How to Reduce Input Lag in Valorant on PC

How do you reduce input lag in Valorant?

Input lag is the sum of every stage between moving the mouse and seeing the result, so it is reduced in stages rather than by one setting. In practice the largest reductions come from enabling the game's own latency mode, capping the frame rate so the GPU is never fully saturated, using exclusive fullscreen, and removing the pointer smoothing Windows applies by default.

If you only change a few things, change these:

Disable "V-Sync" — Ensure 'Vertical sync' is set to 'Off' in both NVIDIA Control Panel and Valorant's in-game settings. V-Sync introduces input lag by synchronizing frames with your monitor's refresh rate.
Enable NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency (On + Boost) — NVIDIA Reflex is designed to reduce system latency by optimizing the rendering pipeline between the CPU and GPU. 'On + Boost' keeps the GPU clocks high even when CPU-bound.
Enable Radeon Anti-Lag — Open AMD Radeon Software, go to Gaming > Games, select Valorant, and toggle 'Radeon Anti-Lag' to Enabled. This feature dynamically reduces input lag by controlling the CPU's workload relative to the GPU.
Set Power Management Mode to 'Prefer maximum performance' — Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings > Program Settings (select Valorant) > Power management mode. This ensures your GPU always runs at full clock speed.
Disable 'V-Sync' in-game — Even if disabled in the NVIDIA Control Panel, ensure it's also off within Valorant's video settings to prevent any potential conflicts.

Recommended Valorant settings by GPU

These Valorant values are ordered by how much they affect the input chain. Frame-cap and upscaling rows differ by GPU because the correct cap depends on what the card can hold consistently.

Valorant settings that are the same on every GPU
Setting	Recommended value	Why it matters
Material Quality	Low	Reduces the complexity of material rendering, lowering GPU load and frame render times, which directly contributes to lower input lag.
Texture Quality	Low	Similar to Material Quality, lowering texture quality decreases VRAM usage and GPU load, contributing to better performance and lower latency.
Detail Quality	Low	Minimizing detail quality reduces the complexity of rendered scenes, boosting FPS and reducing the time it takes for frames to be processed.
Anti-Aliasing	None	Anti-aliasing smooths jagged edges but is a GPU-intensive process that adds render time and thus latency. Disabling it prioritizes performance.
NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency	On + Boost	This setting is designed specifically for NVIDIA GPUs like your GPU to reduce system latency by optimizing the render queue, especially when GPU bound.
V-Sync	Off	V-Sync synchronizes frames with your monitor's refresh rate but introduces noticeable input lag. Always keep it off for competitive play.
VSync	Off	VSync synchronizes frames with your monitor, eliminating tearing but introducing input delay. Always disable for competitive play.
Raw Input Buffer	On	Ensures direct mouse input, bypassing Windows' default input processing and eliminating any potential mouse acceleration or filtering.
Anisotropic Filtering	1x	Controls texture clarity at oblique angles. Setting to 1x minimizes its performance impact for competitive play.
Material/Texture/Detail Quality	Low or Medium	Reduces GPU load and visual clutter without harming enemy visibility.
Vignette, Bloom, Distortion, Shadows	Off	Disabling these visual effects reduces GPU rendering complexity, directly lowering latency.
Network Buffering	Default (or Minimum if stable)	Controls the amount of network data buffered. Lower settings can reduce perceived ping and latency but may cause stuttering on unstable connections.
Vignette	Off	A purely aesthetic effect that adds minor GPU overhead. Disabling it contributes to overall performance and lower latency.
Resolution	Native (e.g., 1920x1080)	Running at native resolution avoids scaling, which can introduce minor latency and blurriness.
Refresh Rate	Max (e.g., 240Hz)	Matches your monitor's highest refresh rate for the smoothest visuals and lowest display latency.

