Turn on the NVIDIA overlay first
You can use the NVIDIA App to show an FPS counter at the top-right of your screen. The counter is useful when you want to check how a game’s graphics settings affect performance without opening a separate program.
You need an NVIDIA graphics card and the NVIDIA App installed on your PC or laptop. Before you can use the FPS display, make sure the NVIDIA overlay is enabled in the app.
- Expand the icons in the taskbar notification area.
- Right-click the NVIDIA icon.
- Select NVIDIA App.
- Select Settings.
- Find NVIDIA Overlay and turn its toggle on.
- Wait a moment for the overlay to enable.
Once the overlay is on, you can open its in-game menu with the keyboard shortcut Alt + Z.
Video Tutorial
Enable the FPS counter in the NVIDIA App
With the NVIDIA overlay enabled, press Alt + Z. This opens the NVIDIA overlay menu. You can use the Statistics section to choose what performance information appears on screen.
- Press Alt + Z while using your PC or while a game is open.
- Select Statistics at the bottom of the NVIDIA overlay menu.
- Turn on the Statistics display.
- Check the information shown in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Cycle through the available statistics views if you want to see different performance details.
The statistics display includes FPS when NVIDIA can detect the game correctly. Leave the overlay active, then start or return to your game to monitor the frame rate as you play.
What to do if FPS shows N/A
It is normal to see N/A for FPS while you are on the Windows desktop. The FPS value should appear in a supported game. If it still shows N/A during gameplay, add that game in NVIDIA Control Panel so NVIDIA can identify it.
- Close the Statistics options in the NVIDIA overlay.
- Expand the taskbar notification area again.
- Right-click the NVIDIA icon.
- Select Control Panel.
- Select Manage 3D settings.
- Select Program Settings.
- Select Add.
First, check the list of recently used apps. If your game appears there, select it. If it does not appear, select Browse and locate the game’s EXE file. This is the program file that launches the game.
- Select the game EXE file.
- Select Add Selected Program.
- Confirm that the game is listed under Program Settings.
- Restart your computer.
After the restart, launch the game again. The NVIDIA Statistics display should show the FPS in the top-right while you play.
Use the counter to check performance changes
The FPS counter gives you a quick way to compare game settings. For example, note the FPS before changing a graphics option, make the change, and then check the FPS again in the same part of the game. This makes it easier to see which settings have the biggest effect on performance.
If the counter is in the way, open the overlay again with Alt + Z and return to Statistics to review the available views. You can keep the view that gives you the information you need while avoiding unnecessary on-screen details.
If FPS is still unavailable after adding the game and restarting, confirm that the NVIDIA overlay remains enabled in the NVIDIA App. Also check that you are testing inside the game rather than on the desktop, where an N/A reading is expected.
More NVIDIA Tips & Tutorials:
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