Apex Legends FPS Stuck at 60 After DX12 Update? Here's the Fix

  - Apex Legends
Apex Legends FPS stuck at 60 after DX12 update

Many Apex Legends players have noticed their frame rate locked at 60 FPS after the game’s DirectX 12 update. This can be frustrating, especially if you’re used to smooth, high refresh rate gameplay. The cap often appears out of nowhere and persists even if you were running at higher frame rates before the update. Fortunately, this is a solvable issue rooted in a few common settings and configuration conflicts.

Below, we break down exactly why the FPS cap occurs and walk you through every method to unlock your frame rate so you can get back to playing Apex Legends the way it was meant to be played.

Why Is My FPS Capped at 60 After the DX12 Update?

The root cause of the 60 FPS cap is almost always an enforced vertical sync (V-Sync) setting, either within the game, your graphics driver, or a system-level limiter. The DX12 update in Apex Legends changed how the game interfaces with your hardware and display, which can inadvertently engage V-Sync or frame limiting features. Here are the most common scenarios:

  • In-game V-Sync turned on. The DX12 update may have reset your video settings, enabling V-Sync in the process. When V-Sync is active, your FPS is synced to your monitor’s refresh rate (often 60Hz), capping it at 60.
  • Fullscreen optimizations or borderless window mode. Running Apex in borderless windowed mode under DX12 can sometimes force the desktop window manager’s own V-Sync, locking FPS to 60.
  • NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software settings. Driver-level V-Sync or frame rate limiters may be overriding the game’s settings.
  • Launch options and config files. Commands that previously uncapped FPS may have been deprecated or counteracted by DX12, leaving you with the default cap.
  • Windows Game Mode or Game Bar DVR. These background features can sometimes impose a 60 FPS cap on games.

How to Fix the 60 FPS Cap in Apex Legends (DX12)

Work through these solutions from top to bottom. Most players will find the fix within the first three steps.

1. Disable In-Game V-Sync and Adjust Adaptive Resolution FPS Target

The first place to check is Apex Legends’ own video settings. Launch the game, open Settings, then the Video tab. Look for V-Sync and set it to Disabled. Also, if your Adaptive Resolution FPS Target is set to 60, raise it to a value that matches your desired frame rate (e.g., 144 or 0 for unlimited). This setting can limit FPS even if V-Sync is off.

2. Use Correct Launch Options for DX12

When Apex Legends runs in DX12 mode, some legacy launch options might not work as expected. To ensure you’re using the right commands, follow these steps:

  1. In Steam, right-click Apex Legends and select Properties.
  2. In the General tab, find Launch Options.
  3. Remove any existing commands like +fps_max unlimited or -refresh that may conflict.
  4. Add only -dx12 (if you want to force DirectX 12; note that the game now defaults to DX12 after the update, but this ensures it).
  5. For an FPS uncap, use +fps_max 0 (this command still works for many players, but test it).

If +fps_max 0 doesn’t stick, try setting a high value like +fps_max 300. The key is to avoid having multiple conflicting FPS commands.

3. Check NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software

Your graphics driver may be enforcing V-Sync or a frame rate cap for Apex Legends specifically. Here’s how to check:

For NVIDIA Users

  1. Right-click your desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. Go to Manage 3D settings > Program Settings.
  3. Select Apex Legends (or add the executable r5apex.exe if it’s not listed).
  4. Set Vertical sync to Off.
  5. Set Max Frame Rate to Off or a high value like 288.
  6. Apply changes and restart your PC.

For AMD Users

  1. Open AMD Radeon Software.
  2. Navigate to Gaming > select Apex Legends.
  3. Ensure Radeon Enhanced Sync or Wait for Vertical Refresh is set to Off, unless application specifies.
  4. Check Chill and Frame Rate Target Control – if enabled, set the maximum to a value above 60.

4. Toggle Fullscreen Mode and Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Borderless windowed mode in DX12 can sometimes trigger the Windows Desktop Manager’s built-in V-Sync. Do the following:

  • In Apex Legends video settings, switch to Full Screen (not Borderless Window).
  • If you prefer Borderless, try disabling Windows Fullscreen Optimizations for the game executable. Find r5apex.exe (usually in C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonApex Legends), right-click, go to Properties > Compatibility, check Disable fullscreen optimizations, and click OK.

