The easiest way to check FPS on Windows 10 is Xbox Game Bar. Press Windows key + G, open the Performance widget, select FPS, and pin the widget while you play. Windows may ask you to request access to performance data and restart the PC before the counter works.
If Game Bar is unavailable, use the overlay included with your NVIDIA or AMD graphics software. Steam also has a basic counter for Steam games, while MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner Statistics Server is better for detailed monitoring.
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What FPS means
FPS means frames per second: the number of frames your game renders each second. A higher FPS can make motion and controls feel smoother, but FPS is only one part of gaming performance.
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- Refresh rate: How quickly your monitor can refresh its image, such as 60Hz, 144Hz, or 240Hz. It is separate from FPS.
- Frame pacing: How consistently frames arrive. Uneven frame delivery can look or feel stuttery even when the average FPS is high.
- Input latency: The delay between an input and the resulting action on screen.
There is no universal “good FPS” number. The useful target depends on the game, monitor, resolution, graphics settings, and whether you prefer maximum image quality or faster responsiveness.
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Which FPS counter should you use?
| Situation | Recommended method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want the simplest built-in option | Xbox Game Bar | No separate monitoring utility is needed for basic use. |
| You use an NVIDIA GPU | NVIDIA performance overlay | Shows FPS and additional hardware metrics. |
| You use an AMD GPU | AMD Adrenalin Metrics Overlay | Integrated with Radeon driver software. |
| You want detailed statistics or logging | MSI Afterburner plus RTSS | Offers extensive customization and monitoring. |
| You only play Steam games | Steam FPS counter | Quick to configure per game. |
| You want repeatable benchmark results | NVIDIA FrameView or a game benchmark | More useful than a live counter for comparisons. |
Method 1: Check FPS with Xbox Game Bar
Xbox Game Bar is the best first option for most Windows 10 players because it is built into supported Windows installations. It can be disabled, outdated, removed, or unavailable on modified Windows systems.
Enable Xbox Game Bar
- Open Settings.
- Select Gaming.
- Select Xbox Game Bar.
- Turn on the option that allows Xbox Game Bar to open with the controller button or shortcut.
Windows 10 builds can use slightly different wording. If you cannot find the menu, type Xbox Game Bar into the Settings search box. Microsoft’s overview is available at Microsoft’s Xbox Game Bar guide.
Show the FPS counter in a game
- Start the game and load into gameplay rather than leaving it at the launcher.
- Press Windows key + G.
- Open the Performance widget.
- Select the FPS section or tab.
- If prompted, select Request access and approve the request.
- Restart Windows if requested.
- Launch the game again and press Windows key + G.
- Click the pin icon on the Performance widget.
- Close Game Bar and return to the game. The pinned widget should remain visible.
The FPS display was added to Game Bar’s Performance overlay; current labels can differ from older documentation. See the Xbox announcement for background.
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- Make sure a game is actively running.
- Choose Request access from the FPS section if it appears.
- Restart Windows after granting access.
- Update Xbox Game Bar through the Microsoft Store.
- If access is still denied, check whether your account needs to be added to the Windows Performance Log Users group. This is an occasional troubleshooting requirement, not a universal setup step.
- Temporarily close other overlays.
- Try the game in borderless-windowed mode instead of exclusive fullscreen.
- If Game Bar still fails, use the NVIDIA, AMD, Steam, or MSI method below.
Microsoft’s support guidance documents the permission, restart, and Performance Log Users possibilities at Microsoft Community.
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Method 2: Check FPS with NVIDIA software
NVIDIA users can use the performance overlay in the NVIDIA App or older GeForce Experience, depending on what is installed. Menu names and available controls differ between releases and GPU generations.
- Open the NVIDIA App or GeForce Experience.
- Open Settings and enable In-Game Overlay.
- Start a game.
- Press Alt + R to toggle the performance overlay. This is NVIDIA’s documented default shortcut, but it can be changed.
- Use Alt + Shift + R to cycle metric layouts where supported.
- Press Alt + Z for the overlay panel, then open its settings to adjust the performance display.
NVIDIA documents performance overlay support and shortcut behavior in its support article. The overlay may not appear in every game: fullscreen modes, anti-cheat systems, protected rendering, or game-specific compatibility can interfere.
NVIDIA troubleshooting
- If Alt + R does nothing, enable In-Game Overlay first.
- If it works on the desktop but not in the game, test borderless-windowed mode.
- Check NVIDIA’s hotkey settings if another program has claimed the shortcut.
- Disable other FPS overlays to prevent duplicate counters.
Method 3: Check FPS with AMD Adrenalin
AMD Radeon owners can use the Metrics Overlay in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
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- Open Performance.
- Select Metrics.
- Enable the Metrics Overlay, or the equivalent on-screen display option in your release.
- Start the game.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + O to toggle the overlay. AMD identifies this as the default hotkey.
