How to Fix FPS Drops in Apex Legends

To fix FPS drops in Apex Legends, first determine whether the problem is heat, rendering load, software interference, shader compilation, or network latency, then change one variable at a time and test the same location in the Firing Range.

1. Identify what kind of “FPS drop” you are seeing

Open Apex Legends’ performance display from Settings > Gameplay > Performance Display. Watch FPS, latency, packet loss, and choke while the problem occurs.

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2. Check temperatures and throttling first

Use a hardware monitor such as HWiNFO, your graphics card’s control software, or the CPU/GPU overlay built into your monitoring utility. Record temperatures and clock speeds while playing for at least 10–15 minutes, not just while sitting in the menu.

• A modern desktop GPU commonly performs best below roughly 80–85°C, although its exact thermal limit depends on the model.
• Many desktop CPUs can operate near 90–95°C, but sustained temperatures close to the processor’s limit may reduce boost clocks or produce uneven frametimes.
• A laptop may run hotter by design, so compare its clock speed with the manufacturer’s documented behavior rather than using a desktop temperature target.

If clocks fall at the same time temperatures rise, clean dust from filters and heatsinks, confirm that every fan is spinning, improve case airflow, and avoid placing a laptop on a soft surface. Check that the graphics card power connector is fully seated. Do not change voltage or power-limit settings until cooling is working correctly.

3. Update or clean-install the graphics driver

Apex Legends updates can expose problems in an old or corrupted driver profile. Download the current driver directly from NVIDIA or AMD, selecting the driver for your exact GPU model.

1. Install the driver using the clean-install or factory-reset option when available.
2. Restart Windows after installation.
3. Reset custom per-game driver settings temporarily.
4. Test Apex before reinstalling overlays, tuning utilities, or third-party enhancements.

If the FPS problem began immediately after a driver update, test the previous stable driver version rather than repeatedly changing in-game settings. Also install pending Windows updates, but avoid updating the BIOS or chipset driver solely as a first response unless your motherboard or laptop manufacturer lists a relevant fix.

4. Remove background applications and overlays

Background programs can consume CPU time, GPU video-encode resources, disk bandwidth, or memory at exactly the wrong moment. Before launching Apex, close browser tabs with video playback, recording software you are not using, RGB-control utilities, hardware monitors with overlays, and unnecessary game launchers.

In Task Manager, sort processes by CPU, GPU, and memory usage while Apex is running. Pay particular attention to applications that periodically spike rather than those that use a steady small amount. Disable overlays one at a time, including the Steam or EA overlay, Discord overlay, Xbox Game Bar, NVIDIA overlay, and AMD overlay.

Do not disable security software permanently. If an antivirus scan is causing disk or CPU spikes, schedule scans outside gaming hours or add the game folder to its carefully reviewed game-mode exception list.

5. Rebuild the shader cache after updates

Shader compilation can cause short stutters when Apex loads a new map, visual effect, or driver shader. This is especially noticeable after a game or graphics-driver update. A damaged cache can also cause repeated hitching.

For NVIDIA graphics

• Open NVIDIA Control Panel and locate the shader cache setting under the 3D settings.
• Use the Windows Disk Cleanup tool and select DirectX Shader Cache, or clear the driver cache using the documented NVIDIA cache locations.
• Restart the computer, launch Apex, and allow the first match or Firing Range session to rebuild shaders.

For AMD graphics

• Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and use its reset shader-cache option if available.
• Restart Windows and launch Apex again.
• Expect the first run after clearing the cache to be less smooth; judge performance after the cache has been rebuilt.

Do not clear the shader cache before every session. That removes useful compiled data and can create more stutter, not less.

6. Lower the settings that cause frame-time spikes

Use a controlled baseline rather than changing every option at once. Set the display mode to fullscreen or the mode recommended by your system, use your monitor’s native resolution, and begin with the following competitive baseline:

Texture Streaming Budget is not a simple “more is always better” setting. A graphics card with 8 GB of VRAM may stutter when the game, browser, recording buffer, and other applications together exceed available memory. If the GPU memory graph reaches its limit, lower the texture budget before lowering resolution.

7. Use a stable frame cap instead of chasing maximum FPS

An uncapped game may render 240 FPS in an empty area and fall to 130 FPS during a fight. That large range produces inconsistent frame pacing even when the average FPS looks impressive. Set a cap your system can sustain during combat.

For a 144 Hz monitor, a useful starting point is 138–141 FPS. For 165 Hz, try 158–162 FPS; for 240 Hz, try 225–237 FPS. The exact choice depends on whether your PC can hold that rate in the busiest scenes. A cap that is 5–10% below the monitor refresh rate often gives a steadier result with a variable-refresh display.

You can set a cap through the game’s launch options with a command such as +fps_max 141, replacing 141 with your target. Alternatively, use the cap in your GPU driver or an in-game limiter if available. Avoid running multiple limiters simultaneously until you know which one is controlling the frame rate.

To estimate the rendering time behind a target, divide 1,000 by the FPS: 1,000 ÷ 144 equals about 6.9 milliseconds per frame, while 1,000 ÷ 240 equals about 4.2 milliseconds. If your frametime repeatedly exceeds that budget during fights, lower CPU-heavy settings such as shadows, effects, and model detail rather than only lowering texture quality.

8. Separate network problems from FPS problems

Ping and packet loss cannot be fixed by lowering graphics settings. If the FPS counter remains stable but movement skips, enemies teleport, or hit registration feels delayed, choose the nearest data center from the Apex launch screen and compare its displayed latency and packet loss.

• Use Ethernet if possible; otherwise use 5 GHz or 6 GHz Wi-Fi near the router.
• Stop large downloads, cloud synchronization, and video uploads while playing.
• Restart the router if latency is abnormal across multiple games and devices.
• Test at different times of day to identify congestion from your ISP or local network.

If both FPS and latency worsen at the same time, investigate both systems separately. A network spike does not lower the game’s rendered FPS, even though it can feel like a stutter.

9. Apply changes in a sensible order

For the fastest troubleshooting path, record your current settings, then follow this order: check temperatures, clean-install the driver, disable overlays, rebuild the shader cache, lower VRAM-heavy and shadow settings, set a sustainable frame cap, and finally test the network. Change only one group at a time and repeat the same Firing Range movement or match scenario. If the issue remains after all of these steps, verify the game files, check Windows Event Viewer for display-driver resets, and test system memory and storage health.

FAQ

Why does Apex Legends stutter only in the first match?

The shader cache may still be compiling, or the game may be loading textures into VRAM. Let the cache rebuild after an update, then test again before clearing it repeatedly.

Should I lower resolution to fix FPS drops?

Lower resolution helps when the GPU is at near-100% utilization. It will not solve a CPU limit, thermal throttling, shader compilation, or packet loss. Check utilization and frametimes first.

Is a higher average FPS always better?

No. A lower but stable cap can provide smoother aiming and fewer disruptive frame-time spikes than an uncapped frame rate that fluctuates heavily during combat.