5. Edit the Config Files (Advanced)

If in-game settings don’t persist, you can manually edit the game’s config files to force an FPS uncap. Note that DX12 may ignore some old cvars, but this is worth trying:

  1. Close Apex Legends.
  2. Navigate to the cfg folder: C:Users[YourUsername]Saved GamesRespawnApexlocalcfg.
  3. Open videoconfig.cfg with a text editor.
  4. Find the line "setting.vsync" and make sure it is set to "0".
  5. Add the line "fps_max" "0" if not already present (put it under the vsync setting).
  6. Save the file and set it to Read-only (right-click, Properties, check Read-only) to prevent the game from overwriting it.

Keep in mind that DX12 may ignore this file; if the cap persists, revert and rely on driver settings.

6. Turn Off Windows Game Mode and Game Bar

Windows 10 and 11 include gaming features that can force V-Sync or cap FPS. To disable them:

  • Open Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and turn it off.
  • Also under Gaming, go to Captures and disable Background recording.
  • In Game Bar, turn off the top toggle to disable the bar entirely.

7. Check Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate in Windows

Sometimes Windows itself defaults your monitor to 60Hz after a driver update or patch. Right-click the desktop, select Display settings > Advanced display settings > Refresh rate. Ensure it’s set to the highest value your monitor supports (e.g., 144Hz, 240Hz).

8. Update or Roll Back GPU Drivers

The DX12 update may have introduced incompatibilities with certain driver versions. Try using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to cleanly remove your current GPU driver, then install the latest version from NVIDIA or AMD. If the issue started right after a driver update, consider rolling back to an earlier version known to be stable with Apex Legends.

Additional Tips to Maximize FPS in Apex Legends DX12

Once your FPS is uncapped, consider these optimizations to ensure stable high frame rates:

  • Reduce graphics settings: Lower anti-aliasing, texture streaming budget, and shadow quality for a significant FPS boost.
  • Disable Nvidia Reflex: In some configurations, Reflex can interact oddly with FPS caps. Set it to Disabled temporarily to test.
  • Close background applications: Apps like Chrome, Discord, or overlay software (Afterburner, RivaTuner) can inject frame limiters. Disable them while troubleshooting.
  • Verify game files: In Steam, right-click Apex Legends > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files to fix any corrupted data.

If none of these solutions work, consider reverting to DirectX 11 as a temporary workaround while Respawn addresses DX12-specific bugs. To do so, remove -dx12 from launch options and instead add -dx11 or simply don’t use any DX launch command (the game may default to DX11 without the flag). However, note that future patches may require DX12, so this is only a short-term fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my FPS suddenly cap at 60 in Apex Legends?

The sudden cap is usually caused by V-Sync enabling itself after an update, or because the DX12 renderer forces V-Sync in borderless windowed mode. Check your in-game V-Sync settings and make sure your monitor’s refresh rate is set correctly in Windows.

How do I uncap FPS in Apex Legends DX12?

Disable V-Sync in-game, set Adaptive Resolution FPS Target to 0 or a high number, use the launch option +fps_max 0, and turn off any driver-level V-Sync or frame limiters in NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software.

Does Apex Legends DX12 support high refresh rates?

Yes, Apex Legends fully supports high refresh rate monitors under DX12. If your FPS is capped below your monitor’s refresh rate, it’s due to one of the settings mentioned above, not the renderer itself.

Can I use RivaTuner to limit FPS in Apex DX12?

You can, but it may conflict with in-game caps or driver settings. If you want to use RivaTuner, set it to a value above your monitor’s refresh rate and disable any other frame limiters to avoid stacking conflicts.

Why does my FPS drop when I uncap it in Apex DX12?

Uncapping FPS increases GPU/CPU load. If your hardware can’t sustain high frame rates at your current resolution and settings, you may see noticeable drops. Try lowering graphics settings or enabling adaptive sync technologies like G-Sync or FreeSync.

Does disabling V-Sync affect input lag?

Yes, disabling V-Sync typically reduces input lag, which is crucial for competitive shooters like Apex Legends. However, you might see screen tearing. For the best balance, use G-Sync or FreeSync if your monitor supports it, combined with a frame rate cap slightly below your monitor’s maximum refresh rate.

Is it safe to edit the config files for Apex Legends?

Editing config files is safe as long as you back them up first. Setting the file to Read-only prevents the game from resetting your changes, but keep in mind that future updates might require you to delete the config and let the game generate a new one to avoid issues.

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