Settings that depend on your GPU

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

Valorant settings that vary by GPU
Setting	Recommended value by GPU	Why it matters
Display Mode	Any GPU: Fullscreen GTX 1080: Fullscreen GTX 1660: Full Screen RX 7600: Full Screen Arc A770: Fullscreen RTX 3060: Fullscreen RX 6700 XT: Fullscreen RTX 3070: Fullscreen RTX 4060: Fullscreen RTX 3080: Fullscreen RTX 4070: Fullscreen RX 7800 XT: Fullscreen RTX 4080: Fullscreen RX 7900 XTX: Fullscreen RTX 4090: Fullscreen	Fullscreen mode allows the game to have exclusive control over the display output, bypassing Windows' Desktop Window Manager, which can introduce latency.
Multithreaded Rendering	Any GPU: On (for 4+ core CPUs) GTX 1660: On RX 7600: On Arc A770: On RTX 3060: On RX 6700 XT: On RTX 3070: On RTX 4060: On RTX 3080: On RX 7800 XT: On RTX 4080: On RX 7900 XTX: On RTX 4090: On	Enabling this allows Valorant to utilize multiple CPU cores more effectively, reducing CPU bottlenecks and improving overall frame times, which can help with latency.
Frame Rate Limit	Any GPU: 3–5 FPS below monitor refresh RTX 3070: Uncapped or Custom (e.g., 240 FPS for 144Hz monitor) RX 7800 XT: Custom (e.g., 160-200 FPS for 144Hz monitor) RTX 4090: Custom (e.g., 360 FPS for 240Hz monitor)	Allows frames slightly above refresh rate to be ready, reducing potential micro-stutters and input delay without overworking the GPU.
Max FPS Always	GTX 1080: Off (or cap slightly above monitor refresh) Arc A770: Off (or 999) RTX 4070: Off (or 400+)	Allows your GPU to render frames at its maximum capability, ensuring the lowest possible frame latency. Do not cap below your monitor's refresh rate.

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

What network settings reduce ping and packet loss?

Ping is mostly decided by physical distance and by your route to the server, neither of which software can rewrite. What you can fix is the part that adds avoidable jitter: the adapter, the queue and anything sharing the line.

Limit FPS to a stable value slightly above your monitor's refresh ratemedium impact

While your GPU can push hundreds of FPS, capping it slightly (e.g., 360 FPS for a 240Hz monitor) can prevent CPU bottlenecking and improve frame pacing, which affects perceived latency.
Set 'Max Frame Rate' to slightly above your monitor's refresh ratemedium impact

Capping FPS slightly above your refresh rate (e.g., 240 FPS for a 144Hz monitor) can reduce render queue latency without hitting V-Sync.
Set 'Max Frame Rate' to slightly below your monitor's refresh ratemedium impact

If you use G-Sync/FreeSync, capping your FPS just below your refresh rate (e.g., 237 FPS for a 240Hz monitor) keeps G-Sync active while minimizing latency. If not using adaptive sync, cap it very high or leave uncapped.
Set Max Frame Rate to your monitor's refresh rate + 3-5 FPSmedium impact

Capping your FPS slightly above your refresh rate can help maintain consistent frame delivery without introducing excessive frame buffering.
Cap FPS Appropriately (Optional)low impact

While generally you want uncapped FPS for lowest latency, if your FPS fluctuates wildly, capping it slightly above your monitor's refresh rate (e.g., 240 FPS for a 144Hz monitor) can improve frame pacing without adding lag.

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 "V-Sync"high impact

Ensure 'Vertical sync' is set to 'Off' in both NVIDIA Control Panel and Valorant's in-game settings. V-Sync introduces input lag by synchronizing frames with your monitor's refresh rate.
Enable NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency (On + Boost)high impact

NVIDIA Reflex is designed to reduce system latency by optimizing the rendering pipeline between the CPU and GPU. 'On + Boost' keeps the GPU clocks high even when CPU-bound.
Enable Radeon Anti-Laghigh impact

Open AMD Radeon Software, go to Gaming > Games, select Valorant, and toggle 'Radeon Anti-Lag' to Enabled. This feature dynamically reduces input lag by controlling the CPU's workload relative to the GPU.
Set Power Management Mode to 'Prefer maximum performance'high impact

Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings > Program Settings (select Valorant) > Power management mode. This ensures your GPU always runs at full clock speed.
Disable 'V-Sync' in-gamehigh impact

Even if disabled in the NVIDIA Control Panel, ensure it's also off within Valorant's video settings to prevent any potential conflicts.
Enable 'NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency' to 'On + Boost'high impact

Go to Video > Graphics Quality in Valorant settings. This is a key feature for NVIDIA GPUs like your GPU to reduce system latency.
Enable NVIDIA Reflex Low Latencyhigh impact

Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings > Program Settings (select Valorant). Set 'Low Latency Mode' to 'Ultra' and 'NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency' to 'On + Boost'. This directly reduces GPU render queue latency.

