How to Check FPS on PC: Every Method Explained for 2025

Knowing how to check FPS on your PC is essential for understanding performance, troubleshooting stutter, and getting the most out of your hardware. Yet many users never enable an FPS counter because they assume it requires technical knowledge or third-party software. In reality, there are more ways than ever to display your frame rate, and most of them are built into tools you already use.

This guide covers every practical method to check FPS on a Windows PC, from one-click browser tests to professional-grade overlays.

Method 1: Use a Browser-Based FPS Test

The fastest way to check FPS is right in your browser, with nothing to install. Browser-based FPS testers measure how many frames per second your display can render, which is an effective way to verify your monitor is running at its intended refresh rate.

Our FPS Test tool uses requestAnimationFrame to count frames in real time. The result closely matches your monitor's refresh rate when hardware acceleration is enabled. This makes it perfect for a quick sanity check — if you expect 144Hz and the tool reports 60 FPS, you know something is wrong with your display settings.

Best for: Instant refresh rate verification without installing anything.

Limitations: Measures browser rendering, not in-game performance.

Method 2: Use the Steam In-Game FPS Counter

If you play games on Steam, the FPS counter is built in and takes seconds to enable.

1. Open Steam and click Settings (or Preferences on macOS).
2. Select In-Game from the left sidebar.
3. Under In-game FPS counter, choose a position (top-left, top-right, etc.).
4. Launch any Steam game — the FPS number appears in the corner you selected.

The Steam counter is simple and reliable. It works with almost every Steam game and does not require an NVIDIA or AMD GPU. The downside is that it only shows the average FPS number, with no frame time graph or hardware usage details.

Best for: A no-fuss FPS counter that works with any Steam game.

Method 3: Use the NVIDIA GeForce Experience Overlay

If you have an NVIDIA GPU, GeForce Experience includes a detailed overlay called the Performance HUD. It shows far more than just FPS.

1. Install GeForce Experience and sign in.
2. Press Alt + Z in-game to open the overlay.
3. Click the gear icon for settings.
4. Enable Performance and customize which metrics to display.

The overlay can show FPS, frame time, CPU usage, GPU usage, GPU temperature, and VRAM usage. You can also use it to record gameplay and take screenshots.

Best for: NVIDIA users who want detailed hardware metrics alongside FPS.

Method 4: Use the AMD Adrenalin Overlay

AMD users have an equivalent tool built into AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.

1. Open AMD Adrenalin.
2. Go to Settings (gear icon) > Overlay.
3. Enable the performance metrics you want to display.
4. Use the in-game hotkey (usually Alt + R) to toggle the overlay.

Like the NVIDIA tool, the AMD overlay shows FPS, frame time, temperatures, and usage. It also supports performance logging and benchmarking.

Best for: AMD users who want detailed metrics without third-party software.

Method 5: Use the Xbox Game Bar on Windows

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include the Xbox Game Bar, which has a performance widget that shows FPS for most games and apps.

1. Press Win + G to open the Xbox Game Bar.
2. Click the Performance widget (or find it in the widget menu).
3. The widget displays FPS, CPU usage, GPU usage, VRAM, and RAM usage.
4. You can pin the widget so it stays visible during gameplay.

The Xbox Game Bar works with most games and does not care which GPU brand you use. It is a great option if you do not want to install vendor-specific software. However, some users report that Game Bar itself adds overhead, so if you experience stutter after enabling it, try disabling it.

Best for: A vendor-neutral FPS counter built into Windows.

Method 6: Use MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner

MSI Afterburner paired with RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) is the most powerful FPS overlay available, and it works with any GPU brand — you do not need an MSI card.

1. Download MSI Afterburner and install it alongside RivaTuner.
2. Open MSI Afterburner and click the gear icon for settings.
3. Go to the Monitoring tab and select the metrics you want to display (FPS, frame time, temperatures, clock speeds, usage).
4. Check Show in On-Screen Display for each metric.
5. Launch any game — the overlay appears in the corner.

MSI Afterburner is the tool professional reviewers use. It offers frame time graphs, logging to file, and the most customizable overlay available. The learning curve is steeper, but the data is unmatched.

Best for: Serious benchmarking, frame time analysis, and users who want every possible metric.

Method 7: Use Discord's In-Game Overlay

If you use Discord while gaming, its overlay can display a small FPS counter. This is the most convenient option if you already have Discord open.

1. Open Discord and go to User Settings.
2. Select Overlay and enable the in-game overlay.
3. Go to Game Activity and enable the overlay for your specific game.
4. In the overlay settings, you can choose to show FPS.

Discord's FPS counter is basic — just a number — but it is convenient if you do not want to install anything else.

Best for: Discord users who want a quick FPS readout alongside their chat overlay.

Method 8: Use a Game's Built-In Benchmark

Many modern games include a built-in benchmark that runs a fixed scene and reports average FPS, 1% lows, and frame times. This is the most accurate way to compare performance across hardware changes or settings tweaks.

Look for a "Benchmark" option in the game's settings menu. Games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and many others include this feature.

Best for: Repeatable, accurate performance comparisons.

Which Method Should You Use?

The best method depends on your goal.

Your goal	Recommended method
Quick refresh rate check	Browser-based FPS Test
FPS in any Steam game	Steam in-game FPS counter
Detailed hardware metrics	NVIDIA, AMD, or MSI Afterburner overlay
Vendor-neutral overlay	Xbox Game Bar
Professional benchmarking	Game benchmark plus MSI Afterburner logging

For most users, a combination of two tools is ideal: a browser-based tester for monitor verification, and an in-game overlay for real-time FPS during gameplay.

How to Read FPS Numbers

Once you have an FPS counter running, knowing how to interpret the numbers matters.

• Average FPS: The headline number. Useful but hides stutter.
• Frame time: Time per frame in milliseconds. Lower and more consistent is better. On a 144Hz monitor, aim for a steady ~7 ms.
• 1% low: The average of the slowest 1 percent of frames. A better smoothness indicator than the average. If your average is 120 FPS but the 1% low is 50, the game will feel choppy.
• 0.1% low: The slowest 0.1 percent of frames. Catches rare severe drops.

A truly smooth experience has 1% lows close to the average. Large gaps between the average and the 1% low indicate stutter, even if the average looks high.

Tips for Accurate FPS Measurement

1. Measure in real gameplay, not menus. Menus often render at the monitor's refresh rate and do not reflect game performance.
2. Measure in intense scenes, not quiet moments. Frame drops usually happen during explosions, fast movement, or crowded scenes.
3. Measure long enough. A 5-second reading is not reliable. Aim for at least a minute of gameplay.
4. Close background apps before measuring, so they do not skew the results.
5. Measure before and after any change to settings, drivers, or hardware.

Summary

Checking FPS on your PC is easier than ever, with options ranging from instant browser tests to professional overlays. Start with our FPS Test tool for a quick refresh rate check, enable an in-game overlay for real-time FPS during gameplay, and graduate to MSI Afterburner if you want detailed frame time analysis. Whatever method you choose, measuring FPS turns vague feelings of "choppiness" into concrete data you can act on.