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Fix FPS Drops in Games on Windows 10/11 PC

FPS drops are usually caused by old or corrupted graphics drivers

11 min. read

Updated onJuly 10, 2024

updated onJuly 10, 2024

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Key notes

To fix various driver issues on your PC, you will need a dedicated tool to find the freshest and the original drivers. You can use PC HelpSoft Driver Updater to do it in 3 easy steps:

Being affected byhigh FPS dropsis one of the most annoying experiences you can have as a gamer.

Why does my FPS keep dropping in games?Common causes of FPS drops include:

How do I fix FPS drops in games?

Before starting any advanced procedures, you should:

1. Change the game’s graphic settings

Not all graphics settings found in modern games will work for every configuration out there. So, if you have slight issues with your FPS drops, make sure to change the graphics options.

DisablingShadow QualityandAnti-aliasingis always good for starters. Also, theVSyncoption will considerably affect your GPU’s capabilities.

Other settings like Texture Quality, Shader Quality, Particles Quality, etc. are other options that need to be set on lower levels to reduce the FPS drop levels.

Try different variations until you find the one that optimizes performance and quality while keeping acceptable FPS levels.

It all depends on your configuration and the ways the game is or isn’t optimized for that configuration. Sometimes even the top-notch PCs running a game will give you a hard time due to the badly optimized game engine.

2. Turn Off Game DVR

⚠️Warning: Editing theWindows Registrycan be risky. Make sure to back up your registry settings before making any changes.

Try again to run the game that has given you headaches with the FPS.

3. Update the GPU drivers

3.1. Use Device Manager

If the Windows 10 Update feature forcibly installs another version, you can roll back the drivers and disable the automatic driver updating by following the steps above.

This should fix FPS drops and stuttering in your favorite PC games. Do ensure that after you make the changes, you restart your PC and check if things work properly.

We also have a very helpful guide that will show you what to do ifWindows can’t automatically find and download new drivers.

Automated driver updating software makes this task much easier. A professional tool, such asPC HelpSoft Driver Updateris able to scan for, download, and install any outdated drivers it will find. So you will be able to return to your game in no time.

⇒Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater

3.2 Check the manufacturer’s website

GPU drivers are a sensitive subject, especially on Windows 10 where the Windows Update feature manages drivers.

Most of the time, the generic driver won’t suffice, and we are all well aware that even the top-notch GPU will fail miserably without the proper software support.

In most scenarios, you’ll need the latest drivers provided by the OEM, but that’s not a rule. Some users resolved the GPU throttling and high FPS drops by installing an older driver’s version.

So, sadly, you have to spend some time experimenting with the available drivers until you find the right driver for your GPU.

These are the official support sites for major OEMs:

4. Disable background programs

4.1. General applications

Certain background programs are known for resource-hogging, making them quite unwelcome while gaming. Disabling their respective background processes should improve the in-game performance and reduce FPS drops.

Here’s the list of programs you should avoid while gaming:

If you’re running a powerful enough PC, the majority of background applications won’t affect the framerate. The ones we enlisted are throttling your bandwidth which can be a problem, for multiplayer, connection-dependent games.

4.2. De-activate the Xbox Game bar

Our research suggested that the FPS improved after disabling the Xbox Game Bar in Windows. You can do that easily by following the steps above.

However, you should know that some games use Game Bar for game invites so you might want to enable it back if you want to use the feature.

5. Modify the system’s power settings

6. Turn on the Game Mode

The Game Mode setting is turned on by default in Windows 10, but sometimes, you can find it turned off for some reason. The simple steps above will help you easily turn on the Game Mode, which will help you achieve a steadier framerate during your play.

7. Scan for HDD errors

If chkdsk is giving you headaches, check out our guide onhow to fix chkdskand go through with the scanning process.

8. Check the temperature of your system

Overheating. There’s no single hardware-related problem that is a bigger threat to your PC than this element. Since today we’re discussing FPS spikes and sudden drops, overheating is probably the biggest suspect for the issue at hand.

