See Frame Rates on PC Windows 11 or 10

Checking frame rates on your PC is one of the easiest ways to understand gaming performance and troubleshoot lag-related problems. Whether you use the built-in Xbox Game Bar, the Steam FPS Counter, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Software Adrenalin Edition, or MSI Afterburner, each method gives you real-time FPS information while gaming.

This guide explains multiple ways to see frame rates on a PC running Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Table of Contents

How to See Frame Rates on PC?

To see frame rates on a PC, open your game and enable an FPS counter using tools like the Xbox Game Bar, Steam FPS Counter, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, or AMD Software Adrenalin Edition. Most FPS counters appear in a corner of your screen while gaming and show your real-time Frames Per Second performance.

Let’s explore each method in detail!

Method 1: See Frame Rates Using Xbox Game Bar

The easiest way for most Windows users to check FPS is through the built-in Xbox Game Bar feature. This tool comes pre-installed on Windows 11 and Windows 10, so you do not usually need to download anything extra.

Step 1: Open Xbox Game Bar

First, make sure your game is running. You can either open the game first or launch the Game Bar before starting gameplay.

On your keyboard, press the Windows + G keys together. This shortcut opens the Xbox Game Bar overlay on top of your desktop or game.

If nothing happens, you may need to enable Xbox Game Bar first. Go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and make sure the feature is turned on.

Once the overlay opens, you will see several small widgets for gaming features like audio, performance, and screen recording.

Step 2: Open the Performance Widget

Inside the Game Bar overlay, locate the Performance widget. If you do not see it immediately, click the Widget Menu at the top of the screen and select Performance.

The Performance panel shows important system information such as:

FPS
CPU Usage
GPU Usage
RAM Usage

At first, the FPS section may show a message asking for permission to access frame rate data.

Click Request Access if prompted. Windows may ask you to restart your computer so the FPS counter can work properly.

Step 3: Pin the FPS Counter

Once the FPS counter becomes active, click the small Pin icon on the Performance widget. This keeps the FPS counter visible even after closing the Game Bar overlay.

Now press Windows + G again to close the overlay.

When you return to your game, you should see a small performance monitor on your screen showing your current frame rates in real time.

This method works well for beginners because it is simple, free, and already built into Windows.

Method 2: See Frame Rates Using Steam FPS Counter

If you play games through Steam, the platform includes its own FPS counter feature. This is one of the easiest options for PC gamers.

Step 1: Open Steam Settings

Launch Steam on your computer.

In the top left corner of the Steam window, click Steam > Settings.

A settings window will appear with several categories on the left side.

Step 2: Enable the In-Game FPS Counter

Inside the Settings window, select In Game from the left panel.

Look for the option called In-game FPS counter.

Click the dropdown menu and choose where you want the FPS counter to appear on your screen. You can select:

Top Left
Top Right
Bottom Left
Bottom Right

You can also enable High contrast color if you want the FPS number to stand out more clearly while gaming.

Step 3: Launch a Game in Steam

Close the Settings window and start any Steam game.

Once the game launches, the FPS counter should appear automatically in the corner you selected earlier.

As you play, the number updates continuously to show your live frame rates.

This method is very lightweight and works especially well for users who mainly play games purchased from Steam.

Method 3: See Frame Rates Using NVIDIA GeForce Experience

If your PC uses an NVIDIA graphics card, you can use GeForce Experience to display FPS while gaming.

Step 1: Install GeForce Experience

If GeForce Experience is not already installed on your PC, download it from the official NVIDIA website.

After installation, sign in with your NVIDIA account and complete the setup process.

Then launch the software.

Step 2: Enable the In-Game Overlay

Inside GeForce Experience, click the Settings icon in the top right corner.

Look for the option called In-Game Overlay and turn it on.

After enabling it, press Alt + Z on your keyboard to open the NVIDIA overlay.

Step 3: Turn On the FPS Counter

Inside the overlay, go to Settings > HUD Layout > Performance > FPS.

Now choose the location where you want the FPS counter to appear on your screen.

After selecting a corner position, close the overlay.

Open your game, and the FPS counter should appear automatically while you play.

