If you’re a gamer or even just someone curious about your computer’s performance, you’ve probably heard the term FPS (Frames Per Second). FPS shows how smoothly your PC can run games and graphics-heavy applications. But if you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 11, you might be asking: How do I check FPS on my PC?
Don’t worry—I’ll walk you through several easy ways to monitor FPS in Windows 11. From built-in tools to third-party apps, this step-by-step guide has everything you need.
What Is FPS and Why Does It Matter?
FPS measures how many frames your graphics card can render per second.
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30 FPS: Playable, but not very smooth.
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60 FPS: Ideal for most games—smooth and responsive.
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120+ FPS: Ultra-smooth, especially on high-refresh-rate monitors.
In short, higher FPS means smoother gameplay and better performance.
Method 1: Use Xbox Game Bar (Built-in FPS Counter)
Windows 11 includes the Xbox Game Bar, a powerful tool for monitoring FPS without extra software.
Steps
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Press Windows + G on your keyboard.
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The Xbox Game Bar overlay will appear.
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Click on the Performance widget (looks like a speedometer).
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Select FPS from the list.
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Pin the widget so it always shows while gaming.
Now you’ll see real-time FPS in any game.
Method 2: Use MSI Afterburner (Advanced FPS Monitoring)
If you want more detailed stats, MSI Afterburner is the most popular choice.
Steps
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Download and install MSI Afterburner from the official site.
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Open the app and go to Settings > Monitoring.
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Check the box for Framerate.
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Enable Show in On-Screen Display (OSD).
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Launch your game, and you’ll see FPS in the corner of your screen.
👉 Bonus: It also shows CPU, GPU, and RAM usage.
Method 3: Use Steam’s Built-in FPS Counter
If you’re a Steam gamer, you don’t need extra apps.
Steps
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Open Steam.
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Go to Settings > In-Game.
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Find In-game FPS counter.
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Choose where you want it to appear (top-left, top-right, etc.).
When you play any Steam game, FPS will be displayed.
Method 4: Use NVIDIA GeForce Experience
If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, you can use GeForce Experience.
Steps
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Open GeForce Experience.
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Click the gear icon (Settings).
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Go to the General tab.
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Enable In-game overlay.
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Click Settings > HUD Layout > Performance > FPS Counter.
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Choose a position for the counter.
Method 5: Use AMD Radeon Software
For AMD users, Radeon Software offers a built-in FPS counter.
Steps
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Right-click your desktop → Select AMD Radeon Software.
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Go to Performance tab.
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Enable Overlay.
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Choose to display FPS and other performance stats.
Method 6: Use Razer Cortex (Free Optimization Tool)
Razer Cortex boosts performance and shows FPS in real-time.
Steps
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Download Razer Cortex (free).
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Install and launch it.
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Go to Game Booster > FPS.
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Turn on In-Game FPS Overlay.
This also optimizes system resources while you play.
Method 7: Use FRAPS (Lightweight FPS Counter)
FRAPS is an old but reliable FPS counter.
Steps
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Download FRAPS (free version available).
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Launch FRAPS and go to the FPS tab.
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Choose an overlay corner.
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Start your game—you’ll see FPS displayed.
Method 8: Check FPS Using Windows Performance Monitor
Windows also has a built-in Performance Monitor.
Steps
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Press Windows + R, type
perfmon, and press Enter. -
Go to Performance Monitor.
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Add counters for GPU and CPU activity.
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While it doesn’t directly show FPS, you can monitor performance drops that affect FPS.
Method 9: Use Discord’s FPS Overlay
If you use Discord, you can track FPS while gaming.
Steps
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Open Discord.
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Go to Settings > Game Overlay.
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Enable In-game overlay.
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Turn on Performance metrics including FPS.
Method 10: Use Windows 11 Task Manager (Indirect FPS Check)
While Task Manager doesn’t show FPS directly, it helps analyze performance.
Steps
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Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
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Go to the Performance tab.
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Check GPU utilization and 3D engine activity.
This won’t give exact FPS but shows how hard your GPU is working.
Best Method for Beginners
If you’re new, the Xbox Game Bar is the easiest—no downloads, just press Windows + G and turn on FPS monitoring.
Best Method for Advanced Users
If you want detailed monitoring (CPU, GPU temps, RAM usage), MSI Afterburner or GeForce Experience is the way to go.
Tips to Improve FPS in Windows 11
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Enable Game Mode: Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
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Keep your drivers updated (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
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Close background apps while gaming.
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Lower in-game graphics settings.
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Use a wired internet connection for online games.
Common FPS Issues in Windows 11
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FPS Drops After Update → Reinstall graphics drivers.
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High FPS but stuttering → Turn off V-Sync.
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Low FPS on a good PC → Check if GPU drivers are outdated.