How to Disable FPS Counter in Windows 11: A Gamer's Guide

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Gamers and tech enthusiasts often find themselves caught up in the nitty-gritty details of performance monitoring. One handy tool, the FPS counter, is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives you real-time insights into your frame rates, ensuring that your setup is properly tuned for the best gaming experience. On the other hand, however, the counter can sometimes feel like an uninvited guest hogging the screen real estate, distracting you from the immersive adventure you’re navigating.
If you’ve been wondering how to silence that incessant FPS counter in Windows 11, you've come to the right corner of the internet. Buckle up, because I’m about to show you not one, not two, but three different ways to snipe it off your screen—whether you’re using the built-in Xbox Game Bar, Steam, or NVIDIA GeForce Experience.

Method 1: Turn Off the FPS Counter via Xbox Game Bar​

Ah, the Xbox Game Bar. Microsoft’s built-in little Swiss Army knife for gamers. It can handle screenshots, record gameplay, stream live, and, of course, display performance stats like the FPS counter. To disable it:
  1. Launch the Game Bar Overlay: Press Win + G to bring up the Xbox Game Bar overlay.
  2. Locate the Performance Widget: You’ll see handy stats about your CPU, GPU, RAM, and that pesky FPS counter. If it doesn’t pop up immediately, click Widgets Menu (three-line icon on the overlay) and select Performance.
  3. Open Widget Settings:
    • On the Performance widget, click the gear icon to access settings.
    • Locate the option labeled FPS and uncheck it.
  4. Unpin or Exit the Widget (Optional):
    • Remove the widget from your screen by unpinning it (click the pin icon).
    • Or simply press Win + G again to exit the Game Bar overlay.
With these simple steps, the FPS counter will vanish like a Houdini magic trick. Now you can savor your games without the oversharing widget tattling about every frame.

Method 2: Deactivate FPS Counter on Steam​

Steam is the go-to hangout of the gaming multiverse, and like a good buddy, it offers a built-in FPS counter. Unfortunately, its placement tends to be awkward, which can quickly go from cute to annoying. Here's how you can ghost it:
  1. Open Steam Settings:
    • Open the Steam app and log in, if needed.
    • In the top-left corner, click Steam, then choose Settings.
  2. Navigate to In-Game Settings:
    • On the left-hand sidebar in the Settings menu, click In-Game.
    • Look for the dropdown menu labeled In-Game FPS Counter.
  3. Turn It Off:
    • Expand the dropdown and select Off from the list. Voilà! No more numbers flashing on your screen.
    • If you want to adjust its position instead of turning it completely off, you can select another location (e.g., top-left, bottom-right, etc.).
  4. Save and Exit:
    • Close the settings menu, and fire up a game to confirm the FPS counter has gone on vacation.
With Steam's FPS indicator now mute, your screen is free for unparalleled gameplay immersion!

Method 3: Disable FPS Counter in NVIDIA GeForce Experience​

If you’re part of the NVIDIA GPU family, you might be relying on the GeForce Experience app. This powerful suite helps you optimize settings, update drivers, and, yes, enable an FPS counter through its in-game overlay. Quelling the FPS ticker is easy:
  1. Open GeForce Experience:
    • Locate and launch NVIDIA GeForce Experience from your Windows Start menu or system tray.
  2. Go to Settings:
    • At the top-right corner of the app, click the gear icon to enter Settings.
  3. Modify The In-Game Overlay:
    • Scroll down to the In-Game Overlay section and click Settings next to it.
    • In the overlay settings window, select HUD Layout.
  4. Disable FPS Tracking:
    • Navigate to the Performance section of the HUD Layout menu.
    • Select the FPS position dropdown and change it to Off.
  5. Apply Changes:
    • Save your changes and close the app.
That’s it—you’ve successfully granted yourself an Nvidia-powered performance workspace free of distractions!

Extra Tip: Investigate Third-Party Apps​

If none of the methods above eliminate the stubborn FPS counter, a third-party app might be the culprit. Software like MSI Afterburner, Razer Cortex, or similar performance monitoring tools often come with overlays. Open the offending app, dig into its settings, and disable the FPS counter feature.
Check your recently installed apps (or ask any other gamers using your PC) if you’re unsure what’s causing the frame-rate flood. A simple settings tweak should have you back to smooth sailing!

Why Turn Off the FPS Counter?​

1. Cleaner Visuals​

While FPS monitoring is crucial during troubleshooting or benchmarking, most gamers find it annoying during actual gameplay. Whether you're raiding, sprinting, or stealthing, a clean screen can elevate the immersion factor.

2. Hardware Confidence​

Once you’re confident your graphics card and CPU are working in harmony, the FPS counter becomes unnecessary. If your gaming rig handles everything like a champ, why keep watching the scoreboard?

3. Professional Casual Use​

Many professionals use high-performance setups for video editing or even just multitasking. Having an FPS counter dangling onscreen during Zoom meetings doesn’t exactly scream “pro,” does it?

TL;DR: Unclog That Screen!​

Disabling the FPS counter in Windows 11 is straightforward with these three methods: Xbox Game Bar, Steam’s built-in settings, and NVIDIA GeForce Experience. If the display persists, a third-party app might be the antagonist here—just delve into its settings to nix it.
Now, kick back and enjoy both your games and your clutter-free screen. Whether you’re chasing achievements, slaying dragons, or losing hours to Civilization VI, your screen deserves the chance to breathe (and so do you!).
Which method worked best for you? Or are you still haunted by a phantom FPS counter? Jump into the comments—your fellow WindowsForum gamers have your back!

Source: MSPoweruser How To Turn Off FPS Counter in Windows 11 - 3 Quick Methods
 


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