The quickest ways to show an FPS counter in PC games are the overlay built into your platform or graphics software (Steam, the Xbox Game Bar, NVIDIA’s overlay or AMD’s performance overlay), or a dedicated monitoring tool such as MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner when you want temperatures, clock speeds, usage and frame time graphs on screen too.
An overlay answers practical questions: is the game hitting your monitor’s refresh rate, is the GPU or CPU the limit, and are temperatures climbing during long sessions. This guide for 2026 explains each method, how to build a useful hardware readout without cluttering the screen, how to read the numbers, and what to do when the overlay does not appear. Labels change between app versions, so confirm them against each tool’s current documentation.
Built-In Overlay Options
You may not need to install anything. Several tools you probably already have include an FPS counter.
Steam In-Game FPS Counter
In the Steam settings, open the In Game section and choose a corner for the FPS counter. It works for games launched through Steam, and it is the simplest option when all you want is a single number. It does not show temperatures or usage.
Xbox Game Bar
Press the Windows key and G to open the Game Bar, then add the Performance widget, which can display frame rate along with CPU, GPU and memory activity. It works across many games, though a few full-screen exclusive titles do not show it.
GPU Maker Overlays
NVIDIA’s app overlay and AMD’s performance overlay can show frame rate and basic hardware stats. They are convenient since the driver package already contains them, and they usually offer position and size choices. Their detail level varies by software version, so check what your current release offers.
Dedicated Monitoring Tools
When you want a fuller readout, a dedicated tool gives more control over what appears and how it looks.
MSI Afterburner With RivaTuner
Afterburner is a free monitoring and tuning utility that works with cards from different makers, and it ships alongside RivaTuner Statistics Server, which draws the on-screen display. In Afterburner’s Monitoring settings, tick Show in On-Screen Display for each item you want, such as GPU temperature, GPU usage, memory usage, CPU usage and frame rate. Make sure RivaTuner is running, because it is the component that draws the text.
Other Options
Open-source and vendor-specific monitors exist as well, including tools built into CPU makers’ software. Choose a well-known one from the developer’s own site and avoid unknown download mirrors, since overlays hook into games and should come from a trusted source.
Comparison at a Glance
| Method | Shows | Setup effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam counter | FPS only | Very low | Quick checks |
| Xbox Game Bar | FPS plus basic usage | Low | Casual monitoring |
| GPU maker overlay | FPS and GPU stats | Low | Owners of that brand |
| Afterburner and RivaTuner | Fully customizable stats and graphs | Moderate | Tuning and troubleshooting |
Build a Useful On-Screen Readout
More data is not always better. A crowded overlay hides the game and distracts you. Start with a short list and add items only when you are chasing a specific problem.
- Open the monitoring tool’s settings and enable the on-screen display for frame rate first.
- Add frame time, which shows how long each frame takes and reveals stutter that averages hide.
- Add GPU usage and GPU temperature to see whether the card is the bottleneck.
- Add CPU usage and, if the tool supports it, per-core load to spot a single overloaded thread.
- Add memory and video memory use if you suspect running out of capacity.
- Set a small font, a corner position and a clear color, then save the profile.
Most tools also let you assign a hotkey to show and hide the overlay, which is handy for checking numbers without staring at them while you play.
How to Read the Numbers
Frame Rate and Frame Time
Frame rate is the average number of frames per second. Frame time is the milliseconds each frame takes, and spikes in it feel like stutter even when the average looks healthy. A steady line at a lower frame rate often feels smoother than a high but erratic one.
Finding the Bottleneck
If GPU usage sits near its maximum while the frame rate is below your target, the graphics card is the limit, and lowering resolution or settings helps. If the GPU usage is well below its maximum while one CPU thread is near its maximum, the processor is limiting the game, and lowering resolution will not help much.
Temperatures and Clocks
Watch temperature during a long session. Sudden clock drops under heavy load can indicate thermal or power limits. Safe temperature ranges vary by chip, so check the manufacturer’s specification instead of relying on a general number.
Use the Overlay to Tune Your Settings
An overlay becomes valuable when you use it to make decisions, not just to watch numbers. A simple routine works for most games.
Set a Target First
Decide what you want, such as a steady 60 frames per second or a locked rate matching a high-refresh monitor. Without a target, the numbers are only trivia.
Change One Setting at a Time
Play the same scene, such as a busy town or a repeatable level section, and note the frame rate and GPU usage. Change one graphics option, such as shadows or resolution scale, then play the same scene again. Settings that cost a lot for little visual gain are the first ones to lower.
Watch for Limits, Not Just Averages
Keep an eye on the lowest readings during intense moments. If dips line up with high GPU temperature or a clock drop, cooling or power limits may be involved. If dips come with a maxed-out CPU thread, reduce CPU-heavy options such as crowd density or draw distance.
Placement and Readability
Put the overlay in a corner that does not hide the game’s minimap, health bar or ammo count. Use a font size you can read at a glance, and a color that contrasts with typical scenes. On ultrawide or multi-monitor setups, check that the text appears on the screen where the game runs. Save separate profiles, one minimal for daily play and one detailed for troubleshooting, so you can switch quickly. If your tool can log readings to a file, a short logging session also lets you review stutter and temperature trends afterward without watching the screen while you play, which is especially useful for long sessions or intermittent crashes that are hard to catch live.
When the Overlay Does Not Appear
- Full-screen exclusive mode: some games block overlays, so try borderless windowed mode.
- Anti-cheat conflicts: a few online games block third-party overlay hooks. Check the game’s support page, and prefer built-in options when in doubt.
- Multiple overlays fighting: turn off duplicate overlays from other launchers or chat apps, since overlays can conflict.
- Admin rights: run the monitoring tool as administrator if the game runs elevated.
- Wrong GPU on laptops: make sure the game uses the discrete GPU and that the tool reads from it.
Anti-cheat deserves extra care in online shooters. Using an unsupported overlay hook can trigger flags in some systems, so stick to tools the game’s developer lists as compatible.
Quick Setup Checklist
- Chose one overlay method and uninstalled duplicates.
- Enabled FPS and frame time first.
- Added GPU and CPU usage and temperature only if needed.
- Set a hotkey to toggle the display.
- Confirmed it works in borderless mode and does not conflict with anti-cheat.
Common Mistakes
- Enabling every sensor at once and burying the game under text.
- Judging smoothness by average FPS alone and ignoring frame time spikes.
- Running several overlays simultaneously and then blaming the game for crashes.
- Downloading monitoring tools from unofficial mirrors.
- Reading CPU usage as a single total and missing one maxed-out thread.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does an FPS overlay reduce performance?
The cost is usually very small for basic counters, though detailed overlays with many sensors and graphs can add slight overhead. If you suspect an impact, compare with the overlay hidden.
Will an FPS counter get me banned in online games?
Built-in platform and driver overlays are generally accepted, but third-party hooks can be flagged by some anti-cheat systems. Check the game’s published policy before using one.
What frame rate should I aim for?
Aim to match your monitor’s refresh rate with steady frame times. A 60 Hz display gains nothing from higher output on screen, while a 144 Hz or faster display benefits from a higher stable frame rate.
Why do the readings differ between tools?
Tools measure at different points in the rendering pipeline and use different averaging windows, so small differences are normal. Use a single tool consistently when you compare settings.
