Reduce Input Lag in Apex Legends

Input lag in Apex Legends is the delay between your mouse click or key press and the action appearing on screen. It can make aiming feel floaty and reactions feel late, which is a serious disadvantage in a fast-paced battle royale. This guide shows you how to reduce that delay through a combination of in-game settings, Windows tweaks, and hardware adjustments. You’ll need access to your game settings, Windows system settings, and possibly your graphics card control panel.

What You’ll Need

• A PC running Windows 10 or 11
• Apex Legends installed and updated
• Administrator access to change system settings
• Optional: a high-refresh-rate monitor (144Hz or higher) to see the full benefit

Step-by-Step

1. Update your graphics drivers. Outdated drivers can cause stuttering and increased input lag. Go to the website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest driver for your specific graphics card model. Restart your PC after installing.
2. Disable fullscreen optimizations. Right-click on the Apex Legends executable (usually in the Origin or Steam folder), select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and check “Disable fullscreen optimizations.” Also check “Run this program as an administrator.” Click Apply and OK.
3. Set the in-game display mode to Fullscreen. Launch Apex Legends, go to Settings > Video, and set Display Mode to “Fullscreen.” Borderless windowed mode adds a small amount of input lag because Windows has to composite the image. Fullscreen gives the game direct control of the display.
4. Turn off V-Sync in Apex. In the same Video settings menu, set V-Sync to “Disabled.” V-Sync synchronizes the frame rate with your monitor’s refresh rate, but it adds significant input lag. If you have a G-Sync or FreeSync monitor, you can keep V-Sync off and instead enable the adaptive sync in your GPU control panel (see step 8).
5. Cap your frame rate above your monitor’s refresh rate. If your PC can push more frames than your monitor’s refresh rate, cap the FPS slightly above the refresh rate (e.g., 144 FPS cap for a 144Hz monitor). This reduces the chance of hitting a V-Sync-like cap and keeps the frame pipeline full. In Apex, go to Settings > Video > Frame Rate Limit and set it to a value like 144 or 190 (if you have a 144Hz monitor, try 190 to stay above the cap). If you don’t have an FPS cap option, you can use the launch option +fps_max 190 in Steam or Origin.
6. Lower graphics settings that affect CPU. Input lag is often worse when your CPU is overloaded. In Apex’s Video settings, set the following to Low or Disabled: “Model Detail,” “Effects Detail,” “Impact Marks,” and “Ragdolls.” These settings reduce CPU load, which can help maintain a stable frame rate and lower input lag.
7. Disable the Origin in-game overlay. If you play through Origin, go to Origin > Application Settings > In-Game, and turn off “Enable Origin In-Game.” Overlays inject extra processing and can cause frame drops. If you play on Steam, you can disable the Steam Overlay by right-clicking Apex in your library, selecting Properties, and unchecking “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”
8. Adjust your graphics card control panel. Open NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software. For NVIDIA, go to Manage 3D Settings, select Apex Legends, and set “Max Frame Rate” to a value slightly above your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g., 155 for a 144Hz monitor). Also set “Low Latency Mode” to “Ultra” (this is a direct input lag reducer). For AMD, enable “Radeon Anti-Lag” and set “Frame Rate Target Control” to a value above your refresh rate.
9. Disable Windows Game Mode and Game Bar. Go to Windows Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and turn it off. Also go to Settings > Gaming > Game Bar and disable “Enable Game Bar.” These features can interfere with the game’s performance and add background overhead.
10. Disable Xbox Game Bar background recording. In Windows Settings > Gaming > Captures, turn off “Record in the background while I’m playing a game.” This stops constant background recording that can cause input lag.
11. Set Windows power plan to High Performance. Go to Control Panel > Power Options and select “High Performance.” If you have a laptop, also check your manufacturer’s power software and ensure it’s set to performance mode. This prevents CPU and GPU from downclocking.
12. Reduce mouse polling rate issues. In your mouse software (Logitech, Razer, etc.), set the polling rate to 1000Hz if your mouse supports it. A higher polling rate means your mouse reports its position more frequently, which can reduce perceived input lag. Also, in Apex, set the mouse sensitivity to a comfortable level—too low can make you feel like you’re fighting the game, which is not input lag but can feel like it.
13. Close background applications. Before launching Apex, close browsers, streaming software, and other games. Use Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to end processes that are using high CPU or memory. Be careful not to close essential Windows processes.

