best Apex Legends settings

Best Apex Legends settings for FPS and frame-time consistency

Last updated 20 August 2026

What are the best Apex Legends settings?

For competitive Apex Legends, the settings that matter most are the ones that reduce per-frame GPU work and remove sources of frame-time variance: a low graphics preset, shadows and post-processing turned down, exclusive fullscreen, and a frame cap set just below your refresh rate. The table below lists the recommended value for each setting on 14 different GPUs, because the right answer for a GTX 1660 is not the right answer for an RTX 4090.

If you only change a few things, change these:

Disable 'Vertical sync' — Ensure 'Vertical sync' is set to 'Off' in the NVIDIA Control Panel. In-game V-Sync should also be off to minimize input lag, especially if you have a high refresh rate monitor.
Download Latest Drivers — Visit the official AMD website to download and install the latest Adrenalin Edition drivers for your GPU. Perform a clean installation if possible.
Manage 3D Settings (Global) — Set 'Power management mode' to 'Prefer maximum performance' and 'Texture filtering - Quality' to 'High performance'.
Adjust Power Management Mode — Set 'Power management mode' to 'Prefer maximum performance' under 'Manage 3D settings' for Apex Legends. This ensures your GPU consistently delivers its full potential.
Perform Clean Installation — During installation, choose the 'Factory Reset' option to remove old driver files and prevent potential conflicts. This ensures a fresh, stable driver environment.

Recommended Apex Legends settings by GPU

These are the in-game values recommended for Apex Legends. Where every card should use the same value the row says so; where the recommendation changes with the GPU, each card is listed separately.

Apex Legends settings that are the same on every GPU
Setting	Recommended value	Why it matters
Volumetric Lighting	Disabled	A demanding visual effect. Disabling it provides a noticeable FPS boost, especially in areas with complex lighting, with minimal competitive impact.
Ambient Occlusion	Disabled	Adds subtle shadow details but is very demanding on the GPU. Disabling it provides a clear FPS boost with minimal competitive disadvantage.
Ambient Occlusion Quality	Disabled	Adds realistic shadows where objects meet, but it's very demanding. Disabling it offers a measurable improvement with minimal visual impact in competitive scenarios.
Resolution	Native Monitor Resolution (e.g., 1920x1080 or 2560x1440)	Matches your monitor's physical pixel count for the sharpest image. your GPU handles 1080p high refresh and 1440p well.
NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency	On + Boost	Leverages your GPU to reduce system latency, making your inputs feel more immediate.
Texture Filtering	Anisotropic 4x or 8x	Provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. 16x has minimal impact onyour GPU but 4x/8x is safer for competitive consistency.
Sun Shadow Detail	Low	Further reduces the quality of shadows for maximum performance gain.

Settings that depend on your GPU

These are the rows where the recommendation genuinely changes with the card. Find yours in the middle column.

