First run, explained calmly
Before you run any tier, here is what to expect and why. Two of these steps look alarming the first time — a SmartScreen warning and a UAC prompt — and neither means anything is wrong. The short version: FrameForge needs admin rights to edit Windows, Windows warns about unsigned tools by reputation, and a restore point goes down before anything changes.
run → SmartScreen (More info → Run anyway) → UAC (Yes)
→ System Restore point + Revert script written
→ you review the tweak list → Apply → reboot if askedAdministrator rights & UAC
FrameForge edits the registry, the active power plan, services and scheduled tasks. Those are machine-wide settings, and Windows only lets an elevated process change them. So the tool self-elevates: when you open it, it relaunches itself with Start-Process -Verb RunAs, which raises the User Account Control prompt — the dimmed screen asking “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?”
Click Yes. You do not need to right-click → Run as administrator yourself; it handles elevation for you. If you click No, nothing happens — the tool simply cannot do its job without it.
Why not just sign it so this is smoother?
SmartScreen, explained
SmartScreen is Windows’ reputation check for downloaded programs. When a file is not signed with a paid certificate — and has not yet been downloaded by enough people for Microsoft to have built up reputation on it — you get “Windows protected your PC.” That is a reputation and signing warning, not a malware verdict. It is the same box you see for plenty of small, legitimate open-source tools.
To get past it:
- 1.Click More info on the warning — a hidden link near the bottom of the box.
- 2.Click the Run anyway button that appears.
- 3.If your browser blocked the download first, open its downloads list, click the ··· next to the file, and choose Keep.
What actually makes FrameForge safe
It only calls built-in Windows tools — powercfg, reg, sc, fsutil, PowerShell. It never reads or writes game memory, never injects, and never touches Easy Anti-Cheat. The Free tier is a plain .bat you can open in Notepad and read line by line.
The automatic System Restore point
Every run, before it changes a single setting, FrameForge creates a System Restore point named for itself — it takes about 20 seconds. The .exe tiers also write a timestamped backup folder with a Revert.bat next to the app. That is two independent ways back before you have done anything.
You do not have to set this up — it is automatic. Just let it finish; do not close the window while it is creating the point.
Reading the tweak list
In the .exe tiers, tweaks are grouped by category and each carries a safety label. The label tells you whether to trust the default or stop and think. Here is exactly what each one means.
On by default. Reversible. No known downside for gaming.
Off by default. Useful in specific cases, harmless otherwise.
Off by default. Debated or situational — read the note before enabling.
Applying
Nothing changes until you click Apply. A progress bar walks your selected tweaks and logs each one. Most are instant registry writes and powercfg / sc calls, so it is quick. The Free .bat just runs its four steps in order — no checklist.
Reboot prompts
A few tweaks — system responsiveness, MSI-mode interrupts, the MPO fix, dynamic tick — only take full effect after a restart. If you enabled any, the app says a reboot is recommended. Nothing is broken in the meantime; the change just is not live yet. Restart when convenient.
That is the whole first run
Clear SmartScreen, approve UAC, let the restore point finish, leave the Safe defaults on, Apply, and reboot if asked. If you ever want it all gone, the Reverting page has three ways to undo. Now pick your tier’s setup guide below.