Best Apex Legends Settings for FPS and Low Input Delay
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Apex Legends rewards aggressive movement and fast tracking, and both feel dramatically better with a high, stable frame rate. These settings squeeze the most FPS out of your PC while keeping enemies easy to see at range.
Apex is a tracking game. Stable frame times and a clean image matter more than any visual effect.
Best Apex Legends video settings
Set these in Settings → Video:
| Setting | Recommended value |
|---|---|
| Display Mode | Full Screen |
| Resolution | Native |
| Field of View | 104–110 |
| FOV Ability Scaling | Disabled |
| Sprint View Shake | Minimal |
| V-Sync | Disabled |
| NVIDIA Reflex | Enabled + Boost |
| Adaptive Resolution FPS Target | 0 (off) |
| Anti-aliasing | TSAA or None |
| Texture Streaming Budget | 2–4 GB (None on 4–6 GB cards) |
| Texture Filtering | Bilinear or Anisotropic 2x |
| Ambient Occlusion Quality | Disabled |
| Sun Shadow Coverage | Low |
| Sun Shadow Detail | Low |
| Spot Shadow Detail | Disabled |
| Volumetric Lighting | Disabled |
| Dynamic Spot Shadows | Disabled |
| Model Detail | Low–Medium |
| Effects Detail | Low |
| Impact Marks | Low |
| Ragdolls | Low |
Effects Detail and shadow settings are the big levers. Model Detail at Medium keeps long-range character models readable, so only drop it to Low on weak GPUs. If a menu label changes after a season patch, apply the same logic: shadows, effects and volumetrics down, clarity settings up.
Launch options that matter
In Steam, right-click Apex → Properties → Launch Options:
+fps_max 0— uncaps the menu/in-game limiter so you can cap externally, or+fps_max 162— caps in-engine (set ~3 below a 165 Hz refresh)
An in-engine cap has slightly lower latency than an external one. Pick a value your PC holds everywhere, not just in the firing range — consistency beats a higher peak. Our FPS capping guide covers the cap-vs-uncapped tradeoff in detail.
Latency checklist
- NVIDIA Reflex: Enabled + Boost — biggest single latency win.
- V-Sync: Disabled in game; see G-Sync setup if you use VRR.
- Full Screen, never windowed — see fullscreen vs borderless.
- Raise your Windows timer resolution with Tier1Timer for smoother frame pacing.
- Turn off mouse acceleration so flicks land where you aim.
Windows and driver settings
- Update GPU drivers — do a clean install with DDU if you’re troubleshooting.
- Set the right Windows power plan so cores don’t downclock mid-fight.
- Enable XMP/EXPO — Apex is CPU-hungry in endgame circles and faster RAM lifts minimum FPS.
- Disable Game Bar and Game DVR to stop background recording.
If you’re still dropping frames
Endgame rings with multiple squads are CPU-bound on most systems. If your FPS tanks specifically in fights, check for a CPU bottleneck and see the Apex stuttering fix for frame-time spikes rather than low averages.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the best FOV for Apex Legends?
Most competitive players run 104 to 110. Higher FOV widens your view for tracking movement-heavy fights at a small FPS cost; 110 is the common pro pick.
Should I cap my FPS in Apex Legends?
Yes. Apex's frame pacing benefits from a stable cap a few frames below your refresh rate, set with +fps_max in launch options or RTSS rather than V-Sync.
Why do Apex pros set Texture Streaming Budget to None or low?
Lower texture budgets free VRAM and reduce hitching on 6 to 8 GB cards. If you have 12 GB or more, a medium budget looks better with no real FPS cost.
Does NVIDIA Reflex work in Apex Legends?
Yes, and it should be on. Reflex prevents the CPU from queuing frames ahead of the GPU, cutting input latency in GPU-bound fights.