Minecraft won't use dGPU

I faced the same issue on my laptop (funny story, I tried to play on my laptop to get further understanding of the performance issues on my desktop)  and in my case deactivating the Intel onboard card in the Windows 10 driver manager worked. The laptop should automatically use your Nvidia card instead, but of course I can't guarantee that it'll work this way for you.

I faced the same issue on my laptop (funny story, I tried to play on my laptop to get further understanding of the performance issues on my desktop)  and in my case deactivating the Intel onboard card in the Windows 10 driver manager worked. The laptop should automatically use your Nvidia card instead, but of course I can't guarantee that it'll work this way for you.

Try this:
1. Right click on desktop and select "Display Settings"
2. Scroll down and click on "Graphics Settings"
3. From the dropdown select ""Microsoft Store app" and select ""Minecraft", click Add button
4. Click on ""Options" button and select ""High performance" - see screenshot. Click Save.

Try this:
1. Right click on desktop and select "Display Settings"
2. Scroll down and click on "Graphics Settings"
3. From the dropdown select ""Microsoft Store app" and select ""Minecraft", click Add button
4. Click on ""Options" button and select ""High performance" - see screenshot. Click Save.

@TR - I have read that disabling the onboard GPU can cause your display to stop working, so have been hesitant to try disabling the card altogether.

@Marek Kedzierski - I already tried this, as stated in the issue description.  The reason I logged this issue is because Minecraft is not respecting this setting, while all other applications / games I have installed do.

@TR - I have read that disabling the onboard GPU can cause your display to stop working, so have been hesitant to try disabling the card altogether.

@Marek Kedzierski - I already tried this, as stated in the issue description.  The reason I logged this issue is because Minecraft is not respecting this setting, while all other applications / games I have installed do.

Though I personally think it is unlikely, of course I can't assure you it won't, as I don't have the same system to check. From what I know, your OS should be "aware" of your Nvidia card since normally the system chooses the right card depending on the task to do (among other things like energy settings). However, another thing you could try - if you didn't already - is to go to the Nvidia control panel and set your Nvidia card as default in the global settings instead of only for Minecraft, perhaps that could also help. 

Though I personally think it is unlikely, of course I can't assure you it won't, as I don't have the same system to check. From what I know, your OS should be "aware" of your Nvidia card since normally the system chooses the right card depending on the task to do (among other things like energy settings). However, another thing you could try - if you didn't already - is to go to the Nvidia control panel and set your Nvidia card as default in the global settings instead of only for Minecraft, perhaps that could also help. 

Assuming you are talking about the "Manage 3D Settings" page in the NVIDIA Control Panel?  I have set the NVIDIA card as the preferred graphics processor in both the Global Settings, and for Minecraft specifically in the Program Settings.  That was the first thing I tried.  Then I did the same in the Windows 10 Graphics Settings.  Neither make any difference.  I also tried turning on the mysterious "Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling."  That actually does make some difference, in that Minecraft will flip back and forth between the 2 GPUs when it is on, but it does not seem to fundamentally fix the issue.  I still frequently have performance problems, and the NVIDIA card is not being used full time like it should be based on my settings.

Assuming you are talking about the "Manage 3D Settings" page in the NVIDIA Control Panel?  I have set the NVIDIA card as the preferred graphics processor in both the Global Settings, and for Minecraft specifically in the Program Settings.  That was the first thing I tried.  Then I did the same in the Windows 10 Graphics Settings.  Neither make any difference.  I also tried turning on the mysterious "Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling."  That actually does make some difference, in that Minecraft will flip back and forth between the 2 GPUs when it is on, but it does not seem to fundamentally fix the issue.  I still frequently have performance problems, and the NVIDIA card is not being used full time like it should be based on my settings.