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.

Set "Display Mode" to "Fullscreen"high impact

In Valorant's Video settings, ensure 'Display Mode' is set to 'Fullscreen'. This gives the game exclusive control over your display, bypassing Windows' desktop compositor and reducing latency.
Set "Low Latency Mode" to "Ultra"high impact

This mode queues frames just-in-time for the GPU, reducing input lag, especially in GPU-bound scenarios. Apply this globally or specifically for Valorant.
Disable 'Vertical sync' (V-Sync)high impact

Ensure V-Sync is set to 'Off' globally and for Valorant specifically. V-Sync introduces input lag by synchronizing frames with your monitor's refresh rate.
Disable VSynchigh impact

Ensure VSync is completely disabled in Valorant's video settings. VSync synchronizes frames with your monitor's refresh rate, which inherently adds input lag.
Cap FPS just below your refresh ratehigh impact

In Valorant, set the in‑game FPS cap to 3–5 FPS below your monitor’s refresh (e.g. 237 on 240 Hz) to reduce frame-time spikes and avoid V‑Sync kicking in.
Disable V-Sync and Frame Rate Limithigh impact

V-Sync introduces input lag. Set 'Max FPS Always' to 'Off' or a very high value (e.g., 999) if your monitor's refresh rate is high. This ensures your GPU renders frames as fast as possible.
Disable V-Sync and Set Frame Rate Limithigh impact

Turn 'V-Sync' OFF in graphics settings. Set 'Max FPS Always' to 'Custom' and limit it to 2-3 frames above your monitor's refresh rate (e.g., 147 FPS for a 144Hz monitor) or 'Unlimited' if you have a high-end CPU and GPU that can maintain very high FPS consistently.

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.

Enable Raw Input Bufferhigh impact

Navigate to Settings > Controls > Mouse. Ensure 'Raw Input Buffer' is ON. This bypasses Windows mouse acceleration, providing direct input from your mouse to the game.
Enable Game Modemedium impact

Windows Game Mode prioritizes system resources for your game, reducing background interference and improving consistency. Ensure it's enabled in Windows Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
Adjust Power Planmedium impact

Search for 'Edit power plan' > 'Power Options' > 'Show additional plans' and select 'Ultimate Performance' or 'High Performance'. This prevents CPU throttling.
Disable Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS)medium impact

While HAGS can improve performance in some titles, it's often found to introduce micro-stutters or increase latency in competitive FPS games like Valorant. Test with it off for better consistency.
Disable Background Appslow impact

Go to Windows Settings > Privacy > Background apps and turn off apps that aren't essential. This frees up CPU cycles and RAM for Valorant.

Which in-game settings should you change in Valorant?

These are the Valorant 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.

Material, Texture, Detail Qualityhigh impact

Set all to "Low". These settings primarily affect GPU load. Lowering them reduces render time.
Prioritize Performance Graphics Settingshigh impact

Lowering graphics settings like Material Quality, Detail Quality, and Anti-Aliasing reduces GPU render time, directly contributing to lower input lag. Aim for stable high FPS.
Enable Multithreaded Renderingmedium impact

Turn 'Multithreaded Rendering' 'On'. This setting allows Valorant to better utilize multiple CPU cores, reducing CPU bottlenecking and improving frame delivery consistency, which helps lower overall latency.
Set "Anti-Aliasing" to "None" or "MSAA 2x"medium impact

Higher Anti-Aliasing settings demand more GPU power, which can increase rendering time and latency. 'None' is ideal for competitive play.
Adjust Graphics Quality Settingsmedium impact

Set 'Material Quality', 'Texture Quality', 'Detail Quality', and 'UI Quality' to LOW. Set 'Vignette' OFF. These reduce GPU load, allowing for faster frame rendering.
Adjust Material, Texture, Detail Quality to Lowmedium impact

Set 'Material Quality', 'Texture Quality', and 'Detail Quality' to 'Low'. Reducing these settings lessens the GPU workload, allowing for faster frame rendering.
Anti-Aliasingmedium impact

Set to "None" or "MSAA 2x". While "None" offers the absolute lowest latency, "MSAA 2x" can be a good balance for visual clarity without lag.