Apex Legends settings that vary by GPU
Setting	Recommended value by GPU	Why it matters
Texture Streaming Budget	Any GPU: Low (e.g., 2-4GB) GTX 1080: High (6GB) or Medium (4GB) GTX 1660: 2GB (Medium) RX 7600: High (6GB) Arc A770: 8GB (High) RTX 3060: 6GB or 8GB RX 6700 XT: High (8GB) or Very High (8GB) RTX 3070: 8GB (High) RTX 4060: 6GB RTX 3080: 8GB (High) RTX 4070: High (8GB) or Very High (10GB) RX 7800 XT: 8GB or 6GB RTX 4080: Max (VRAM Dependent) / 8GB RX 7900 XTX: High (6GB) or Very High (8GB) RTX 4090: High (6GB)	Controls VRAM usage for textures. Setting to 'None' minimizes VRAM overhead, improving FPS, especially on GPUs with less VRAM or in VRAM-heavy scenarios. your GPU has ample VRAM, but 'None' is still best for pure FPS.
Model Detail	Any GPU: Low GTX 1080: Low GTX 1660: Low RX 7600: Low Arc A770: Low RTX 3060: Medium RX 6700 XT: Low RTX 3070: Medium RTX 4060: Medium RTX 3080: Medium RTX 4070: High RX 7800 XT: Low RTX 4080: Low RX 7900 XTX: Low RTX 4090: High	Impacts the detail of characters and objects. 'Medium' offers a good balance between visual quality and GPU performance, providing clear models without excessive overhead.
Impact Marks	Any GPU: Disabled GTX 1080: Disabled GTX 1660: Disabled RX 7600: Disabled Arc A770: Low RTX 3060: Disabled RX 6700 XT: Disabled RTX 3070: Low RTX 4060: Disabled RTX 3080: Low/Disabled RTX 4070: Low or Disabled RX 7800 XT: Low or Disabled RTX 4080: Disabled RX 7900 XTX: Disabled RTX 4090: Disabled	Impact marks (bullet holes, explosions) are a GPU-intensive effect that offer no competitive advantage. Disabling them frees up GPU resources for higher FPS and smoother gameplay.
Adaptive Supersampling	Any GPU: Disabled (or 1.0) GTX 1080: Disabled GTX 1660: Disabled RX 7600: Disabled Arc A770: Intel XeSS (Performance/Balanced) RTX 3060: Disabled RX 6700 XT: Disabled RTX 3070: Disabled RTX 4060: Disabled RTX 3080: Disabled RTX 4070: Disabled RX 7800 XT: Disabled RTX 4080: Disabled RX 7900 XTX: Disabled RTX 4090: Disabled	Prevents dynamic resolution scaling, which can cause inconsistent frame times and blurriness, crucial for competitive consistency.
Anti-aliasing	GTX 1080: TSAA or None GTX 1660: TSAA (Low) RX 7600: TSAA Arc A770: TSAA RTX 3060: TSAA RX 6700 XT: TSAA RTX 4060: TSAA RTX 3080: TSAA (or Disabled) RTX 4070: TSAA RX 7800 XT: TSAA or Disabled RTX 4080: TSAA RX 7900 XTX: TSAA (High) RTX 4090: TSAA	TSAA (Temporal Super-sampling Anti-Aliasing) offers a good balance between visual quality and performance. FXAA is less demanding but can make the image blurry, while higher options are too demanding.
Sun Shadow Coverage	Any GPU: Low/Disabled GTX 1080: Low / Disabled GTX 1660: Low RX 7600: Low Arc A770: Low RTX 3060: Low RX 6700 XT: Low RTX 3070: Low RTX 4060: Low RTX 3080: Low RTX 4070: Low RX 7800 XT: Low RTX 4080: Low RX 7900 XTX: Low RTX 4090: Disabled	Shadows are often GPU hogs. Setting coverage to Low and Detail to Low provides a good performance gain with minimal visual impact on competitive visibility.
Spot Shadow Detail	Any GPU: Disabled GTX 1080: Disabled GTX 1660: Disabled RX 7600: Disabled Arc A770: Disabled RTX 3060: Disabled RX 6700 XT: Disabled RTX 4060: Low RTX 3080: Disabled RTX 4070: Disabled RX 7800 XT: Low RTX 4080: Disabled RX 7900 XTX: Disabled RTX 4090: Disabled	Similar to Sun Shadow Coverage, reducing this setting frees up GPU resources for higher frame rates, especially in areas with many light sources.
Ragdolls	Any GPU: Low GTX 1080: Disabled GTX 1660: Low RX 7600: Low Arc A770: Low RTX 3060: Disabled RX 6700 XT: Disabled RTX 3070: Low RTX 4060: Disabled RTX 3080: Low/Disabled RTX 4080: Disabled RX 7900 XTX: Low RTX 4090: Disabled	Reduces the complexity of physics calculations for fallen enemies, freeing up CPU resources. Setting to 'Low' or 'Disabled' can help maintain FPS in crowded areas.
Display Mode	Any GPU: Full Screen GTX 1080: Full Screen GTX 1660: Fullscreen RX 7600: Full Screen Arc A770: Full Screen RTX 3060: Fullscreen RX 6700 XT: Full Screen RTX 3070: Full Screen RTX 4060: Full Screen RTX 4070: Full Screen RTX 4080: Full Screen RTX 4090: Full Screen	Ensures exclusive control for the game, minimizing input lag and maximizing FPS by preventing background processes from interfering.
V-Sync	Any GPU: Disabled GTX 1080: Disabled RX 7600: Disabled Arc A770: Disabled RTX 3060: Disabled RX 6700 XT: Disabled RTX 3070: Disabled RTX 4060: Disabled (in-game) RTX 3080: Disabled RTX 4070: Disabled RX 7800 XT: Disabled RTX 4080: Disabled RTX 4090: Disabled	V-Sync introduces input lag. If you have a G-SYNC monitor, ensure it's enabled and V-Sync is disabled in-game. If not, consider capping FPS slightly below your refresh rate via NVIDIA Control Panel to avoid tearing without V-Sync's latency.
Adaptive Resolution FPS Target	Any GPU: 0 (Disabled) GTX 1080: 0 (Disabled) RX 7600: Disabled (0) RTX 3060: 0 (Disabled) RX 6700 XT: 0 (Disabled) RTX 3070: 0 (Disabled) RTX 4080: 0 (Disabled) RTX 4090: 0 (Disabled)	Disabling this prevents dynamic resolution scaling, ensuring consistent visual quality at the cost of potential FPS drops on lower-end systems. your GPU should handle it.
Field of View (FOV)	Arc A770: 90-110 RTX 3060: 104-110 RTX 4060: 104-110 RTX 4080: 110 RTX 4090: 110	While personal preference, higher FOV renders more on screen, slightly impacting FPS. Find a balance that suits your playstyle without sacrificing too much performance.
Sun Shadow Coverage / Detail	RX 7600: Low / Disabled Arc A770: Low / Low	Shadows are one of the most demanding settings. Lowering them provides a substantial FPS boost with minimal competitive disadvantage.

