Low Client FPS in VALORANT? Try These Fixes

1. What Does Low Client FPS Mean in VALORANT?

Client FPS refers to the number of frames your computer can render every second while running VALORANT. The higher the FPS, the smoother the game feels.

When you see the low client FPS VALORANT warning, it means your computer is struggling to render enough frames for smooth gameplay. This is different from high ping, which is related to your internet connection.

For most players, 60 FPS is considered the minimum for a smooth experience. Competitive players usually aim for 120 FPS, 144 FPS, or even 240 FPS if their hardware supports it.

2. Why Did My VALORANT FPS Suddenly Drop?

Sometimes the issue appears after a Windows update, installing new software, or changing graphics settings. Below are the most common causes include:

Fullscreen Optimization Conflicts

Windows Fullscreen Optimization is designed to improve game performance, but it doesn't always work as intended. In some cases, it causes FPS drops, screen stuttering, or input delay in VALORANT.

Background Recording and Game Overlays

Features like NVIDIA Instant Replay, AMD ReLive, Discord Overlay, Xbox Game Bar, and Steam Overlay continue running while you play. Since they use CPU and GPU resources, they can reduce your VALORANT FPS and cause small stutters.

Riot Vanguard (VGC) isn't Running Properly

VALORANT relies on Riot Vanguard to run correctly. If the VGC service is disabled or not working properly, the game may experience performance issues or fail to use system resources efficiently.

Outdated Graphics Drivers

Graphics drivers help your GPU communicate with Windows and your games. If your drivers are outdated or corrupted, you may experience lower FPS, stuttering, or unstable performance.

CPU Overheating

If your CPU becomes too hot while gaming, it may automatically reduce its performance to control the temperature. This process, known as thermal throttling, can cause sudden FPS drops and gameplay stuttering.

3. How to Fix Low Client FPS in VALORANT?

If your FPS keeps dropping or the game feels less smooth than before, don’t worry. Start with the easiest solutions first and work your way down the list. Many players notice a significant improvement after changing just one or two Windows settings.

Follow the methods below one by one until your VALORANT FPS returns to normal.

Fix 1: Disable Fullscreen Optimization

Fullscreen Optimization is a Windows feature designed to improve the performance of fullscreen applications. However, it doesn’t always work well with competitive games like VALORANT. In some cases, it causes inconsistent frame rates, input lag, and random stutters.

• Locate the VALORANT desktop shortcut. If you don’t have one, open the game installation folder and find VALORANT.exe.

• Right-click the shortcut or executable file and select Properties.

• Click the Compatibility tab at the top of the window and check the box next to Disable fullscreen optimizations.

  

• After that, click Apply, then OK.

Now launch the game again and check whether your FPS has improved.

Fix 2: Disable Instant Replay and Game Overlays

Many recording tools and game overlays continue running even when you’re playing. This can reduce available system resources. Disabling these features is an easy way to improve performance.

• First of all, open NVIDIA App or GeForce Experience, open the Overlay, select Instant Replay, and turn it Off.

  

• For AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, go to the Record & Stream section, and disable ReLive.

• Finally, open Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and switch it Off.

Restart your PC and launch VALORANT again to check if performance has improved.

Fix 3: Enable VGC Services

VALORANT uses Riot Vanguard as its anti-cheat system. One of its main services is called VGC. Making sure the VGC service is running correctly can help improve game stability and eliminate some FPS-related problems.

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

• Scroll down until you find vgc, right-click it and choose Properties.

  

• Change Startup type to Automatic, and click Start.

• After that, hit Apply, then OK, and restart your computer.

Fix 4: Enable Game Mode

Windows Game Mode is designed to improve gaming performance by reducing background activity and giving more system resources to your game. Enabling Game Mode may help reduce VALORANT FPS drop during gameplay.

• Press Windows + I to open Settings. Go to Gaming, then choose Game Mode from the left menu.

• Now switch Game Mode to On.

  

• Restart your PC to make sure the changes take effect.

• Open the game and see if the FPS has improved.

Fix 5: Turn on Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling

Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling is a Windows feature that allows your graphics card to manage certain graphics tasks directly instead of relying on the CPU. On supported systems, this can reduce latency and improve overall gaming performance.

• Press Windows + I to open Settings, and go to System > Display.

• Scroll down and click Graphics. Click Change default graphics settings.

• Turn Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling On.

  

• Restart your PC and launch VALORANT again.

⚡ Bonus: Improve the Gaming Environment by Cleaning Up Windows

Even if your graphics settings are optimized, Windows itself can still affect game performance. Over time, temporary files, leftover update files, and unnecessary system data accumulate on your drive. This can slow down Windows, increase game loading times.

Cleaning these files helps Windows run more efficiently, creating a better gaming environment. You can do this easily with 4DDiG Partition Manager’s Windows Clean feature.

• Install and open 4DDiG Partition Manager. From the left sidebar, click Windows Clean. Select the files type, then click Start Scan. Wait while the program scans your computer for unnecessary files.

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• When the scan is complete, you'll see a list of junk files. Files that are safe to delete are selected automatically. You can also expand each category to review the files before cleaning them.

  

• Click the Clean button to remove the selected junk files. When prompted, confirm the action to start the cleanup process.

  

• Once it's finished, Windows should run more smoothly. Restart your computer, then launch VALORANT to see if the game's performance has improved.

  

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More FAQs about VALORANT FPS

1. How to increase Riot client FPS?

You can increase Riot client FPS by closing background applications, disabling overlays, updating your graphics driver, enabling Windows Game Mode, turning on Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling, and keeping Riot Vanguard running properly.

2. How much client FPS is good for VALORANT?

For casual gameplay, 60 FPS provides a smooth experience. Competitive players usually aim for 120 FPS or 144 FPS, while high-end gaming PCs often target 240 FPS or higher for the best responsiveness.

3. Is Val a CPU-heavy game?

Yes. VALORANT relies more on the CPU than many modern games. While a dedicated graphics card is important, CPU performance has a greater impact on achieving high and stable frame rates.

Experiencing low client FPS VALORANT doesn’t always mean you need to upgrade your hardware. In many cases, simple changes like disabling Fullscreen Optimization, turning off overlays, enabling VGC services, activating Game Mode, and enabling Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling can significantly improve performance.

If Windows has become cluttered over time, cleaning unnecessary files with 4DDiG Partition Manager can also help create a smoother gaming environment. Try these solutions one by one, and you’ll have a much better chance of eliminating FPS drops and enjoying a smoother VALORANT experience.