How to show FPS in games: Windows and Steam overlay step-by-step

Part of our guide on fps stutter sudden

Show your FPS easily in any PC game with Windows or Steam overlays, and fix missing counters with tested steps.

How to show fps while gaming using Windows and Steam overlays

Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in FPS counter in the Xbox Game Bar. Press Win+G to open the overlay, then enable the Performance widget. It shows FPS, CPU, GPU, and RAM usage while gaming.

Steam also offers an FPS counter in its overlay, but only for games launched through Steam. To enable it, open Steam Settings, go to In-Game, and select a corner for the FPS counter display.

Both overlays work on most PC games without additional software. The FPS counter updates about once per second, showing a smooth count of current frames per second.

If the FPS counter does not appear, check overlay permissions in Windows privacy settings or Steam overlay options. Make sure both apps are updated to the latest version. Before you commit to anything, it is worth looking at mouse moving itself on gaming laptop.

Windows Game Bar's FPS counter can be customized to show additional metrics like GPU temperature and VRAM usage. Open the Performance widget, then click the settings icon to toggle these options. This helps monitor hardware strain in real time.

Steam’s FPS overlay lets you pick from four screen corners for the display position. Choose a corner that won’t block important HUD elements or menus in your game. The overlay uses small, unobtrusive text by default but can be adjusted in Steam's advanced settings.

You can combine Windows Game Bar and Steam overlays if you play games both inside and outside Steam. Just remember to enable one at a time to avoid cluttering your screen with multiple counters. This flexibility works well for gamers with large libraries across platforms. For the detail, see our notes on how game mode affects frame rates.

Why showing fps matters for smooth gaming

FPS (frames per second) indicates how smoothly your game runs. Higher FPS generally means smoother gameplay and less stutter or lag.

Gamers target a minimum of 60 FPS on their monitors for smooth visuals, but competitive players may aim for 120 or 144 FPS depending on their hardware and game.

Low FPS or unstable frame rates cause input lag, visual stutter, and a poor gaming experience. The FPS counter helps identify when performance dips occur. People in this spot often ask about pc game stutter after update as well.

Knowing your FPS lets you adjust graphics settings or troubleshoot bottlenecks like CPU, GPU, or network issues. It’s the first step to fixing stutter or lag.

FPS also influences your monitor’s refresh rate matching. For example, a 144 Hz monitor shows up to 144 FPS for smooth animations. Running games at lower FPS on high-refresh displays causes visible tearing or stutter.

Some games use adaptive sync technologies like G-Sync or FreeSync to synchronize FPS and refresh rate. Seeing FPS helps verify these features work correctly, reducing screen tearing and input lag. People in this spot often ask about identifying nvidia settings that reduce fps as well.

Competitive players watch their FPS closely to optimize settings for the best balance between visuals and responsiveness. For instance, lowering shadows or post-processing effects might increase FPS from 90 to 120, directly improving reaction time.

Common mistakes when trying to show fps in games

Many players forget to enable the overlay before launching the game, so the FPS counter never shows. Activate it first, then start the game.

Some games disable overlays or require administrator mode for the FPS counter to work. Run your game or overlay software as administrator if needed. We cover tools to increase fps in its own article.

Confusing in-game FPS settings with overlay FPS counters causes skipped steps. Windows and Steam counters work independently from game menus.

FPS counters sometimes don’t appear due to outdated graphics drivers or Windows updates. Keep your system drivers current for reliable overlay performance.

Another common mistake is ignoring overlay conflicts from software like Discord, Nvidia ShadowPlay, or OBS. These apps also use overlays that can interfere with FPS counters. Closing or disabling these during gaming helps ensure your FPS counter shows.

Some users expect the FPS counter inside the game’s own settings rather than enabling external overlays. Windows Game Bar and Steam counters function independently and provide consistent FPS data regardless of in-game options.

Setting overlays to run at system startup avoids forgetting to enable them before gaming. This keeps the FPS counter active automatically, giving you continuous performance feedback without manual toggling.

How to check your fps counter is accurate and useful

FPS counters from Windows Game Bar and Steam overlay tend to be accurate within a few frames per second. They sample frames at about one-second intervals.

For more detailed FPS analysis, third-party tools like MSI Afterburner or RivaTuner can show precise frame times and minimum FPS, but are more complex to set up.

If your FPS counter jumps wildly or freezes, it may indicate overlay conflicts or performance issues unrelated to actual frame rate.

Compare your FPS numbers with game menus or benchmarks to confirm they reflect real gameplay conditions.

Run a simple test to check FPS counter accuracy: launch a game with built-in FPS display and compare it to the Windows or Steam overlay numbers. They should be within 3-5 FPS of each other.

If your FPS counter shows unusual spikes or drops, check for background tasks or software that might cause CPU or GPU load spikes. These can cause false FPS readings or lag unrelated to actual frame rendering.

FPS counters generally display an average over the last second, smoothing out frame time fluctuations. If you want to see frame time variation per frame, external tools like MSI Afterburner provide more details, but Windows and Steam counters suffice for most users.

How to fix if fps counter does not show on Windows or Steam

First, ensure overlays are enabled: Windows Game Bar must be active in Settings > Gaming, and Steam Overlay checked in Steam Settings.

Check that your game supports overlays; some anti-cheat systems disable them. Running games as administrator can sometimes help.

Restart your PC after enabling overlays to apply changes fully.

Update Windows, Steam client, and your graphics drivers to avoid compatibility issues preventing FPS counters from appearing.

If Steam’s FPS counter refuses to show, try disabling in-game overlays from other software like Discord or Nvidia GeForce Experience to reduce conflicts.

1. Open Windows Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar, and toggle it on.
2. In Steam, open Settings > In-Game, and enable the FPS counter.
3. Restart your PC to apply all changes.
4. Launch your game via Steam or normally with Win+G for Windows Game Bar.
5. Confirm the FPS counter appears in the chosen screen corner.

How GearUP helps with your gaming performance and fps display

GearUP optimizes your network connection to reduce high ping, packet loss, and jitter in online games. It does not change your FPS or graphics performance.

By providing more stable connections and reduced lag, GearUP can help your gameplay feel smoother, especially in competitive shooters with online servers.

GearUP supports PC, console, and mobile gamers with a free trial available. It works alongside FPS counters but does not replace them or fix low frame rates caused by hardware.

If your main problem is high ping or unstable connections causing rubber-banding or packet loss, GearUP can improve your experience. For FPS display, use the Windows or Steam overlays instead.

Try GearUP if your lag spikes or connection issues disrupt gameplay, and confirm your FPS with the overlays explained above to rule out hardware bottlenecks.

Questions people still ask

I've set up FPS counters on many PCs and seen how overlays and connection tools play different roles in gaming performance.