Merged from 44 per-GPU guides covering 15 graphics cards. Where sources disagreed, the most frequently recommended value is shown.

What driver and control panel settings matter?

Driver-level settings apply underneath the game and override whatever the game asks for. A clean driver install first, then these options, is the order that avoids chasing a problem that was really a leftover profile.

Disable 'Vertical sync'high impact

Ensure 'Vertical sync' is set to 'Off' in the NVIDIA Control Panel. In-game V-Sync should also be off to minimize input lag, especially if you have a high refresh rate monitor.
Download Latest Drivershigh impact

Visit the official AMD website to download and install the latest Adrenalin Edition drivers for your GPU. Perform a clean installation if possible.
Manage 3D Settings (Global)high impact

Set 'Power management mode' to 'Prefer maximum performance' and 'Texture filtering - Quality' to 'High performance'.
Adjust Power Management Modehigh impact

Set 'Power management mode' to 'Prefer maximum performance' under 'Manage 3D settings' for Apex Legends. This ensures your GPU consistently delivers its full potential.
Perform Clean Installationhigh impact

During installation, choose the 'Factory Reset' option to remove old driver files and prevent potential conflicts. This ensures a fresh, stable driver environment.
Enable Low Latency Modehigh impact

In NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings, set 'Low Latency Mode' to 'Ultra' for Apex Legends. This can reduce input lag but may slightly increase GPU usage.
Perform a Clean Installationhigh impact

During installation, select the 'Factory Reset' option to remove old driver files completely. This prevents conflicts and ensures a fresh, optimized installation.

How should you set up refresh rate, frame cap and latency mode?

Frame pacing is what makes a game feel smooth, and it is decided by how the frame rate relates to the refresh rate. Getting this pairing right usually matters more than the raw average frame rate.

Low Latency Modehigh impact

Enable 'Low Latency Mode' to 'On' or 'Ultra' for reduced input lag. Test 'Ultra' first, as it can sometimes introduce micro-stutters on older CPUs.
Program Settings for Apex Legendshigh impact

Add 'r5apex.exe' (Apex Legends) and set 'Low Latency Mode' to 'On' or 'Ultra'. Set 'Max Frame Rate' to slightly below your monitor's refresh rate if you experience tearing without V-Sync.
Set Display Mode to Full Screenhigh impact

Ensures the game has exclusive control over your display, minimizing input lag and maximizing performance by preventing background processes from interfering.
Disable V-Sync and Adaptive Resolution FPS Targethigh impact

V-Sync introduces input lag; disable it. Adaptive Resolution FPS Target can cause inconsistent visuals; disable it and manually manage your resolution.
Configure Low Latency Modehigh impact

Set 'Low Latency Mode' to 'Ultra' to minimize input lag, especially beneficial for competitive play.
Disable V-Sync and Adaptive Supersamplinghigh impact

Turn 'V-Sync' off to eliminate input lag. Ensure 'Adaptive Supersampling' is also off, as your GPU should run at native resolution or use DLSS for upscaling.
Display Modehigh impact

Set to "Full Screen" for lowest input latency.

Which Windows settings actually help?