- Customize the displayed metrics, such as FPS, GPU utilization, temperature, and available clock readings.
Use AMD’s Metrics Overlay guidance for the current interface. If the shortcut has been changed, search AMD Software for Hotkey Settings.
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AMD troubleshooting
- Confirm that AMD Software is installed, rather than only a basic display driver.
- Update Radeon drivers if the Metrics section is missing.
- Disable Xbox Game Bar or other overlays if several counters appear.
- Try borderless-windowed mode if the overlay fails in exclusive fullscreen.
- Remember that labels and layout can change between Adrenalin releases.
Method 4: Use Steam’s FPS counter
Steam’s counter is convenient for games launched through Steam, but it is not a Windows-wide solution for games from other launchers.
- Open Steam.
- Open Steam Settings.
- Go to In Game.
- Find In-game FPS counter.
- Choose a screen position, such as a corner of the display.
- Start the game through Steam.
Steam’s client interface changes occasionally. If the setting is not immediately visible, use the settings search field or look under In Game.
Method 5: Use MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner Statistics Server
Use MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) when you need more than a single FPS number. This combination can show FPS, frame time, temperatures, utilization, clocks, and other readings, but it takes more configuration.
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- Download MSI Afterburner from a trusted MSI source, such as the official MSI Afterburner page. Avoid unofficial mirrors and download portals.
- Install RTSS when the installer offers it. RTSS provides the on-screen display functionality used by Afterburner.
- Open MSI Afterburner and select Settings.
- Open the Monitoring tab.
- Select Framerate or the relevant FPS metric.
- Enable Show in On-Screen Display.
- Assign an on-screen-display hotkey if desired.
- Start the game and confirm that RTSS is running.
Some games block or hide third-party overlays. Do not attempt to bypass anti-cheat or other security controls. MSI explains the Afterburner–RTSS relationship in its on-screen display guide.
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For benchmarking: use more than a live FPS counter
A live counter is useful for a quick check, but it is not ideal for comparing graphics settings. NVIDIA FrameView supports overlays and measurements such as average FPS and low-percentile performance. A game’s built-in benchmark can also provide repeatable results.
For a fair comparison, keep the resolution, graphics preset, ray-tracing settings, upscaling mode, game scene, and background workload consistent. Low-percentile FPS and frame-time consistency can reveal hitching that an average FPS figure hides.
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The displayed value is a snapshot of rendered performance, not a complete diagnosis. A game can report a high average FPS while still feeling uneven because frames arrive inconsistently.
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Frame time is often more revealing. A frame taking approximately 16.7 milliseconds corresponds to about 60 FPS; approximately 6.9 milliseconds corresponds to about 144 FPS. A stable lower frame rate can feel better than a rapidly fluctuating higher one.
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FPS also does not measure your monitor’s refresh rate, input latency, temperature, or whether the CPU or GPU is the limiting component. If your goal is steadier motion, an FPS cap may help synchronize output with the monitor’s refresh rate, depending on the game, display, and synchronization technology.
Why multiple FPS counters appear
Game Bar, Steam, NVIDIA or AMD software, and RTSS can all display an overlay at the same time. Duplicate numbers usually indicate that multiple overlays are enabled, not that Windows is reporting FPS incorrectly.
Choose one counter, then disable or hide the others. This also makes troubleshooting easier because you can identify which utility works with the game.
How to turn off the FPS counter
- Xbox Game Bar: Press Windows key + G, then unpin or close the Performance widget.
- NVIDIA: Press Alt + R to toggle the performance overlay, or disable it in the NVIDIA App or GeForce Experience settings.
- AMD: Press Ctrl + Shift + O, or disable Metrics Overlay in AMD Software.
- Steam: Set In-game FPS counter to Off under Steam’s In Game settings.
- MSI Afterburner/RTSS: Disable the on-screen display in Afterburner or exit RTSS.
For an additional Microsoft removal path, see this Microsoft support answer.
Quick Recap
Quick troubleshooting matrix
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Game Bar says “N/A” | FPS permission has not been granted | Select Request access, then restart Windows. |
| FPS tab is missing | Game Bar is outdated or malfunctioning | Update it through the Microsoft Store. |
| Overlay does not appear in-game | Overlay disabled or game incompatibility | Enable it and test borderless-windowed mode. |
| Two counters appear | Multiple overlays are active | Disable all but one. |
| A shortcut does nothing | Hotkey changed or intercepted | Check the utility’s hotkey settings. |
| Counter works on the desktop but not in-game | Fullscreen or protected rendering mode | Try borderless mode and update the overlay. |
| FPS changes rapidly | Normal frame-rate variation | Test a longer scene or use a benchmark and frame-time metrics. |
| Overlay disappears after a driver update | Settings or hotkeys were reset | Re-enable the overlay and review its shortcut settings. |
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