LivoPC team · AI-assisted editorial summary
How to show FPS and use an overlay in PC games
Understand the FPS counter, set up the LivoPC Monitor overlay and explore fullscreen limits, transparency, colors and widget position.
Updated on · Games and apps
What to consider first
To show FPS, start with the counter available in the game's own settings. To track PC resources too, an overlay places metrics over the image. LivoPC Monitor 1.11 includes optional FPS readings and a customizable widget, without relying on Game Bar. Visibility in games depends on the display mode and the game's protections.
On October 10, 2026, version 1.11 was undergoing Microsoft Store certification. The steps below describe that version and may not be available in the current download. Exclusive fullscreen and anti-cheat may prevent the overlay from appearing; it is not guaranteed to work in every game.
For anyone who wants to track FPS, CPU, GPU and RAM during a game and adjust the widget without interfering with the controls.
Explore LivoPC Monitor and check the version offered in the Microsoft Store. The FPS and customization features in this guide require update 1.11, which was undergoing certification when checked on October 10, 2026; the button does not guarantee that this update has already been released.
1. Choose a counter and understand what you are comparing
Look in the game's settings for performance statistics or an FPS counter, if available. FPS describes a frame rate; the screen's refresh rate, in Hz, describes how often the display updates. These measurements are related, but they are not the same indicator. Compare counters only when you know which metric each one uses.
- Keep the same scene, resolution and settings when comparing sessions.
- An average value alone does not describe the consistency of the animation.
- In Monitor 1.11, FPS uses presentation events via PresentMon for the foreground app. Do not treat this reading as a guarantee that frames generated by every driver are counted.
2. Enable the widget and optional FPS readings
With version 1.11 installed, open “Monitor and alerts”, enable the widget and turn on FPS. Overlay mode is the default when the widget is active: outside editing mode, clicks pass through the window to the app underneath. Return to the game to observe the reading for the foreground app.
- FPS starts disabled and must be enabled by you.
- If prompted by the interface, use Authorize FPS readings. The Windows confirmation applies to the capture helper; it does not require running the entire app as administrator.
- When you switch apps, the previous reading is discarded. A dash means there is no valid sample, not 0 FPS.
3. If the overlay disappears, check the game's display mode
Use the Keep above other windows option in Monitor. If the game is in exclusive fullscreen and the widget does not appear, try borderless window mode in the game's settings and return to the game. The overlay is a Windows window; games and presentation modes may limit its visibility.
| Situation | What to try | Limit of the conclusion |
|---|---|---|
| The widget appears on the desktop but disappears in the game | Try borderless window mode and Keep above other windows | Does not confirm exclusive fullscreen support |
| The widget appears, but FPS shows a dash | Check that FPS is enabled, the game is in the foreground and review the permission message | A working CPU sensor does not prove FPS capture is working |
| The game uses protection or blocks the window | Use the built-in counter, if available | Do not bypass anti-cheat or disable protections |
| The options in this guide are missing | Check the installed version and whether 1.11 is available in the Store | Certification does not mean the update has been released |
4. Adjust position, size, colors and transparent background
In version 1.11, open Edit overlay or use Ctrl + Shift + O. Move the widget using the handle; it also supports adjustments with the arrow keys. In Customize overlay, choose the vertical or horizontal compact layout, adjust the scale and reorder the metrics. Choose two colors for the gradient or enable the transparent background, then use Save appearance.
- Position the widget away from the minimap, subtitles and game controls.
- Check readability in bright and dark scenes: a transparent background can reduce contrast.
- Finish editing to return clicks to the game. Visual transparency and click-through are different behaviors.
- To start over, use Reset appearance and save the appearance.
5. Relate an FPS drop to what was happening
Hypothetical example: motion becomes uneven when entering a new area of the game. Note the scene and observe CPU, GPU, RAM and available temperatures at that moment. Repeat the same situation before changing anything. This observation helps form a hypothesis; it does not automatically identify a faulty component, insufficient RAM or the need for an upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Does LivoPC Monitor need Xbox Game Bar?
No. The overlay described uses the app's own widget. Optional FPS readings in version 1.11 use PresentMon and may request specific Windows authorization.
Does the overlay work in Battlefield in fullscreen?
There is no specific Battlefield validation that would support that promise. In exclusive fullscreen, the widget may be hidden; try borderless window mode. The game's protections may also prevent the display or readings.
Does enabling the counter increase FPS?
No. The counter observes a performance metric. It does not optimize the game or guarantee higher FPS, and monitoring itself has an overhead that varies by environment.
Why does FPS disappear when I click Monitor?
Capture follows the foreground app. When you interact with Monitor itself or switch windows, the previous game's reading is no longer used; return to the game and wait for a valid sample.
Is FPS saved to my account?
In the verified state of version 1.11, FPS is a local reading. There is no FPS history in the web dashboard, and captured frames are not sent to the account.
How this guide was prepared
AI-assisted editorial summary. Official sources are linked to the passages they support; LivoPC procedures were checked against the implementation and documentation for version 1.11. Examples are hypothetical and cover images are illustrations, with no hardware measurements or game testing. Version 1.11 was undergoing Microsoft Store certification on October 10, 2026; this does not establish its availability for download. This guide does not base a diagnosis on an isolated reading.
- LivoPC Monitor — features, download and coverage limits · accessed on
- Intel PresentMon 2.6 — capturing presentation events and permissions · accessed on
- Microsoft — display refresh rate in Windows · accessed on
Apply it to your PC
Explore LivoPC Monitor and check the version offered in the Microsoft Store. The FPS and customization features in this guide require update 1.11, which was undergoing certification when checked on October 10, 2026; the button does not guarantee that this update has already been released.
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