Need help with apps using the wrong GPU

[litlsnek]

I have two discreet GPUs in my system and I need a reliable way to force Discord to use a specific GPU. Windows Settings>System>Display>Graphics Settings works ok enough, but Discord specifically creates a new directory every time it updates, so every update I need to re add it in that list. I have already specified Power Saving vs Performance in the registry, and added a string where Windows stores that setting in Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectX\UserGpuPreferences titled C:\Users\snek\AppData\Local\DiscordCanary\*\* with the value GpuPreference=1; , and it worked for a while but recently went back to using the performance GPU on its own and now the registry edit doesn't affect it. Is there a better way to do this?

[y0ur5h4d0w]

8 minutes ago, litlsnek said:

I have two discreet GPUs in my system and I need a reliable way to force Discord to use a specific GPU. Windows Settings>System>Display>Graphics Settings works ok enough, but Discord specifically creates a new directory every time it updates, so every update I need to re add it in that list. I have already specified Power Saving vs Performance in the registry, and added a string where Windows stores that setting in Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectX\UserGpuPreferences titled C:\Users\snek\AppData\Local\DiscordCanary\*\* with the value GpuPreference=1; , and it worked for a while but recently went back to using the performance GPU on its own and now the registry edit doesn't affect it. Is there a better way to do this?

did you try switching to regular discord instead of going for the ALPHA (canary)? maybe the issue is about the fact that's the canary

 

i don't think there's any benefit in going for the alpha built unless you're helping developing or giving feedbacks tbh

[OddOod]

6 hours ago, litlsnek said:

Discord specifically creates a new directory every time it updates

Yeah, they kinda suck like that. It's also the reason that using a custom icon for Discord is such a nightmare. Interestingly, there is a wild hack you can use. 
When it (or really any app) does an update, it will log an Event which you can find in Event Viewer. If you right click that Event, you can attach a Task to it. That Task can just go and edit the Registry or do really whatever you want it to do so you can automate all your changes

[litlsnek]

On 4/1/2026 at 11:37 PM, y0ur5h4d0w said:

did you try switching to regular discord instead of going for the ALPHA (canary)? maybe the issue is about the fact that's the canary

 

i don't think there's any benefit in going for the alpha built unless you're helping developing or giving feedbacks tbh

I did yeah. regular Discord also refuses to use the GPU I set it to

edit: the setting that originally solved my problem has now been removed. hardware acceleration is nowhere to be found in Discord and I can only assume it is stuck on as it will not stop using my primary GPU. 

[y0ur5h4d0w]

13 hours ago, litlsnek said:

I did yeah. regular Discord also refuses to use the GPU I set it to

edit: the setting that originally solved my problem has now been removed. hardware acceleration is nowhere to be found in Discord and I can only assume it is stuck on as it will not stop using my primary GPU. 

if the setting is not present anymore maybe it was problematic and have been disbled, i would wait a couple updates and it might return