How Do I Show FPS in Steam Deck Desktop Mode?
The Steam Deck, a new handheld gaming console from Valve Corporation, has taken the gaming world by storm with its innovative design, versatility, and ability to stream PC games. As a proud owner of the Steam Deck, you want to experience the best gaming experience possible, with optimal performance and frame rates. So, the question arises: "How do I show FPS in Steam Deck desktop mode?"
Direct Answer
To show FPS in Steam Deck desktop mode, you need to follow a few simple steps:
- Access the Steam Desktop Mode: To access the desktop mode on your Steam Deck, press and hold the Steam button and the power button at the same time until the Steam login screen appears.
- Launch Your Game: Select your game and start playing.
- Enable Steam Overlay: Press the Steam button again while in-game to activate the Steam overlay.
- Adjust Graphics Settings: Go to the game settings, adjust your graphics settings, and restart your game to see the FPS counter display.
- Check Your FPS Counter: You should now see a permanent display of your frame rate in the lower-left corner of your screen.
Displaying FPS in Steam Deck
So, why do you want to show FPS in Steam Deck desktop mode?
- Monitor Performance: View your game’s performance in real-time and see the exact frame rate you are running at.
- Customize Graphics Settings: Adjust settings based on your FPS to maintain the highest performance possible.
- Game Optimization: Identify graphics-heavy areas of your game, reducing the frame rate, allowing for smoother gameplay.
Takedown Request
Before we begin our in-depth guide, the information provided below is shared content and is subject to takedown.
Displaying FPS While Streaming
Streaming your favorite games on platforms like Twitch or YouTube, requires a smooth and consistent frame rate.
- Frame Drops and Lag: If your frame rate is high, you may experience frame drops or lag, which can affect video quality and streaming performance.
- Laptop and Desktop: Both your computer’s processing power and graphics can be limited, affecting game performance, especially during intense situations or during streaming.
Displaying FPS Counter
Displaying a built-in FPS counter on your Steam deck requires some setup.
- Go to the Steam client: On your PC, open Steam client, click on Settings then click on In-Game
- Enable In-Game option: Select Enable ingame overlay and enter a value for Ingame Overlay FPS.
Settings Adjustment
To adjust graphic settings to achieve optimal performance, visit Settings > Graph Settings and adjust the following to taste.
| Setting | What it does | Adjusted Settings |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Quality, but can impact framerates | 1080 or higher |
| Graphics Options | Quality and detail vs framerate | High, Medium |
| Frame Rate Cap | Upper limit for frame rate (avoid frame drops) | Disable cap |
Conclusion
Your game’s frame rate impacts both gameplay and streaming performance. You need to understand how frame rates work, and how your actions can affect your frame rate on Steam Deck. Adjusting graphical settings will help optimize your frame rates while playing and streaming in the Steam Deck desktop mode.
Before we end, here some takeaways:
- Display the framerate: Monitor your frame rate directly using the Steam overlay.
- FPS, graphics settings: Your computer’s processing power and graphics can directly affect game performance.
- Streaming & recording: Monitor your frame rate & reduce lag to improve video streaming
Before we wrap up, I provide all the links below. It’s always best to check online guides and forums for the latest methods of displaying FPS in Steam deck and for troubleshooting any framerate related issues.