How to Increase FPS in Games: 15 Proven Methods That Actually Work

Low FPS can turn an otherwise great game into a stuttering, unresponsive mess. Whether you are playing a fast-paced competitive shooter or an open-world RPG, a smooth frame rate makes the experience more enjoyable and can even improve your reaction time. The good news is that you do not always need to buy new hardware to get more frames. This guide walks through 15 practical methods to increase FPS in games, ordered from the easiest and highest-impact changes to the more advanced tweaks.

Why FPS Matters in Gaming

Before diving into the fixes, it helps to understand why frame rate is so important. FPS, or frames per second, measures how many unique images your computer can render every second. A higher FPS means smoother motion, lower input latency, and a more responsive feel. Most gamers aim for at least 60 FPS, while competitive players often target 144 FPS or higher to match high refresh rate monitors.

When your FPS drops below your monitor's refresh rate, you may notice stuttering, screen tearing, or a general feeling of sluggishness. By increasing your FPS, you reduce these artifacts and get a cleaner, more immersive experience.

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

This is the single easiest and most effective fix. Both NVIDIA and AMD release regular driver updates that include game-specific optimizations. A new driver can sometimes boost FPS by 10 percent or more in recently released titles.

• NVIDIA: Use GeForce Experience or download drivers directly from the NVIDIA website.
• AMD: Use the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition application.
• Intel Arc: Use the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.

Always choose the "Clean installation" option when available, as leftover files from older drivers can cause conflicts.

2. Close Background Applications

Every program running in the background consumes CPU, memory, and sometimes GPU resources. Browsers with dozens of tabs, streaming software, and even some launchers can quietly eat into your frame rate.

Before launching a game, close anything you do not need. On Windows, use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to spot processes consuming resources. Pay special attention to:

• Web browsers with hardware acceleration enabled
• Game launchers running in the background (Steam, Epic, EA)
• Antivirus scans scheduled during gameplay
• Communication apps with screen sharing

3. Enable Game Mode in Windows

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include a built-in Game Mode that prioritizes gaming performance. When enabled, Windows suspends background tasks and allocates more system resources to your game.

To turn it on, press the Windows key, type "Game Mode," and toggle it on. This is a small change that can stabilize frame rates, especially on lower-end systems.

4. Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings

In-game settings have the biggest direct impact on FPS. If you need more frames, lower the most demanding options first. The settings that typically affect performance the most are:

• Shadows: Reducing shadow quality is one of the fastest ways to gain FPS.
• Anti-aliasing: Lowering MSAA or switching to FXAA/TAA can help.
• Draw distance / view distance: Reduces how far the game renders.
• Volumetric effects: Fog, clouds, and lighting volumes are expensive.
• Texture quality: Only lower this if you are running out of VRAM.

Start by setting everything to medium, then bump up the settings that matter most to you until you hit your target frame rate.

5. Lower Your Resolution

If you have tried everything else and still need more FPS, lowering your resolution is the nuclear option. Rendering fewer pixels dramatically reduces the load on your GPU. For example, dropping from 1920x1080 to 1600x900 can yield a 20 to 30 percent FPS boost.

Most games let you choose a resolution scale or render resolution separately from the display resolution. This lets you keep a sharp UI while rendering the 3D scene at a lower resolution.

6. Turn Off Unnecessary Visual Effects

Many games include cinematic effects that look nice but hurt performance. Consider disabling or lowering:

• Motion blur
• Depth of field
• Film grain
• Chromatic aberration
• Ray tracing (very demanding)

Disabling motion blur alone can improve both FPS and visual clarity, especially in fast-moving games.

7. Cap Your Frame Rate

It sounds counterintuitive, but capping your FPS can actually produce a smoother experience. When your FPS swings wildly between 80 and 140, you feel the inconsistency. Capping at a stable number — for example, your monitor's refresh rate — keeps frametimes consistent and reduces stutter.

Most games have a built-in frame rate limiter. You can also use the NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Adrenalin to set a global cap.

8. Optimize Windows Power Settings

Windows power plans can throttle your CPU to save energy. For gaming, you want maximum performance.

1. Press the Windows key and type "Choose a power plan."
2. Select "High performance" or "Ultimate performance."
3. If those options are missing, click "Show additional plans."

On laptops, make sure you are plugged in, as battery mode often limits performance.

9. Disable Startup Programs

Programs that launch at startup continue running while you game. Disable anything you do not need:

1. Open Task Manager and switch to the Startup tab.
2. Right-click and disable non-essential apps like Spotify, Skype, or auto-updaters.

This frees up memory and CPU from the moment you boot.

10. Clean Your PC and Improve Cooling

Thermal throttling is a silent FPS killer. When your CPU or GPU gets too hot, it automatically slows down to protect itself. If you have not cleaned your PC in a year, dust buildup could be costing you frames.

• Use compressed air to clean fans and heatsinks.
• Check that all fans are spinning.
• Consider reapplying thermal paste if your CPU is several years old.
• Monitor temperatures with tools like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner.

11. Install More RAM

If your system has 8 GB of RAM or less, upgrading to 16 GB can significantly improve FPS and reduce stutter in modern games. RAM is relatively affordable and is one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can make.

For gaming in 2025 and beyond, 16 GB is the practical minimum, and 32 GB is ideal for multitaskers or players who keep browsers and Discord open while gaming.

12. Move Your Game to an SSD

If your game is installed on a traditional hard drive (HDD), moving it to a solid state drive (SSD) will not necessarily raise your maximum FPS, but it will dramatically reduce stutter caused by asset streaming. Open-world games benefit the most, as they constantly load new terrain and textures.

13. Disable Xbox Game Bar and Background Recording

Windows Xbox Game Bar and the background recording feature can interfere with some games and add overhead. If you do not use them, turn them off:

1. Go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar.
2. Toggle it off.
3. Under Captures, disable background recording.

14. Use a Lightweight Antivirus

Some antivirus suites aggressively scan every file a game loads, which can cause stutter and FPS drops. Windows Defender is lightweight and effective for most users. If you use a third-party suite, try adding your game folders to its exclusion list.

15. Verify Game Files and Update the Game

Corrupted or missing game files can cause strange performance issues. Both Steam and the Epic Games Store let you verify the integrity of game files. This process re-downloads any damaged files and can resolve unexplained FPS drops.

Keeping your games updated is equally important, as developers frequently release patches that improve performance and fix optimization bugs.

Measuring Your Results

After making changes, measure your FPS to confirm the improvement. You can use our free FPS Test tool to check your display's rendering performance right in the browser. For in-game measurement, tools like MSI Afterburner, NVIDIA GeForce Experience overlay, or Steam's built-in FPS counter work well.

Tip: Always test in the same scene with the same settings before and after a change, so you can attribute any FPS difference to your tweak.

Summary

Increasing FPS is rarely about a single magic fix. Instead, it is the combined effect of many small optimizations. Start with the easy wins — updating drivers, closing background apps, and enabling Game Mode — then work your way through the in-game settings and Windows tweaks. With patience, most systems can gain a meaningful FPS boost without spending a dollar on new hardware.