This method is popular because NVIDIA overlays usually have very low performance impact and provide accurate frame rate readings.

Method 4: See Frame Rates Using AMD Software Adrenalin Edition

AMD graphics card users can monitor FPS directly from the AMD software package.

Step 1: Open AMD Software

Right-click on your desktop and choose AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.

You can also search for it using the Windows Search bar.

Once the software opens, you will see the AMD control panel dashboard.

Step 2: Enable Performance Monitoring

Go to Performance > Metrics inside the AMD software.

Look for the option called Show Metrics Overlay and enable it.

This overlay displays system performance information during gameplay.

Step 3: Check FPS While Gaming

Launch your game normally.

During gameplay, the AMD metrics overlay should appear on your screen, showing:

Current FPS
GPU Temperature
GPU Usage
CPU Usage
VRAM Usage

You can usually move the overlay position or customize its appearance from the AMD software settings.

This option works especially well for AMD Radeon graphics card owners who want more detailed hardware statistics.

Method 5: See Frame Rates Using MSI Afterburner

Many advanced PC gamers use MSI Afterburner because it provides extremely detailed performance monitoring.

Even though it looks more technical at first, beginners can still use it with a little setup.

Step 1: Install MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner

Download and install MSI Afterburner.

During installation, make sure RivaTuner Statistics Server is also installed. This component is necessary for displaying FPS on screen.

After installation, launch MSI Afterburner.

Step 2: Configure Monitoring Settings

Inside MSI Afterburner, click the Settings gear icon.

Go to the Monitoring tab.

Scroll through the list and locate Framerate.

Check the box beside it and enable Show in On-Screen Display.

You can also enable additional stats like:

CPU Temperature
GPU Temperature
GPU Usage
RAM Usage

Click Apply, then click OK.

Step 3: Start Your Game

Open your game as usual.

You should now see an FPS counter along with optional hardware statistics while gaming.

MSI Afterburner is one of the most accurate monitoring tools available and is commonly used by gamers, benchmark testers, and PC enthusiasts.

What Is a Good FPS for Gaming?

The ideal FPS depends on the type of games you play and your monitor’s refresh rate.

For casual gaming, 30 FPS is usually playable.

For smoother gameplay, 60 FPS is considered the standard target for most modern games.

Competitive players often prefer:

120 FPS
144 FPS
240 FPS

Higher FPS can reduce input lag and make fast movements appear smoother.

However, achieving higher frame rates requires stronger hardware, especially a powerful GPU and CPU.

Why Your FPS May Be Low?

If your frame rates are lower than expected, several factors may be causing the problem.

Common reasons include:

Graphics settings are set too high
Outdated graphics drivers
Background applications are consuming resources
Overheating hardware
Insufficient RAM
Weak graphics card performance

Lowering graphics settings such as shadows, ray tracing, texture quality, and anti-aliasing can often improve FPS significantly.

Tips to Improve FPS on PC

Improving frame rates usually involves balancing game visuals with system performance.

Updating graphics drivers can improve compatibility and optimization for newer games.

Closing unnecessary applications before gaming can free up system resources.

Using Game Mode in Windows may also help optimize performance. You can enable it by going to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.

Lowering screen resolution can dramatically increase FPS on weaker systems.

Upgrading hardware such as your graphics card, RAM, or storage drive can also improve gaming performance.

FAQs

What does FPS mean on PC?

FPS stands for Frames Per Second. It measures how many image frames your computer displays every second while gaming or rendering graphics.

Is higher FPS better?

Yes. Higher FPS usually creates smoother gameplay and more responsive controls. Most gamers prefer at least 60 FPS for modern games.

Can Windows show FPS without extra software?

Yes. Windows includes the Xbox Game Bar, which has a built-in FPS counter.

Why is my FPS dropping suddenly?

FPS drops can happen because of overheating, outdated drivers, high graphics settings, or background applications using system resources.

Does FPS affect gaming performance?

Yes. Low FPS can make games feel laggy or stuttery, while higher FPS improves smoothness and responsiveness.

Which FPS counter is best?

For beginners, Xbox Game Bar and Steam are simple options. Advanced users often prefer MSI Afterburner for detailed monitoring.