How to Increase FPS on Windows

Before buying new hardware, there are several free changes that can meaningfully increase FPS on a Windows gaming PC. Work through these in order.

Step 1: Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated GPU drivers are one of the most common, easily fixed causes of lower-than-expected FPS. Check your GPU manufacturer's site for the latest driver and install it directly rather than relying solely on Windows Update.

Step 2: Set Windows Power Plan to High Performance

Windows' default balanced power plan can throttle CPU performance to save power, especially on laptops. Switching to a high-performance (or balanced-but-tuned) plan can recover meaningful FPS in CPU-sensitive games.

Step 3: Adjust In-Game Settings That Matter Most

Not all settings affect FPS equally. Focus on:

• Shadows and reflections — usually the heaviest settings for the visual benefit they provide.
• Render resolution/scaling — has a large, direct impact on FPS.
• View distance — impactful in open-world games specifically.

Step 4: Close Background Software

Background Process Type	Typical FPS Impact	What to Do
Web browsers with many tabs	Low–Medium	Close before gaming sessions
Recording/streaming overlays	Medium–High	Disable when not actively recording/streaming
Cloud sync/backup tools	Low–Medium	Pause during gaming
Other game launchers running in background	Low	Close unused launchers

Step 5: Check for Thermal Throttling

If FPS drops the longer you play, your system may be overheating and throttling performance. See our guide on why your gaming PC is overheating for next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does reinstalling Windows actually help FPS? It can help if your system has accumulated a lot of background bloatware over time, but it's a last resort — try the steps above first.

Is it worth overclocking for more FPS? Overclocking can help, but it should be done carefully with proper cooling and stability testing. It's not the first thing to try.

If you've tried these steps and FPS is still lower than expected for your hardware, our low FPS troubleshooting service can take a closer look at your specific setup.