What FPS means and why you'd want to check it

FPS stands for frames per second — the number of still images your graphics card produces and displays on your monitor each second. When you play a game or watch video, your screen refreshes dozens or hundreds of times per second, and each refresh shows a new frame. Higher FPS means smoother motion; lower FPS means stuttering or lag that makes movement feel sluggish.

You check your FPS to see whether your PC is performing well enough for what you're doing. A game might run at 200 FPS on low settings but only 45 FPS on high settings. Knowing the actual number tells you whether to lower graphics quality, upgrade your hardware, or accept the performance you're getting. Without checking, you're guessing.

Most people notice FPS problems before they measure them — the game feels choppy, or the mouse cursor drags across the screen. Checking FPS confirms whether the problem is actually low frame rate or something else, like a network delay or a background program using your CPU.

Key Takeaways

  • Built-in overlay tools in Steam, Discord, and NVIDIA/AMD drivers show FPS in the corner of your screen without closing the game.
  • Windows 11 has a native FPS counter in Game Bar that works with most games and requires no setup beyond pressing Win+G.
  • Third-party tools like MSI Afterburner and Fraps display FPS and other performance data like CPU and GPU temperature in real time.
  • The FPS number you see while playing is more useful than any benchmark number because it reflects your actual hardware and settings.

Using Steam's built-in FPS counter

If you play games through Steam, the easiest method is Steam's overlay. Open Steam, go to Settings (bottom left), then In-Game. Check the box next to In-game FPS counter. Choose which corner of the screen you want it to appear in — top-left, top-right, bottom-left, or bottom-right.

Launch any game through Steam. While the game is running, press Shift+Tab to open the Steam overlay menu. The FPS counter will now display in the corner you selected, and it will stay visible even after you close the overlay. The number updates in real time as you play, so you can see how FPS changes when you turn graphics settings up or down, or move to a different area of the game world.

This method works with most games launched through Steam, including games you own on other platforms if you add them to Steam as non-Steam games. It does not require any additional software and does not slow down your PC.

Checking FPS with Discord overlay

Discord has a built-in FPS counter similar to Steam's. Open Discord, click the gear icon for User Settings, then go to Overlay on the left. Toggle Enable in-game overlay to on. Scroll down and turn on FPS Counter, then choose which corner you want it in.

When you launch a game, the FPS counter appears automatically in the corner you selected. Like Steam's counter, it updates continuously and shows your real-time performance. Discord's overlay works with games whether or not they're on Steam, making it useful if you play games from Epic Games Store, GOG, or other platforms.

One limitation: Discord's overlay does not work with every game, particularly older games or games that run in exclusive fullscreen mode. If the counter does not appear, try switching the game to windowed or borderless windowed mode in the game's graphics settings.

Windows 11 Game Bar FPS counter

Windows 11 includes a native FPS counter in Game Bar that requires no setup. While playing any game, press Win+G (the Windows key and G together). The Game Bar menu appears at the top of your screen. Click Performance (it looks like a speedometer icon), then toggle on Show FPS.

The FPS counter now displays in the top-left corner of your game and updates in real time. You can close the Game Bar menu by pressing Win+G again, and the counter stays visible. This method works with most games on Windows 11 and does not require you to install anything or change any settings outside the game itself.

If you're on Windows 10, Game Bar exists but the FPS counter feature is not available. You'll need to use one of the other methods instead.

NVIDIA and AMD graphics card overlays

If your PC has an NVIDIA graphics card, you can use NVIDIA GeForce Experience. Install it from NVIDIA's website if you don't have it already. Open GeForce Experience, go to Settings, then General. Turn on In-Game Overlay. While playing, press Alt+Z to open the overlay, then click the Performance tab to see FPS and other data like GPU temperature and memory usage.

AMD graphics cards use a similar tool called Adrenalin. Install it from AMD's website, open it, go to Settings, then Overlay. Turn on the overlay and set a hotkey. Press that hotkey while gaming to see FPS, GPU load, and temperature. Both tools let you customize what information displays and where it appears on screen.

These overlays are useful because they show not just FPS but also GPU temperature and usage, which helps you understand whether your graphics card is working hard or if something else is the bottleneck. They work with games from any source, not just Steam or Discord.

Third-party FPS monitoring tools

MSI Afterburner is a free tool that displays FPS and detailed performance data in an overlay. read it from MSI's website (it works with any graphics card, not just MSI). Install it, open it, and check the box next to Monitoring. In the Monitoring tab, make sure FPS is checked. When you launch a game, the data appears in the top-left corner by default, showing FPS, CPU usage, GPU usage, and temperatures.

Fraps is another older but still functional tool that displays FPS in the corner of your screen. It also records gameplay video and benchmarks FPS over time. read it, run it, and it will show FPS in the top-left corner of any game automatically. Fraps is less commonly used now because Steam and Discord overlays are simpler, but it still works reliably.

These tools are useful if you want detailed performance data beyond just FPS — they show CPU and GPU temperature, memory usage, and clock speeds. This information helps you understand whether your PC is thermally throttling (slowing down due to heat) or whether a particular component is maxed out.

Understanding what your FPS number means

FPS numbers are relative to your monitor's refresh rate. A 60 Hz monitor can display at most 60 FPS, so 60 FPS is the maximum you'll see on that screen. A 144 Hz monitor can display up to 144 FPS. Getting 200 FPS on a 60 Hz monitor does not make the game look smoother than 60 FPS — the extra frames are wasted because your monitor cannot display them.

For gaming, most people find 60 FPS acceptable, 100+ FPS smooth, and anything below 30 FPS noticeably choppy. Competitive games like shooters benefit from higher FPS because lower latency between input and display matters more. Single-player games are often fine at 60 FPS. Video playback and streaming typically target 24, 30, or 60 FPS depending on the source.

If your FPS is lower than you want, you have two options: lower the graphics settings in the game (resolution, texture quality, shadows, reflections) or upgrade your hardware (graphics card, CPU, or RAM). Checking FPS while you adjust settings shows you which changes have the biggest impact on performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my FPS counter show different numbers every second?

FPS fluctuates because your PC's workload changes constantly. When you look at a straightforward area of the game world, your graphics card works less hard and FPS goes up. When you turn toward a complex scene with many objects and effects, FPS drops. This is normal. If FPS is stable within a range (like 90-110), your PC is performing consistently. If it drops suddenly to 20 FPS, something else is using your PC's resources.

Can I check FPS on games that run in exclusive fullscreen mode?

Some overlays do not work in exclusive fullscreen because the game takes complete control of your display. If your FPS counter disappears when you switch to fullscreen, try switching the game to borderless windowed mode instead. Borderless windowed looks fullscreen but allows overlays to work. You may see a tiny performance difference, but most modern games show no noticeable change.

What if none of the overlays work with my game?

Some older games or games with anti-cheat systems block overlays. In that case, you can use external monitoring tools like MSI Afterburner, which may work when overlays do not. Alternatively, record a video of your gameplay and count the frames manually, though this is impractical. Most modern games support at least one overlay method.

Does showing an FPS counter slow down my game?

No. The FPS counter itself uses negligible CPU and GPU resources. Displaying a few numbers in the corner of your screen does not affect your actual frame rate. The counter measures your performance; it does not reduce it.

Why is my FPS much lower than my friend's on the same game?

FPS depends on your graphics card, CPU, RAM, and the graphics settings you're using. Your friend might have a newer graphics card, a faster CPU, more RAM, or lower graphics settings. Check what settings you're both using — if you're on high or ultra and they're on medium, that explains the difference. You can also check your GPU and CPU temperatures; if they're very hot, your PC might be throttling performance.