You cannot tune what you cannot measure. Knowing how to check FPS on PC is the first step to figuring out whether a game is actually running badly or just feeling that way, and Windows already gives you several free ways to see the number.
Below are the methods worth knowing, from the one-keystroke option to the full monitoring overlay, plus how to read what the numbers are telling you.
- Xbox Game Bar, Steam and the NVIDIA or AMD overlays can all show FPS without extra downloads.
- MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner gives the most detailed overlay, including frame time graphs and temperatures.
- Average FPS alone hides stutter, so watch 1 percent lows or the frame time graph as well.
- Always test in the same scene so before and after comparisons are fair.
Why Bother Checking FPS at All
Feeling is unreliable. A game at 58 FPS with even pacing can feel smoother than one bouncing between 90 and 40. A counter shows you which situation you have.
- Verify that a settings change actually helped.
- Spot when the game is capped at your monitor refresh rate.
- Catch a GPU or CPU pinned at 100 percent.
- Compare your PC with published benchmark results for the same game.
For a plain definition of what is being counted, the Wikipedia page on frame rate is a quick primer.
Method One: Xbox Game Bar in Windows
Game Bar ships with Windows 10 and 11, so there is nothing to install. It works with most games and desktop apps.
- Press Windows key plus G while the game is running.
- Open the Performance widget. If it is not on screen, choose it from the widget menu.
- Look at the FPS section, which also displays CPU, GPU and RAM usage.
- Click the pin icon so the small window stays visible over the game.
Microsoft documents the tool on its Xbox Game Bar support page. If the shortcut does nothing, open Windows settings, go to Gaming, and confirm that Game Bar is switched on.
Method Two: Steam’s Built-In Counter
If you play through Steam, this one is the simplest and lightest.
- Open Steam, then Settings.
- Go to In-Game.
- Set the In-game FPS counter to a corner of the screen.
- Optionally enable the high contrast colour so it reads against bright scenes.
It only works for games launched from Steam, including non-Steam games you add to the library. It is handy for a quick check, but it gives you one number and nothing about frame time.
Method Three: NVIDIA, AMD and Intel Overlays
Graphics driver software includes performance overlays too. Which one you use depends on your card.
| Graphics vendor | Where to look | What it can show |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | The NVIDIA app overlay, often opened with Alt+R | FPS, and optionally latency, temperatures and clocks |
| AMD | Adrenalin software, Performance tab and metrics overlay | FPS, GPU and memory usage, clocks |
| Intel | Intel Graphics Software performance overlay | FPS and basic GPU stats |
Shortcut keys and menu names shift between software versions, so if something is missing, open the vendor app and search its settings for overlay or performance. These overlays are convenient because they are already installed with the driver.
Method Four: MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner
This is the tool enthusiasts reach for when the built-in options are too shallow. It works with cards from NVIDIA and AMD, and it is free.
- Install MSI Afterburner and allow it to install RivaTuner Statistics Server when asked.
- Open Afterburner and go to Settings, then the Monitoring tab.
- Select Framerate in the list and tick Show in On-Screen Display.
- Repeat for GPU temperature, GPU usage and CPU usage if you want them on screen.
- Launch the game and confirm the overlay appears.
RivaTuner also lets you set a frame rate limit, which is useful when you want to cap a game a few frames under your monitor refresh rate.
Quick Warning: Some online games with anti-cheat systems dislike overlay hooks. If a game crashes or blocks you, use the game’s own FPS counter or the Steam one instead.
Method Five: The Game’s Own Counter
Many titles include a built-in counter, often in the video or interface settings. Fortnite, Valorant, Counter-Strike 2 and Apex Legends all offer a way to show it. This is the safest approach in competitive shooters because it avoids third-party hooks.
Reading the Numbers Correctly
Once you can see FPS, interpret it with a bit of care.
- Average FPS: the typical value. Good for a rough sense, poor for judging smoothness.
- 1 percent lows: the average of the worst slice of frames. Low values mean visible stutter even when the average looks fine.
- Frame time: the milliseconds each frame takes. A steady line feels smooth, spikes feel like hitches. The Wikipedia entry on frame time explains the link to frame rate.
- GPU usage near 100 percent: you are graphics-bound, so lowering resolution or effects will help.
- GPU usage low with a low FPS: the CPU, RAM or a game limit is more likely the bottleneck.
Is It Capped or Is It the Hardware?
Here is a common scenario. The counter sits at exactly 60, 120 or 144 and barely moves. That flat line usually means V-Sync or a frame cap, not a performance ceiling.
Check three places: the in-game V-Sync toggle, the frame limit in your graphics driver software, and your monitor refresh rate in Windows display settings. If the monitor is running at 60Hz while you own a faster one, our guide to how many Hz a gaming monitor should have explains why it matters.
How to Run a Fair Test
If you are also wondering how high a screen can display, see our list of the gaming monitors with the highest refresh rate.
- Pick a repeatable scene, such as the same walk through a busy area or the built-in benchmark if the game has one.
- Run it for at least a minute and note average and low values.
- Change one setting only.
- Repeat the same scene and compare.
- Close background apps first so they do not skew the result.
Keep a simple note. Even a phone note with three lines per test is enough to see a pattern.
Common Problems When Checking FPS
- The overlay does not show: the game may be in exclusive fullscreen. Try borderless windowed, or restart the overlay tool.
- Two overlays conflict: running Game Bar, Steam and Afterburner together can create duplicate counters. Pick one.
- Numbers look too good: a menu screen or loading screen can show inflated FPS. Test during real gameplay.
- The counter costs frames: heavy overlays with many graphs use a little CPU. Keep it to FPS and one or two stats when benchmarking.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the easiest way to see FPS on a Windows PC?
Press Windows plus G to open Xbox Game Bar and pin the Performance widget. It needs no installation and works in most games.
2. Does showing an FPS counter reduce performance?
Slightly at most. Built-in game and Steam counters cost almost nothing, while feature-rich overlays add a small load.
3. What FPS should I aim for?
Sixty is a common baseline, and many competitive players aim to match a 144Hz or higher monitor. Steadiness matters more than a single peak number.
4. Why does my FPS stay locked at 60?
V-Sync, a frame limiter or a monitor running at 60Hz is the usual cause. Check the game, the driver settings and Windows display settings.
Disclaimer: Shortcut keys and menu names vary by Windows version, driver release and game update, so adjust the steps above to what appears on your own system.
