Getting rid of that pesky FPS counter in Windows 11 might seem straightforward at first, but let’s face it — Windows loves to be sneaky and sometimes reset your settings after updates or while gaming. It’s kind of weird, but the FPS overlay that’s grabbing your attention is usually managed through the Xbox Game Bar. If it’s cluttering up your screen or just annoying to see, cleaning it out isn’t too bad once you know where to poke around. Just a heads up: on some setups, toggling it off requires a bit of patience or a quick restart of the app, so don’t be surprised if it acts a little stubborn the first time.
How to Turn Off FPS Counter in Windows 11
Open the Xbox Game Bar
First off, press Windows + G. This shortcut fires up the Xbox Game Bar, which is kind of like Windows’ built-in gaming dashboard. Seriously, Windows makes it easy to see performance stats sometimes, but not so easy to hide them. The Xbox Game Bar is meant for checking your CPU, GPU, and FPS while gaming, but if you don’t want that FPS counter floating around, you’ll need to tweak some settings here.
If the overlay doesn’t pop up right away, make sure your Xbox Game Bar apps are enabled in Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar. Otherwise, it might be disabled or broken after a Windows update — Windows loves to toss in surprises.
Access the Settings Menu
Once you’re in the overlay, click on the gear icon (the settings button).It’s tiny and easy to miss, but once clicked, it opens a bunch of options where you can tweak what shows up on your screen. This is the part where Windows’ design can drive you nuts — sometimes settings hide deep in submenus, but for now, just find the gear icon.
Navigate to the ‘Gaming Features’ Section
In the settings, look for the left sidebar and click on ‘Gaming Features’. This is where most of the performance overlays live. Here, you’ll see toggles for things like the FPS counter, performance graphs, and more. If you’re wondering why the FPS counter shows up during every game, it’s probably turned on here, even if you didn’t ask for it.
Sometimes, on certain builds or after updates, these toggles reset or get turned on by default. Not sure why it works that way, but it’s been noted in forums that a fresh toggle off can fix persistent overlay issues.
Turn Off the FPS Counter
Find the toggle labeled ‘Show the Windows Sport overlay’ or similar, depending on your build. Switch it to ‘Off’. This step is what stops the FPS circle from showing up on your screen. It’s not always obvious; sometimes the toggle isn’t labeled clearly, or it’s buried under an obscure option, but if you see something about the FPS or performance overlays, that’s your cue.
Keep in mind, on some systems, changing this setting might not immediately hide the overlay; you might have to restart the Xbox Game Bar or your computer. Weird how Windows sometimes doesn’t apply changes instantly, but it’s part of the process.
Close the Xbox Game Bar
Once you’ve flipped the toggle, just close the Xbox Game Bar either by clicking the ‘X’ or hitting Windows + G again. Sometimes, a quick restart of the overlay helps cement the change, especially if the FPS counter still lingers after toggling off.
If the counter stubbornly stays, try opening the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find the Xbox Game Bar process under the *Processes* tab, and end it. Then reopen the overlay and double-check. On some setups, this seems to clear cache and get the setting to stick.
That’s pretty much it — once these steps are done, the FPS overlay should be gone during gaming or other app use. No more clutter, less distraction. Because of course, Windows has to keep making it harder than necessary, but once you get used to these little tweaks, it becomes second nature.
Tips for Turning Off FPS Counter in Windows 11
- Stay Updated: Sometimes, updates can automatically reset your settings, so double-check after Windows updates.
- Hotkeys are handy: Get familiar with Windows + G to quickly open the Xbox Game Bar, especially if you toggle settings often.
- Explore other tweaks: While you’re in the Gaming Features, look around for extra performance tools or overlays you don’t need cluttering your screen.
- Performance monitoring alternatives: If you liked the FPS counter but want something less integrated, third-party apps like MSI Afterburner or RivaTuner can show FPS without the Xbox overlay.
- Default settings: If you mess things up, you can always reset Xbox Game Bar settings back to default in the same menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the FPS counter show up automatically?
It’s mainly for gamers wanting to keep tabs on their performance. Windows enables it by default in recent versions, probably assuming everyone wants it, but not always.
Can I turn off FPS for just one game?
Not really. The settings apply system-wide, so if you turn it off, it’s off everywhere, not just a specific game.
Is there a quick toggle?
Nope, you have to go into the settings each time unless you script something or use third-party tools. Windows isn’t great about quick toggles for this, unfortunately.
Do I need admin rights for these changes?
Usually, no. Adjusting Xbox Game Bar settings doesn’t require admin privileges, just navigating through the menus.
Will disabling the FPS counter hurt my gaming?
Definitely not. It’s purely visual — stops showing on the screen but doesn’t influence game performance or stability at all.
Summary
- Open Xbox Game Bar with Windows + G
- Go to settings (gear icon)
- Click on ‘Gaming Features’
- Switch off the FPS overlay toggle
- Close the overlay and enjoy your cleaner screen
Wrap-up
Turning off that FPS display isn’t rocket science, but Windows can make it a little too complicated sometimes. Once the settings are tweaked, that distracting overlay is gone, leaving you with a cleaner, less cluttered gaming experience. Good to know there are alternatives, too, if you want detailed performance data without the hassle of Windows overlays. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours of frustration for someone, because, honestly, Windows making things complicated sometimes feels like they’re doing it on purpose.