warpdotdev
Make "Prefer rendering new windows with integrated GPU (low power)" OFF by default
Pre-submit Checks
- [x] I have searched Warp feature requests and there are no duplicates
- [x] I have searched Warp docs and my feature is not there
Describe the solution you'd like?
Summary
Request to change the default setting for "Prefer rendering new windows with integrated GPU (low power)" to OFF by default, as the current default (ON) causes severe performance degradation and application crashes on desktop systems.
Description
The "Prefer rendering new windows with integrated GPU (low power)" setting, causes significant performance issues including:
- Massive input lag and UI responsiveness issues
- Application freezes and crashes
- Poor overall terminal performance
- System instability in some cases
The workaround is simple: Disabling this setting immediately resolves all performance issues, but users must discover this solution manually after experiencing problems.
Rationale for Default Change
Desktop vs. Laptop Context
- On desktop systems, there is typically no need to prioritize power savings over performance
- Desktop users generally have dedicated GPUs that provide better performance than integrated graphics
- The "low power" benefit is irrelevant for desktop systems that are always plugged in
- Users who specifically want power savings can easily enable the option manually
User Experience Impact
- New users experience poor performance immediately after installation
- The setting is not immediately obvious as the cause of performance issues
- Users may abandon Warp before discovering the workaround
- Current default creates a negative first impression
Related Issues
This setting appears to be the root cause of multiple reported performance issues:
- #7276 - Input lag in Windows
- #6005 - Very slow behaviour on Linux
- #5070 - Freezing of second screen
- #4856 - Extremely slow and laggy performance
- #4358 - Application crashes after GPU setting changes
Proposed Solution
Primary Request
Change the default value of "Prefer rendering new windows with integrated GPU (low power)" to OFF.
Alternative Solutions (if changing default is not feasible)
- Auto-detection: Automatically disable on desktop systems or when discrete GPU is available
- First-run wizard: Include GPU preference in initial setup process
- Performance warning: Show a warning when performance issues are detected with suggestion to disable integrated GPU
- Documentation: Add prominent troubleshooting section about this setting
Expected Benefits
- Improved out-of-the-box performance for majority of users
- Reduced number of performance-related bug reports
- Better first-time user experience
- Users who need power savings can still enable the option manually
Steps to Reproduce Current Issue
- Fresh install of Warp
- Open terminal (integrated GPU setting is ON by default)
- Experience significant input lag, UI freezes, or crashes
- Disable "Prefer rendering new windows with integrated GPU (low power)"
- Performance immediately improves
Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
No response
Additional context
No response
Operating system (OS)
Windows
How important is this feature to you?
3
Warp Internal (ignore) - linear-label:39cc6478-1249-4ee7-950b-c428edfeecd1
None
In Windows 11 there's default GPU and even separate GUI pane in the new Settings app. It allows to choose explicitly GPU on per-app basis. Warp should rely on system defaults and this new settings when choosing target GPU.
Where can I find this setting? I'm on v0.2025.12.03.08.12.stable_05 can't seem to search for this setting.