Windows ships with defaults chosen for battery life and broad compatibility rather than for consistent frame times. These are the settings that genuinely change behaviour, and each one is reversible.

Power Planhigh impact

Set to 'High Performance' or 'Ultimate Performance' in Windows Power Options.
Enable Game Modemedium impact

Go to Windows Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and ensure it is 'On'. This prioritizes your game's resources.
Disable Background Appsmedium impact

Close unnecessary background applications, especially those consuming CPU, GPU, or network resources, before launching Apex Legends.
Adjust Power Planmedium impact

Search for 'Edit power plan' in Windows, then click 'Power Options' > 'Show additional plans' and select 'High performance' or 'Ultimate Performance' (if available).
Disable Impact Marks and Ragdollsmedium impact

Set 'Impact Marks' to 'Low' and 'Ragdolls' to 'Low'. These are minor visual effects that can consume resources during intense firefights.
Hardware-accelerated GPU schedulingmedium impact

Enable in Graphics Settings (Windows 10/11) to potentially reduce input lag and improve performance.
Update Windowsmedium impact

Go to Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install all pending updates. This ensures compatibility and performance fixes.

What about memory, storage and temperatures?

Hardware-side limits show up as stutter rather than as a lower average frame rate, so they are easy to misdiagnose. These checks rule out the common causes before you start changing settings.

Texture Streaming Budgethigh impact

Set 'Texture Streaming Budget' to 'High (8GB)' or 'Very High (10GB)'. your GPU has 12GB VRAM, allowing for high-quality textures without performance impact.
Lower Texture Streaming Budgethigh impact

Set this based on your GPU's VRAM (e.g., 2-4GB for 8GB VRAM). Lowering it frees up VRAM, reducing stutters, especially on lower-end GPUs.
Enable ReBAR/SAMhigh impact

Verify that Resizable BAR (ReBAR) or Smart Access Memory (SAM) is enabled in your motherboard's BIOS, as this boosts Arc performance.
Reduce Texture Streaming Budgetmedium impact

Set 'Texture Streaming Budget' to 'High (6GB)' or 'Medium (4GB)'. While your GPU has 8GB VRAM, lower settings can free up resources for other processes and reduce VRAM pressure.
Adjust Texture Streaming Budgetmedium impact

For your GPU (8GB VRAM), set this to 'High (6GB)' or 'Medium (4GB)'. Going too high can cause stutters and VRAM overfill, while too low makes textures blurry.
Consider Undervolting/Overclocking (Advanced)medium impact

For experienced users, a slight undervolt can improve efficiency and reduce heat, allowing for higher sustained clocks. A modest GPU core/memory overclock can also yield a few extra FPS if stable.
Fan Curve Adjustmentmedium impact

Create a custom fan curve to maintain lower temperatures under load, preventing thermal throttling and ensuring consistent performance.

Which in-game settings should you change in Apex Legends?

These are the Apex Legends video options that decide how much work the GPU is asked to do each frame. Change these before touching anything at the Windows or driver level — they have the clearest effect and they are the easiest to undo.

Disable Adaptive Supersamplinghigh impact

This setting dynamically adjusts resolution and is a major performance drain. Keep it disabled for consistent FPS, especially on your GPU.
Adaptive Supersamplinghigh impact

Disable 'Adaptive Supersampling'. This setting dynamically lowers resolution to maintain FPS, but it introduces blurriness and inconsistency. For competitive play, a fixed resolution is preferred.
Model Detailhigh impact

Set to 'Low'. This impacts CPU and GPU performance, especially in crowded areas or during intense firefights.
Reduce Model Detailhigh impact

Set 'Model Detail' to 'Low'. This reduces the complexity of character and object models, boosting FPS in crowded areas.
Disable 'Sun Shadow Coverage' and 'Spot Shadow Detail'high impact

Shadows are resource-intensive. Disabling or setting them to low provides a substantial FPS boost and can sometimes make enemies easier to spot.
Disable Fullscreen Optimizationshigh impact

Locate 'r5apex.exe' (usually in C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex Legends), right-click > Properties > Compatibility, and check 'Disable fullscreen optimizations'.
Set 'Adaptive Supersampling' to 'Disabled'high impact

This setting dynamically adjusts resolution and can cause inconsistent frame times and blurriness. Keep it off for competitive consistency.

What do people get wrong when tuning Apex Legends?

