Steam Frame Rate: Fix Low FPS in Games

Steam itself does not cap or limit your frame rate; the Steam client is a storefront and launcher, not a graphics driver. However, Steam does include an in-game FPS counter and overlay, and several Steam settings or features (like the Steam Overlay, Remote Play, or background downloads) can indirectly affect your game’s performance. This article explains how to use Steam’s built-in FPS counter, why your FPS might be lower than expected, and how to fix common Steam-related performance issues.

Formula

The calculator above converts a target frame rate (FPS) into the corresponding frame time in milliseconds, and also shows the maximum FPS your monitor can display if V-Sync is enabled. The formulas are:

• Frame Time (ms) = 1000 ÷ FPS
• V-Sync Max FPS = Monitor Refresh Rate (Hz)

Where:

• FPS (frames per second) is the number of frames your GPU renders each second.
• Frame Time is the time each frame takes to render, in milliseconds. Lower is better.
• Monitor Refresh Rate (Hz) is how many times your monitor updates per second. With V-Sync on, the game’s FPS is locked to this value (or a fraction of it).

Worked Example

Suppose your target FPS is 60 and your monitor refresh rate is 60 Hz. Using the default values:

1. Frame Time = 1000 ÷ 60 = 16.67 ms
2. V-Sync Max FPS = 60 Hz = 60 FPS

So each frame takes about 16.67 milliseconds, and with V-Sync enabled, your FPS will be capped at 60. If you want a frame time of 8.33 ms (common for 120 Hz displays), you’d need 120 FPS.

How to Enable the Steam FPS Counter

Steam’s built-in FPS counter is a simple overlay that shows your current frame rate in the corner of your screen. To enable it:

1. Open the Steam client and click Steam in the top-left corner, then select Settings.
2. In the Settings window, click In-Game.
3. Under the In-game FPS counter section, choose a corner of the screen (e.g., Top Left, Top Right, etc.) from the dropdown menu.
4. Optionally, check the box for High contrast color to make the counter more visible.
5. Click OK to save. The counter will appear when you launch any game through Steam.

The FPS counter is purely informational—it does not limit or improve your frame rate. It simply displays the current FPS so you can monitor performance.

Why Is My FPS Lower Than Expected?

If your FPS is lower than what you expect from your hardware, several Steam-related factors could be at play:

• Steam Overlay: The overlay (which shows when you press Shift+Tab) can cause a small performance hit in some games. Disabling it in Steam Settings > In-Game > Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game can help.
• Background Downloads: If Steam is downloading a game or update in the background, it can consume bandwidth and disk I/O, causing stutters or lower FPS. Pause downloads while gaming.
• Remote Play: If you have Steam Remote Play enabled, it can encode video and use CPU/GPU resources. Turn it off if you aren’t using it.
• Game-Specific Settings: Some games have their own FPS cap or V-Sync settings that override Steam’s. Check the game’s video settings.

Common Misconceptions

One common myth is that Steam “optimizes” or “caps” FPS globally. This is false. Steam does not have a global FPS limiter. The only FPS-related features are the counter and the optional per-game launch options (which you can use to set a frame rate limiter via the game’s launch options, but that’s a manual command, not a Steam default). Another misconception is that the Steam FPS counter is inaccurate—it’s generally reliable, but third-party tools like MSI Afterburner or NVIDIA FrameView are often more detailed.

How to Fix Low FPS (Steam-Specific)

If you suspect Steam is causing performance issues, try these steps in order:

1. Disable the Steam Overlay for the problematic game: Right-click the game in your library, select Properties, then uncheck Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.
2. Pause all downloads in the Steam Library (click Downloads at the bottom and then Pause All).
3. Turn off Remote Play: Go to Steam > Settings > Remote Play and uncheck Enable Remote Play.
4. Update your GPU drivers—Steam itself can’t update drivers, but outdated drivers are a common cause of low FPS.
5. Check the game’s own FPS cap: Many games have an internal frame rate limit. Set it to “Unlimited” or match your monitor’s refresh rate.

If none of these help, the issue is likely not Steam but your hardware, in-game settings, or background processes outside Steam.

Steam vs. Other Frame Limiters

Steam does not include a frame rate limiter, but other tools do. For example, NVIDIA’s control panel has a “Max Frame Rate” setting, and AMD’s Radeon Software has “Radeon Chill” or “Frame Rate Target Control.” These tools can cap FPS to reduce heat and power consumption, or to match your monitor’s refresh rate for smoother gameplay. Steam’s only related feature is the FPS counter, so if you want to limit FPS, you’ll need to use your GPU driver’s software or a third-party tool like RTSS (RivaTuner Statistics Server).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Steam limit FPS?

No, Steam does not limit FPS. It only displays an FPS counter if you enable it. If your FPS is capped, it’s likely due to V-Sync, the game’s own settings, or your GPU driver’s settings.

How do I show FPS in Steam?

Go to Steam > Settings > In-Game, then select a corner for the “In-game FPS counter.” The counter will appear when you play any game through Steam.

Can the Steam Overlay cause FPS drops?

Yes, in some games, the Steam Overlay can cause a small performance hit, especially if it’s running on a weak CPU. Disabling it in the game’s Properties can help.

Why is my FPS capped at 60 even though my monitor is 144Hz?

This is usually due to V-Sync being enabled in the game or your GPU driver, which locks FPS to the monitor’s refresh rate (or a fraction, like 60). Check the game’s video settings and turn off V-Sync, or use the GPU driver’s frame rate limiter to set a higher cap.

Does Steam Remote Play affect FPS?

Yes, Remote Play encodes video and sends it over the network, which uses CPU/GPU resources and can lower FPS in the host game. Disable it in Steam Settings > Remote Play if you aren’t using it.

Is the Steam FPS counter accurate?

It’s generally accurate for a simple counter, but it only shows FPS, not frame time or 1% lows. For detailed performance metrics, use a dedicated tool like MSI Afterburner or the built-in performance overlays from NVIDIA or AMD.

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in t | Target FPS | fps | 60 | 1 | 1000
in m | Monitor Refresh Rate | Hz | 60 | 30 | 240
out frame_time | Frame Time | ms | 1000 / t | 2
out vsync_fps | Max FPS with V-Sync | fps | m | 0