How to fix FPS in Path of Exile 2

While Path of Exile 2 ^[1] isn’t a competitive shooter like Valorant or CS2, it still has online elements that require players to be quick on their feet and react to unexpected variables on the screen. Thanks to this, having low or unstable FPS could potentially hinder any player’s progress, stopping them from completing missions like the usually would.

Fortunately, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a couple of potential fixes players can try to hopefully resolve their FPS issue. We’re here to go through every troubleshooting method you should utilize if you face low FPS to hopefully get it to a good enough level where you can smoothly play the game.

So, if you’ve been struggling with your FPS in Path of Exile 2 then keep reading because we have you covered. Of course, if the topic of your struggle has been looking for certain consumables, items, or currencies in the game instead, then we highly recommend you check out Eloking’s Path of Exile 2 marketplace. This is where sellers meet buyers in a safe and regulated environment.

Lower in-game settings

The first step a player should take is to change their in-game graphics settings if Path of Exile 2 is running poorly. They should launch the game and click on Options in the top right corner. They need to scroll down to Foreground FPS Cap and Background FPS Cap and set them to match their monitor’s refresh rate. After that, disable Dynamic Resolution to prevent automatic resolution scaling because it can cause inconsistent performance. 

Lowering Texture Quality to Medium or Low reduces VRAM usage, which is helpful on systems with low GPU memory. Players who have CPUs with lots of cores should enable Engine Multithreading so the game uses its numerous cores efficiently. Consider reducing shadow quality, lighting effects, and water detail as well because these settings are demanding.

Roll back the graphics driver

Sometimes, the latest GPU drivers can introduce performance issues. If players notice stuttering or FPS drops after a driver update, rolling back to a previous version can help. One method is to go to the Device Manager, expand the Display adapters tab, and right-click on the appropriate graphics card. Then, players should select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and select Roll Back Driver. 

If that doesn’t work, users should go to the websites of their respective graphics card companies, such as Nvidia, AMD, or Intel, and download old graphics card drivers from there. Before installing new ones, users must download DDU and use it to uninstall the current drivers. Once it’s uninstalled, players must restart their PC and install the drivers that they downloaded previously before restarting again.

Doing these will revert the player’s driver to an older version that might run more stably with Path of Exile 2.

Adjust power settings for maximum performance

Windows and GPU power settings can limit performance to save energy. Players must go to their graphics card’s control panel and find the power management settings to ensure the system runs at full power. Over there, they must add Path of Exile 2’s executable file and ensure it prioritizes performance over power saving. This setting prevents the GPU from downclocking during gameplay. Also, ensure the Windows power settings are in High Performance mode by going to Power & Sleep settings. These changes ensure that the person’s hardware isn’t being throttled.

Clear the shader cache and minimap data

Corrupted or outdated shader cache files can cause stuttering and FPS drops. To fix this, players should open File Explorer and go to C: > Users > *Username* > AppData > Roaming > Path of Exile 2. If the AppData folder isn’t visible, players can press Win + R to open the Run window and type “%appdata%” without the quotes. Inside the Path of Exile 2 folder, players must find and open the ShaderCacheD3D12 and MiniMap folders and delete everything in them. This step will force the game to create new cache files upon relaunch, which can solve stuttering issues due to corrupted data.

Optimize background processes and system performance

Background applications can use system resources that can lead to FPS drops. Players should close things in the background that can cause performance loss, like Skype, Microsoft OneDrive, and Discord. To increase the game’s priority, players must go to the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and go to the Details tab. Find the Path of Exile 2’s process, right-click on it, and set the priority to high.

Verify game files and reinstall if necessary

Corrupted or missing game files can cause performance problems. Steam players must right-click Path of Exile 2 from their library, go to properties, navigate to local files, and click verify integrity of game files. Epic Games users can click the three dots next to the game and select verify.

This process checks for damaged files and replaces them. If these issues remain despite verifying game files, the only solution is to reinstall the game properly. Players can do that by uninstalling the game, deleting any residue files in its installation folder and appdata, and then downloading and installing it again.

Best graphics settings for FPS

These settings will provide the best frame rate for Path of Exile 2:

• Display Mode: Fullscreen
• Resolution: Native
• Upscaling: Off or Nvidia DLSS
• Renderer: DirectX 12
• V-Sync: Off
• Foreground FPS Cap: Disabled
• Background FPS Cap: Disabled
• Antialiasing Quality: High
• Lighting: Shadows
• Shadow + GI Quality: Low
• Sun Shadow Quality: Low
• Number of Lights: Low
• Bloom: Reduce to 25%
• Depth of Field: On
• Incursion Effect: On
• Water Detail Level: Low
• Texture Quality: Medium
• Texture Filtering: Medium
• Dynamic Culling: Disabled
• Dynamic Resolution: Disabled
• Target Frame Rate: 60 FPS
• Engine Multithreading: Enabled

FAQs

Why is FPS important in Path of Exile 2?

FPS, or Frames Per Second, measures how smoothly the game runs. Higher FPS means smoother gameplay, faster reactions, and more responsive controls—especially important in Path of Exile 2, where fast-paced combat and tight movement are key. Low FPS can cause lag, stuttering, or input delay, making it harder to dodge attacks or time abilities properly.

What FPS should I aim for in Path of Exile 2?

Most players aim for a stable 60 FPS for smooth and responsive gameplay. If you have a high-refresh-rate monitor, you may benefit from 120 FPS or higher, but stability is more important than high numbers. A consistent 60 FPS with minimal drops usually gives the best experience, especially during intense fights or crowded areas.

How can I improve FPS in Path of Exile 2?

To improve FPS, adjust settings like shadow quality, anti-aliasing, texture quality, and post-processing. Set your display mode to Fullscreen for better performance and lower input lag. Disabling features like Global Illumination, Motion Blur, and Depth of Field can also increase FPS significantly. Make sure background apps are closed, and update your graphics drivers regularly for optimal performance.

References

1. [1] "Official PoE 2 website". pathofexile2.com. Retrieved April 04, 2025