What do people get wrong when tuning Valorant?

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

Leaving V‑Sync enabled while also trying to cap FPS, adding input delay for no benefit.
Running Valorant in Borderless or Windowed mode on a multi‑monitor setup.
Stacking multiple overlays (Discord, Xbox Game Bar, GPU overlays) on top of the game.
Using Wi‑Fi from a congested network instead of a wired Ethernet connection.
Chasing higher FPS numbers instead of stable frame pacing and low latency.
Playing in Borderless Windowed mode instead of Fullscreen.
Leaving NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency on "Off" or "On" instead of "On + Boost".
Using V-Sync in-game or through the NVIDIA Control Panel.

What else is worth knowing?

Test changes in the Range with the network and performance graphs enabled to see real-time latency effects.
Use a tool like NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer or in‑game metrics to validate improvements instead of guessing.
Once you find a low‑latency setup that feels great, export or screenshot your settings so you can quickly restore them.
**Monitor Refresh Rate**: Ensure your monitor is set to its highest refresh rate in Windows Display Settings. A higher refresh rate inherently reduces perceived input lag.
**Clean Boot**: Perform a clean boot of Windows before competitive sessions to minimize background processes and ensure maximum system resources are dedicated to Valorant.
**Mouse DPI vs. In-Game Sensitivity**: Find a comfortable eDPI (DPI * in-game sensitivity) and stick to it. Avoid excessively high DPI with very low in-game sensitivity, as some mice can introduce smoothing at extreme DPIs.

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

Valorant performance: frequently asked questions

Does higher FPS always mean lower input lag in Valorant?

While higher FPS generally correlates with lower input lag, it's not the only factor. System latency is a complex measurement involving CPU, GPU, and display. Optimizing all components, especially with NVIDIA Reflex, is key to truly reducing end-to-end latency, even if your FPS is already high.

Can my internet connection affect input lag in Valorant?

While your internet connection doesn't directly affect your PC's internal input lag (mouse click to frame render), high ping or packet loss will increase 'network lag' or 'perceived input lag'. This makes your actions feel delayed on the server, so a stable, low-latency connection is crucial.

Should I use G-Sync with NVIDIA Reflex in Valorant?

Yes, for the best balance of low latency and tear-free visuals. When combined with NVIDIA Reflex, G-Sync's minimal latency addition is offset, resulting in an incredibly smooth and responsive experience. Ensure your FPS cap is slightly below your monitor's max refresh rate.

Will lowering graphics settings actually reduce input lag in Valorant?

Yes, even with a powerfulyour GPU, lowering settings like Material and Texture Quality reduces the GPU's workload. This allows frames to be rendered faster and more consistently, minimizing potential micro-stutters and contributing to lower overall system latency.

Should I use NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency 'On' or 'On + Boost' for Valorant?

For your GPU in Valorant, 'On + Boost' is generally recommended. It keeps your GPU clock speeds high even when CPU-bound, ensuring the lowest possible latency. 'On' is good if you're consistently GPU-bound and want to save power, but 'Boost' maximizes responsiveness.

What input lag should I aim for in Valorant?

With a high refresh monitor and the steps in this guide, that’s achievable on many systems.

Should I use G‑SYNC or FreeSync in Valorant?

G‑SYNC/FreeSync can help reduce tearing, but they work best when FPS stays within the VRR range. Many pros still prefer them off with a tight FPS cap below refresh for the absolute lowest latency.

How does JINSHI Tweaks reduce Valorant input lag?

JINSHI Tweaks automates dozens of safe Windows, driver and input optimizations, such as power plans, timer precision, USB settings and background services that directly impact latency.

How to reduce input lag in Valorant