Common Mistakes

• Leaving V-Sync on. V-Sync is the biggest culprit for input lag in most games. Even if you have a high refresh rate monitor, V-Sync can add 10-20ms of delay. Always turn it off in-game and rely on G-Sync/FreeSync if available.
• Using Borderless Windowed mode. Many players prefer it for alt-tabbing, but it adds a small amount of input lag. Fullscreen is always better for competitive play.
• Setting the FPS cap too low. If you cap your FPS at your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g., 144), you might still experience slight input lag because the game is waiting for the next refresh. Capping slightly above (like 155) gives the game a buffer.
• Not disabling overlays. Discord, GeForce Experience, and other overlays can cause frame drops and input lag. Disable them for Apex specifically.
• Ignoring CPU bottleneck. If your CPU is at 100% while your GPU is at 70%, you’re CPU-bound. Lowering CPU-intensive settings (like ragdolls) is more effective than lowering resolution.

Tips

• Measure your input lag. You can use an online tool like the “Human Benchmark” reaction time test to get a rough idea. If your reaction time is consistently 250ms or higher, you might have input lag issues.
• Use a wired mouse and keyboard. Wireless devices can have slight latency, especially if the batteries are low. Wired is always more reliable for competitive gaming.
• Keep your system cool. Overheating can cause thermal throttling, which reduces performance and increases input lag. Ensure your PC has good airflow and clean fans.
• Update your BIOS. Occasionally, motherboard BIOS updates can improve hardware compatibility and reduce latency. Only do this if you’re comfortable, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Consider using a high refresh rate monitor. If you’re still on 60Hz, upgrading to 144Hz or 240Hz will make a huge difference in perceived input lag, as the display updates more frequently.

Troubleshooting

If you still experience input lag after following these steps:

• Check your frame rate. Use the in-game FPS counter (enable it in Settings > Video > Performance Display). If your FPS is below your monitor’s refresh rate, you’re likely experiencing frame drops, which can feel like input lag. Lower graphics settings further or reduce the resolution.
• Test with a different game. If input lag is present in other games, the issue might be system-wide. Try a simple game like CS:GO to isolate the problem. If it’s only in Apex, the issue is game-specific.
• Reinstall the game. Corrupted game files can cause performance issues. In Origin, right-click Apex and select “Repair.” In Steam, use “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
• Check your monitor’s settings. Some monitors have built-in input lag reduction features (like “Game Mode”) that you can enable via the monitor’s OSD. Also, make sure you’re using a DisplayPort or HDMI cable that supports your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g., HDMI 2.1 for 4K 120Hz).
• Disable hardware acceleration in Discord. If you have Discord open, go to Settings > Appearance and turn off “Hardware Acceleration.” This is a common hidden cause of input lag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will reducing input lag get me banned? No. These are all standard settings and system tweaks. They don’t modify the game files or give you an unfair advantage beyond what you’d get from better hardware.

Does input lag matter if I’m not a pro? It can. Even casual players benefit from a more responsive game. It makes the game feel smoother and more enjoyable, and you’ll likely perform better in fights.

What’s the difference between input lag and ping? Input lag is the delay between your input and the game reacting on your screen. Ping (latency) is the delay between your PC and the game server. Both affect responsiveness, but they are different. This guide focuses on input lag, which is local.

Is it better to use a controller or mouse? For input lag, a wired mouse is generally the lowest latency option. Controllers can have higher latency, especially wireless ones. But it’s mostly about personal preference.

Why does my FPS show 200 but the game still feels laggy? This could be due to frame pacing issues. Even if the average FPS is high, if the frame times are inconsistent (e.g., 10ms, 20ms, 5ms), it can feel laggy. Capping your FPS slightly above your refresh rate can help stabilize frame times.

Can I reduce input lag on a console? Yes, but the options are limited. On console, you can enable “Game Mode” on your TV, use a wired controller, and reduce the dead zone in Apex’s controller settings. You can’t change the game’s graphics settings as much as on PC.

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