 – Make It Permanent via Shortcut
Windows doesn’t keep priority settings after a restart, but you can create a shortcut:
-
Right-click your desktop → New → Shortcut.
-
Paste the following (replace “AppPath” with your app’s .exe location):
-
Click Next, name the shortcut, and hit Finish.
-
Launch the app using this shortcut for high priority.
Method 3 – Use Command Prompt (One-Time Change)
-
Search for Command Prompt, right-click, and select Run as administrator.
-
Type the command:
-
Replace appname.exe with your app’s executable file.
Method 4 – Use a Third-Party Priority Manager
Tools like Process Lasso let you set permanent priorities for specific apps.
-
Download and install Process Lasso.
-
Open the app, locate your desired program, and set its priority to High.
Things to Keep in Mind
-
Don’t set too many apps to high priority—it can slow down essential background processes.
-
Avoid setting system processes (like explorer.exe or svchost.exe) to high priority.
-
High priority doesn’t improve GPU performance—it’s CPU-related only.
How to Revert Priority Back to Normal
-
Open Task Manager → Details.
-
Right-click the app → Set priority → Normal.
Final Thoughts
Making an app high priority in Windows 11 is a quick and easy way to boost its performance, especially for games and heavy software. Just remember to use it wisely—think of it like giving one runner a head start without stopping the rest of the race.
FAQs
1. Does setting high priority damage my PC?
No, but it can make other programs slower if overused.
2. Does this affect startup time?
Only if you launch the app with high priority at startup.
3. Is high priority the same as overclocking?
No, overclocking boosts hardware speed, while priority changes how resources are allocated.
4. Can I make it permanent without third-party tools?
Not easily—Windows resets priority after a restart.
5. Should I use “Realtime” priority?
Only for critical apps, and with caution—it can freeze or slow down your system.