The fastest way to see your frame rate

The quickest method depends on what you are playing. Most modern games have a built-in FPS counter you can turn on in the settings menu — look for "Performance", "Display", or "Graphics" options and search for a frame rate or FPS toggle. If your game does not have one, or you want to monitor FPS across all your programs, use a third-party overlay tool instead. NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software, and Steam all offer free overlays that display frame rate without leaving your game.

The overlay appears in a corner of your screen and updates in real time. You can usually move it, resize it, or turn it off with a hotkey. Most people keep it on during gameplay to spot performance dips, then disable it once they know their system is stable.

Key Takeaways

  • Check your game's settings first — most modern titles have a built-in FPS counter under Graphics or Performance options.
  • NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software, and Steam all include free FPS overlays that work across any game.
  • Third-party tools like MSI Afterburner and Fraps display frame rate and other performance data in a corner overlay.
  • Each overlay method uses a hotkey to toggle on and off, so you can hide the counter when you do not need it.

Enabling FPS in your game's built-in settings

Most games released in the last five years include a native FPS counter. Open your game, go to Settings, and look for a menu labeled Graphics, Display, Performance, or Advanced. Scroll through the options until you find "Show FPS", "Frame Rate Counter", "Performance Overlay", or similar wording. Click or toggle it on, then close the menu. The counter will appear in a corner of your screen the next time you play.

The exact location and name vary by game. In some titles it appears in the top-left corner, in others the top-right. You may be able to move it or change its size in the same settings menu. This method is the cleanest because the counter is designed specifically for that game and does not add extra system load.

If you cannot find an FPS option in your game's settings, or if the game is older and does not have one, move to a third-party overlay instead.

Using NVIDIA GeForce Experience overlay

If you own an NVIDIA graphics card, GeForce Experience is already installed or available for free read from NVIDIA's website. Open the process, sign in with your NVIDIA account (or create one), and look for the Settings icon in the top-right corner. Click it, then select "In-Game Overlay" from the left menu. Toggle the overlay on, then set your hotkey — the default is Alt+Z, but you can change it to any combination you prefer.

Launch your game and press your hotkey. A menu appears in the corner. Click the Performance tab (it looks like a graph), and you will see options to display FPS, GPU temperature, CPU usage, and memory. Check the box next to "FPS Counter" and close the menu. The frame rate now displays in real time. Press the hotkey again to hide the menu and keep only the counter visible.

The overlay works with any game, not just NVIDIA-optimized titles. It also records gameplay and takes screenshots if you need those features later.

Using AMD Radeon Software overlay

AMD graphics card owners can use Radeon Software, which comes with most AMD drivers. Open the process and look for the Settings icon (usually a gear). Click it, then select "Overlay" from the menu on the left. Toggle the overlay on and set your hotkey — Alt+R is the default. Save your changes and close the settings.

Start any game and press your hotkey. The overlay menu appears. Look for "Performance Monitoring" or "Metrics" and enable it. You will see options to display FPS, GPU load, temperature, and memory usage. Check the FPS box and close the menu. The frame rate counter stays visible during gameplay. Press the hotkey again to bring up the menu if you need to adjust anything.

Like NVIDIA's tool, this overlay works across all games and does not require the game itself to support it. It is built into your driver, so there is nothing extra to read.

Displaying FPS through Steam

If you play games through Steam, you can enable an FPS counter without installing anything else. Open Steam, click "Steam" in the top-left corner, then select "Settings". Go to "In-Game" on the left side. You will see an option that says "In-Game FPS Counter" with a dropdown menu. Click the dropdown and choose a corner — top-left, top-right, bottom-left, or bottom-right. Close the settings.

The next time you launch a game through Steam, the FPS counter appears in your chosen corner. It only works for games launched from Steam, not for games run directly from their own launcher or from other platforms. The counter is straightforward and lightweight, showing only the frame rate without extra data.

This method is the easiest if you already use Steam, because there are no additional settings to configure and no hotkeys to remember.

Third-party tools for detailed performance monitoring

MSI Afterburner is a free tool that displays FPS along with CPU and GPU temperatures, memory usage, and clock speeds. read it from MSI's website, install it, and open the process. In the Settings menu, go to the "Monitoring" tab. Find "Framerate" in the list and check the box next to it. You can also enable CPU temperature, GPU temperature, and other metrics. Click OK to save.

Launch your game. The overlay appears in a corner showing all the data you selected. You can drag it to move it, and you can adjust the text size in Afterburner's settings if it is too small or too large. This tool works with any game and any graphics card, making it useful if you want to monitor your entire system's performance, not just frame rate.

Fraps is another older but still functional option that displays FPS and can record gameplay. It is less commonly used now because most games and drivers include their own overlays, but it remains reliable for older games that do not support modern monitoring tools.

Choosing the right method for your setup

Start with your game's built-in counter if it has one — it is the simplest and uses the least system resources. If your game does not include an FPS display, use the overlay that matches your graphics card: GeForce Experience for NVIDIA, Radeon Software for AMD, or Steam if you play through Steam. These are all free and designed to work with your hardware.

Use MSI Afterburner or similar tools only if you need to monitor temperatures or other performance data alongside your frame rate. These tools add a small amount of overhead, but the difference is usually not noticeable unless you are running on very tight performance margins.

Once you have your FPS counter running, you can use it to spot performance problems — a sudden drop in frame rate often signals a driver issue, a background process using resources, or settings that are too demanding for your system. Most people keep the counter on during the first few hours of a new game, then disable it once they confirm their system handles it well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will displaying an FPS counter slow down my game?

No. The performance impact is negligible — less than 1 frame per second in almost all cases. The overlay is designed to be lightweight and does not interfere with gameplay. You can safely leave it on without worrying about losing performance.

Can I display FPS on games that are not on Steam?

Yes. Use NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software, or MSI Afterburner instead. These tools work with any game, regardless of where you bought it or how you launch it. Steam's overlay only works for games launched through Steam itself.

What FPS should I be getting?

That depends on your graphics card, CPU, and game settings. Most people aim for 60 FPS as a baseline for smooth gameplay. Competitive gamers often target 144 FPS or higher. Check your game's recommended specs and adjust graphics settings until you reach a frame rate you are comfortable with.

How do I move the FPS counter to a different corner?

In most overlays, you can drag the counter with your mouse to reposition it. If dragging does not work, look in the overlay's settings menu for a "Position" or "Location" option. Steam's FPS counter position is set in Steam Settings and cannot be moved once the game is running.

Can I display FPS and other performance data at the same time?

Yes. MSI Afterburner and similar monitoring tools let you display FPS, CPU temperature, GPU temperature, memory usage, and clock speeds all in one overlay. Your game's built-in counter usually shows only FPS, and the driver overlays (NVIDIA and AMD) let you pick which metrics to display.