Let’s imagine a common scenario: you start the game after the PC was idle, the game works great until some time, and then the FPS goes haywire. This is often due to the CPU and/or GPU overheating and thus underperforming.

To self-preserve themselves under the intense heat and avoid malfunctions, the main PC components start working slower. Finally, your PC should shut down forcibly if the temperatures pass the allowed limits.

So, for starters, make sure to acquire proper temperature monitoring software likeCoreTemp. Above 90-95 degrees Celsius, you will start experiencing performance drops and, in the worst-case scenario, critical hardware damage.

How can I improve the cooling system and reduce the temperatures while gaming?

Firstly, you’ll need to get your hands dirty and clean the inside of your PC casing. The special focus should be on the exhaust and coolers.

Additionally, replacing the thermal paste should be done regularly, especially if you’re an avid gamer.

The paste that acts as a conductor tends to lose its functionality after a few months of usage, so make sure to apply a new layer accordingly.

Furthermore, it doesn’t hurt to add some extra fans and improve the cooling of the unit. However, double-check the PSU capabilities before doing so.

If you still experience the problem first-hand, we have an article onwhat to do if your laptop isoverheating and solve the issue before it’s too late.

9. Defragment your HDD

As you might expect, the efficiency of how your complex drive works is another essential part that will undoubtedly affect the overall gaming performance.

A hard drive is probably the most prone to malfunctions, and it’ll, compared to a CPU or GPU, lose its initial performance values over time.

This applies only to physical drives, not SSDs, so if you have the latter, go past this solution. If you’re interested in improving the reading scores of your hard drive, you caninvest in a good SSD.

You can use alternative software if you don’t want to use the defragmentation tool included with Windows 10. Look at this great list, including our best tune-up utilities, and choose the one that fits you best.

10. Reinstall the game

Finally, if none of the previous steps helped you by eliminating or at least reducing the in-game FPS, we advise you to reinstall the game.

Clean reinstallation is always a viable solution, especially if youuse third-party software to clear the registry inputs.

11. Turn off background slideshow

One user suggested that setting up a solid wallpaper removes the FPS drop issue for games on their PC. This has notably helped several users fix the problem.

How do I fix Nvidia FPS drops quickly?

If you’re using legacy GPU, make sure to install legacy drivers. It’s not of the utmost importance for those to support Windows 10. Sometimes they’ll work regardless.

How to avoid FPS drops in games?

If you managed to fix the problem with the spike FPS drops, you might also consider our tips on how to stay away from this problem in the future.

➡Invest in a powerful GPU or choose the e-GPU route

Havinga good GPUinstalled on your PC is essential when it comes to gaming performance, but in some cases where you’re gettinghigh GPU usage and low FPS, it would be advisable that youinvest in a powerful e-GPU device.

➡Ensure that you stay on top of your PC’s maintenance

This advice includes both the physical cleaning of any coolers and components but also ensuring that the component’s connection is optimal.

To go a step further, de-cluttering your hard drive is another essential element, and you can do so witha variety of PC optimization tools.

➡Run your games from an SSD

As an SSD is endlessly more efficient at processing data than an HDD, investing in a good SSD will save you a lot of stress in the long run.

As you can see, there are a variety of troubleshooting steps that you can try to resolve a high FPS drop while gaming on your PC.

We hope this guide has provided you with some helpful information and that it managed to help you resolve the high FPS drop issues once and for all.

If you want to get in contact with us or share your opinion on this article, feel free to use the comments section found below this guide.

Fix FPS Drops in Games on Windows 10/11 PC#

How do I fix FPS drops in games?#

1. Change the game’s graphic settings#

2. Turn Off Game DVR#

3. Update the GPU drivers#

4. Disable background programs#

5. Modify the system’s power settings#

6. Turn on the Game Mode#

7. Scan for HDD errors#

8. Check the temperature of your system#

9. Defragment your HDD#

10. Reinstall the game#

11. Turn off background slideshow#

How do I fix Nvidia FPS drops quickly?#

How to avoid FPS drops in games?#