The fastest way to see your frame rate right now

The simplest method is to use the frame rate counter built into your graphics card's software. If you have an NVIDIA card, open NVIDIA GeForce Experience, go to Settings, then toggle on "In-Game Overlay". If you have an AMD card, open AMD Radeon Software, select "Performance", then turn on "Metrics Overlay". Once enabled, press Alt+R (NVIDIA) or Alt+Z (AMD) while playing a game, and your frame rate will display on screen.

If you want to see your frame rate without launching a game first, Windows 11 and Windows 10 both include a built-in frame rate counter. Press Windows Key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar, then click "Performance" in the left menu. You'll see a real-time display of your frame rate, GPU usage, and CPU usage on any screen.

These methods show your frame rate in real time while you play, which is what most people need. The number updates every second and tells you whether your system is hitting the frame rate your monitor can display.

Key Takeaways

  • NVIDIA and AMD both have built-in overlay tools that show frame rate during gameplay — press Alt+R for NVIDIA or Alt+Z for AMD after enabling the feature in their software.
  • Windows 10 and Windows 11 include the Xbox Game Bar, which displays frame rate, CPU load, and GPU load without needing third-party software.
  • Third-party tools like MSI Afterburner and Fraps show frame rate and can record performance data over time to spot problems.
  • Frame rate is measured in frames per second (FPS) — higher numbers mean smoother motion, and most monitors display between 60 and 144 FPS.

Using NVIDIA GeForce Experience

Open NVIDIA GeForce Experience on your desktop. Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings. Scroll down to "In-Game Overlay" and toggle it on. You may need to restart your computer or log back into GeForce Experience for the change to take effect.

Once enabled, launch any game. While the game is running, press Alt+R. A small overlay will appear in the corner of your screen showing your current frame rate in FPS, GPU temperature, and memory usage. You can move this overlay by dragging it, or hide it by pressing Alt+R again.

If the overlay does not appear, make sure the game is running in full-screen mode, not windowed mode. Some older games do not support the overlay, but most modern titles do.

Using AMD Radeon Software

Open AMD Radeon Software from your system tray or desktop. Click on the "Performance" tab at the top. Under "Metrics Overlay", toggle the switch to on. You can choose which metrics appear — make sure "FPS" is checked.

Launch your game and press Alt+Z while playing. The overlay will appear on screen showing your frame rate and other performance data. Like NVIDIA's tool, this works best in full-screen games. You can adjust the overlay position and which metrics display by returning to the Performance tab in Radeon Software.

AMD's overlay also includes a "Performance Monitoring" feature that records your frame rate over time. This is useful if you want to see whether your frame rate drops during specific moments in a game or if performance changes as your system heats up.

Windows Xbox Game Bar for any screen

The Xbox Game Bar works on any screen, not just in games, and does not require graphics card software. Press Windows Key + G to open it. If this is your first time, Windows will ask whether you want to open Game Bar — click "Yes, this is a game".

Click the "Performance" widget (it looks like a graph). A panel will open showing your frame rate, CPU usage, GPU usage, and RAM usage in real time. This overlay stays visible on top of your game or process and updates every second.

The Xbox Game Bar frame rate counter works on integrated graphics (like Intel UHD or AMD Radeon built into your CPU) as well as dedicated graphics cards. If you do not see the Performance widget, click the plus icon to add it.

Third-party tools for detailed monitoring

MSI Afterburner is a free tool that works with any graphics card and displays frame rate alongside detailed information about GPU temperature, clock speed, power draw, and memory usage. read it from the MSI website, install it, and launch the program. Check the boxes next to the metrics you want to see, then enable "On-Screen Display" in the settings. Press Ctrl+O while gaming to toggle the overlay on and off.

Fraps is an older but still functional frame rate counter. It displays your current FPS in the corner of the screen and can record performance data to a log file. read it, run the installer, and check "FPS" in the overlay options. Launch your game, and your frame rate will appear on screen.

Both tools are useful if you want to log your frame rate over time or see detailed hardware information alongside your FPS. They work with games running in full-screen or windowed mode, which makes them more flexible than some built-in overlays.

Understanding what your frame rate number means

Frame rate is measured in frames per second, or FPS. If your game shows 60 FPS, your graphics card is drawing 60 complete images every second. Higher frame rates mean smoother motion and faster response time when you move your mouse or controller.

Most standard monitors display at 60 Hz, which means they refresh 60 times per second. Running a game at 60 FPS on a 60 Hz monitor means each frame appears for exactly one refresh cycle. If your frame rate drops below 60, you will see stuttering or tearing. If your monitor is 144 Hz, you can see the benefit of running games at 120 or 144 FPS.

Frame rate varies depending on the game, your graphics settings, and your hardware. The same game might run at 100 FPS on low settings and 50 FPS on high settings. Checking your frame rate helps you decide whether to lower graphics settings or upgrade your hardware.

Troubleshooting when the overlay does not show

If your frame rate overlay is not appearing, first check that you enabled it in the correct software. NVIDIA users should verify that GeForce Experience is running and the In-Game Overlay toggle is on. AMD users should check that Radeon Software is running and Metrics Overlay is enabled. Restart your computer if you just enabled the feature.

Some games do not support overlays, especially older titles or games running in windowed mode. Try launching a different, newer game to test whether the overlay works. If it does, the problem is with that specific game, not your setup.

If you are using the Xbox Game Bar and it is not responding, press Windows Key + G again to close it, then reopen it. Make sure Windows 10 or Windows 11 is fully updated, as older versions sometimes have issues with the Game Bar overlay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What frame rate should I aim for?

Aim for a frame rate that matches your monitor's refresh rate. A 60 Hz monitor benefits from 60 FPS, a 144 Hz monitor from 144 FPS. Anything above your monitor's refresh rate is wasted — your monitor cannot display it. Anything below causes stuttering or tearing.

Does checking frame rate slow down my game?

No. The overlay uses a tiny amount of GPU resources, but the impact is negligible — usually less than 1 FPS. You will not notice a performance drop from having the frame rate counter on screen.

Can I check frame rate on a laptop?

Yes. Laptops with NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards can use the same overlay tools as desktop computers. Integrated graphics (Intel UHD, AMD Radeon) work with the Xbox Game Bar. The process is identical.

Why does my frame rate keep changing?

Frame rate changes based on what is happening in the game. Complex scenes with many objects use more GPU power and lower your FPS. Background programs running on your computer also reduce frame rate. Temperature can affect it too — if your GPU gets hot, it may throttle and drop FPS to cool down.

Is 30 FPS playable?

30 FPS is playable but noticeably less smooth than 60 FPS. Many people find 30 FPS acceptable for single-player games but prefer higher frame rates for competitive games where reaction time matters. It depends on the game type and your personal preference.