These are the changes that either do nothing or actively make frame times worse, and they come up repeatedly.

Running Apex Legends with V-Sync enabled, leading to unnecessary input lag.
Not updating graphics drivers regularly, missing out on crucial performance optimizations.
Having too many background applications open, consuming valuable CPU and RAM resources.
Ignoring CPU/GPU temperatures, which can lead to thermal throttling and inconsistent performance.
Setting Texture Streaming Budget too high for your GPU's VRAM, causing stutters and hitches.
Running Apex Legends in Borderless Windowed mode, which increases input lag and consumes more resources than Full Screen.
Leaving Adaptive Supersampling enabled, causing inconsistent resolution and FPS drops.
Not updating GPU drivers regularly, missing out on performance optimizations and bug fixes for Apex Legends.

What else is worth knowing?

Practice your movement tech (tap-strafing, wall-bouncing) in the Firing Range to gain a competitive edge in fights.
Optimize your audio settings to prioritize enemy footsteps and ability cues, which can be critical for survival.
Regularly clean your PC's internals to prevent dust buildup, ensuring optimal cooling and sustained performance.
Cap your in-game FPS slightly below your monitor's refresh rate (e.g., 141 FPS for a 144Hz monitor) for smoother frame delivery and reduced tearing with G-Sync/FreeSync.
Regularly clear your temporary files and run Disk Cleanup to maintain system performance and free up storage space.
Consider overclocking your GPU and CPU cautiously using tools like MSI Afterburner or your motherboard's BIOS for additional performance gains, ensuring stable temperatures.

Can you apply these changes automatically?

Everything on this page can be done by hand, for free, and this guide is written so that you can. What takes the time is not any single change — it is working through Windows settings, driver control panels, power plans and per-game options one at a time, and keeping track of what you altered so you can put it back.

JINSHI Tweaks is a one-time purchase that applies the Windows-side changes in one pass. It creates a System Restore Point first, and every tweak can be reversed individually or all at once. It does not modify game files, read game memory, inject into any game process, or install a driver. It will not do anything to the in-game settings in the table above — those you set yourself.

What JINSHI Tweaks changes See pricing

Apex Legends performance: frequently asked questions

How much VRAM does Apex Legends use?

With your GPU's 16GB VRAM, Apex Legends typically uses 4-8GB depending on resolution and texture settings. Setting 'Texture Streaming Budget' to 'None' or 'Low' helps keep VRAM usage minimal, which can improve frame consistency even with ample VRAM.

Does Apex Legends support NVIDIA DLSS?

Apex Legends does not natively support NVIDIA DLSS. However, it does support AMD FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which can be used on NVIDIA GPUs to gain FPS, though DLSS generally offers superior image quality.

Why do I get FPS drops in endgame circles in Apex Legends?

Endgame circles often involve many players, abilities, particle effects, and environmental destruction in a confined space. This increases the load on both your CPU and GPU. Optimizing Model Detail, Impact Marks, and Ragdolls, along with CPU-focused Windows tweaks, can help mitigate these drops.

How can I reduce input lag in Apex Legends?

Key steps include disabling V-Sync, enabling NVIDIA Low Latency Mode (Ultra) in the Control Panel, using Full Screen mode, and ensuring your FPS is consistently high. NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency is also highly recommended if available.

Should I use an FPS cap in Apex Legends?

Yes, if you have a high refresh rate monitor with G-Sync/FreeSync, capping your FPS a few frames below your refresh rate (e.g., 141 FPS for 144Hz) can help maintain G-Sync functionality and minimize input lag. Otherwise, let it run uncapped for lowest latency.

Why do I still get FPS drops in endgame circles?

Endgame circles in Apex Legends involve many players, abilities, and effects in a small area, which can be very CPU-intensive. Ensure your CPU is not bottlenecking your GPU by optimizing Windows, disabling background apps, and using CPU-friendly in-game settings like lower Model Detail and Impact Marks.

Will these settings make Apex Legends look bad?

While some settings are lowered, the goal is to find a balance. Most competitive players prioritize performance and visibility over ultra-high fidelity. your GPU can still deliver a good visual experience at 1080p/1440p with these optimized settings.

Should I use NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency for Apex Legends?

Yes, if you have a compatible monitor, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency (set to 'On + Boost' in-game) is highly recommended for Apex Legends. It reduces system latency, making your inputs feel more immediate, which is a advantage in competitive play.