Csdrhrt

I have two cmd scrips that allow me to toggle my PC between "performance" and "quiet" modes, killing or relaunching some apps, switching power plans and so on.

I would like to make them also switch between visual effects settings, namely
"Adjust for best performance" "Let Windows choose".
I tried REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerVisualEffects /v VisualFXSetting /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f and REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerVisualEffects /v VisualFXSetting /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f, however the only thing, registry editing is achieving is changing the option picked in the setting GUI. Even the "Apply" button stays disabled. I tried logging off and even that doesn't apply the changes.

Is there a way to change the visual effects from a cmd script with a change being applied immediately? Something like powercfg.exe /setactive, but for the SystemPropertiesPerformance.exe? Maybe a small program, somebody designed specifically for that?

There are two registry changes required for changing the visual effects options,
followed by logout or restart.

VisualFXSetting

This DWORD item is found at key
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerVisualEffects
and its values are:

• 
  0 (zero) for Let Windows choose what's best for my computer settings


• 
  1 for Adjust for best appearance settings


• 
  2 for Adjust for best Performance settings


• 
  3 for Custom settings, if the user changed individual
  visual effect settings.

UserPreferencesMask

This DWORD item is found at key
HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop
and can have the following values:

• Let Windows choose what's best for my computer : 9E 1E 07 80 12 00 00 00
  


• Adjust for best appearance : 9E 3E 07 80 12 00 00 00
  


• Adjust for best Performance : 9E 12 03 80 10 00 00 00
  


• Custom : The binary value of 1001ABC0 00D1EF10 00000G11 in the first 3 bytes

Each of the above letters ABCDEFG has the value 0=off and 1=on, as follows:

• A : Smooth-scroll list boxes


• B : Slide open combo boxes


• C : Fade or slide menus into view


• D : Show shadows under mouse pointer


• E : Fade or slide ToolTips into view


• F : Fade out menu items after clicking


• G : Show shadows under windows

References :

• How to Change Visual Effects Settings in Windows 10


• How to Change the Visual Effects Settings in Windows 7