Okay, I knew you did for Minecraft but I wasn't sure, if you also changed the global settings, sorry. How did you track the game is switching between the two cards? The other threads I read regarding GPU issues on laptops all mention the game wouldn't go beyond the red starting screen (that was also the case for my laptop). Unfortunately, aside the laptop GPU issue, it appears Minecraft Bedrock has a general performance issue since the Nether update, which got even worse with the latest hotfix (the hotfix made the game unplayable for me).  So even if your laptop uses the right GPU, the performance could be different from what you are used to/ what you'd expect from your device. Of course I can't tell if you're affected by this, but perhaps knowing there are more issues going on in general helps you to find the solution to yours.

Okay, I knew you did for Minecraft but I wasn't sure, if you also changed the global settings, sorry. How did you track the game is switching between the two cards? The other threads I read regarding GPU issues on laptops all mention the game wouldn't go beyond the red starting screen (that was also the case for my laptop). Unfortunately, aside the laptop GPU issue, it appears Minecraft Bedrock has a general performance issue since the Nether update, which got even worse with the latest hotfix (the hotfix made the game unplayable for me).  So even if your laptop uses the right GPU, the performance could be different from what you are used to/ what you'd expect from your device. Of course I can't tell if you're affected by this, but perhaps knowing there are more issues going on in general helps you to find the solution to yours.

The way I am tracking which GPU is being used by Minecraft is by looking at the GPU Engine column in Task Manager.  GPU 0 is my onboard card, and GPU 1 is my dedicated card.  With "HAGS" turned off, it is always GPU 0 for Minecraft (regardless of the NVIDIA Control Panel and Windows Graphics Settings).  With HAGS on, it switches back and forth dynamically.  It seems to help some, but does not resolve the issue.

The way I am tracking which GPU is being used by Minecraft is by looking at the GPU Engine column in Task Manager.  GPU 0 is my onboard card, and GPU 1 is my dedicated card.  With "HAGS" turned off, it is always GPU 0 for Minecraft (regardless of the NVIDIA Control Panel and Windows Graphics Settings).  With HAGS on, it switches back and forth dynamically.  It seems to help some, but does not resolve the issue.

I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid I can't be of any help other than my initial advice of deactivating your onboard GPU. In case you're still hesitant (which I'd fully understand), I hope that my replies - while not helpful - at least increased the priority of your issue. I wish you the best of luck as well as a fast solution!

I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid I can't be of any help other than my initial advice of deactivating your onboard GPU. In case you're still hesitant (which I'd fully understand), I hope that my replies - while not helpful - at least increased the priority of your issue. I wish you the best of luck as well as a fast solution!

I have this same issue even though I have a super powerful RTX 2060 computer

Resolving temporarily as Awaiting Response. Is this still an issue in the latest version (1.17.2)?

Resolving temporarily as Awaiting Response. Is this still an issue in the latest version (1.17.2)?

Just checked, and unfortunately this is still an issue with 1.17.2.

Just checked, and unfortunately this is still an issue with 1.17.2.

Has anyone tried updating their graphics drivers? That may (at least partially) solve the issue

Definitely still an issue in the latest update

@unknown have you tried updating your graphics drivers? It might solve the issue (or at least partially). If you don't know how, I can add a guide on how (via an external link, to avoid flooding the bug tracker with unnecessary information)

I'm having this issue as well on a Dell G3 3500. Updating both the Intel and NVIDIA drivers has no effect on the which card it uses. It still only uses GPU 0 (Intel integrated).

I'm having this issue as well on a Dell G3 3500. Updating both the Intel and NVIDIA drivers has no effect on the which card it uses. It still only uses GPU 0 (Intel integrated).

Is this still an issue in the latest version, and with the latest drivers on your system?

Is this still an issue in the latest version, and with the latest drivers on your system?

Unfortunately it is still an issue.

Unfortunately it is still an issue.

Have you tried adding the Minecraft app specifically to the list within the Nvidia control panel? If you feel confident in doing so, you might want to try these steps out:

1. Open Nvidia Control Panel

2. Choose "Manage 3D settings" in the left menu

3. Select the Program Settings tab

4. Click the "Add" button

5. Select Minecraft for Windows 10 (or Minecraft Preview, depending on what you are having issues with)

6. Click Add Selected Program

7. In section 2, select your preferred graphics processor

8. Click Apply

9. Exit the program

10. Relaunch Minecraft

Have you tried adding the Minecraft app specifically to the list within the Nvidia control panel? If you feel confident in doing so, you might want to try these steps out:

1. Open Nvidia Control Panel

2. Choose "Manage 3D settings" in the left menu

3. Select the Program Settings tab

4. Click the "Add" button

5. Select Minecraft for Windows 10 (or Minecraft Preview, depending on what you are having issues with)

6. Click Add Selected Program

7. In section 2, select your preferred graphics processor

8. Click Apply

9. Exit the program

10. Relaunch Minecraft

Already updated the setting back on 2/15/21 - see prior comments.

Already updated the setting back on 2/15/21 - see prior comments.

Affect 1.18.31. I used preffered Nvidia GPU and it's still happens and low GPU Usage and sometimes using Intel UHD Graphics.

Could you please let us know if this is only happening in the Minecraft Preview version on Windows?

Could you please let us know if this is only happening in the Minecraft Preview version on Windows?

No - this issue has persisted in all versions of Minecraft that I have played.  Still happening on 1.19.10.

No - this issue has persisted in all versions of Minecraft that I have played.  Still happening on 1.19.10.

Another workaround may be to change the Windows 11 settings:

1. Type and choose Settings from the Windows start menu

2. Select Display

3. Scroll down and select Graphics

4. Search the app list for Minecraft, and select it

   1. If the Minecraft Preview is not showing in the list but you wish to adjust the setting for that, you may need to add it manually through "Add an App"

5. Choose Options

6. Choose High Performance, and save

7. Relaunch Minecraft

Please let us know if this workaround works for you, and allows Minecraft to use the preferred GPU.

Another workaround may be to change the Windows 11 settings:

1. Type and choose Settings from the Windows start menu

2. Select Display

3. Scroll down and select Graphics

4. Search the app list for Minecraft, and select it

   1. If the Minecraft Preview is not showing in the list but you wish to adjust the setting for that, you may need to add it manually through "Add an App"

5. Choose Options

6. Choose High Performance, and save

7. Relaunch Minecraft

Please let us know if this workaround works for you, and allows Minecraft to use the preferred GPU.

I tried this before I logged the ticket, which is clearly stated in the description (and a screenshot of the setting is included).  This is the second time someone has suggested I try something that was referenced in the description of the ticket.  If you read the comments you would know that as well.  Please read the issue and comments before making suggestions.

I tried this before I logged the ticket, which is clearly stated in the description (and a screenshot of the setting is included).  This is the second time someone has suggested I try something that was referenced in the description of the ticket.  If you read the comments you would know that as well.  Please read the issue and comments before making suggestions.

Thanks for the update. There are others that have commented that they are experiencing this or a very similar issue, so I wanted to clearly add the workaround steps in a comment here so that anyone else hitting the issue could make use of them.

Thanks for the update. There are others that have commented that they are experiencing this or a very similar issue, so I wanted to clearly add the workaround steps in a comment here so that anyone else hitting the issue could make use of them.

On my laptop with an i5-11400H and RTX 3060, Task Manager also shows that Minecraft is only using GPU 0. However, the game is actually using GPU 1 because the debug text at the top of the screen in the Minecraft Preview app shows "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU" instead of "Intel UHD Graphics", and I can enable ray tracing.

@unknown: In the Minecraft Preview app, does the debug text at the top of the screen show " Intel UHD Graphics 630" or "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti"?

On my laptop with an i5-11400H and RTX 3060, Task Manager also shows that Minecraft is only using GPU 0. However, the game is actually using GPU 1 because the debug text at the top of the screen in the Minecraft Preview app shows "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU" instead of "Intel UHD Graphics", and I can enable ray tracing.

@unknown: In the Minecraft Preview app, does the debug text at the top of the screen show " Intel UHD Graphics 630" or "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti"?