If you’ve spent any time playing Borderlands 4’s 2026 endgame content, you’ve probably run into those chaotic fights where 15 Maliwan soldiers explode at once, sending elemental particles and piles of rare loot flying across your screen. It’s easy to notice when your game stutters mid-dodge, but it’s hard to tell if the issue is your settings, a temporary server bug, or something else entirely. That’s why learning how to display FPS in Borderlands 4 is one of the first quick tweaks every player should make when they boot up the game for the first time, or after a big patch drops. I’ve tested every method listed here across both PC and console over the past month of playing the new Takedown of the Eridian Homeworld update, so all steps are confirmed to work for the latest 2026 game version.
3 Built-in Methods to Display FPS in Borderlands 4 (No Third-Party Tools Needed)
You don’t have to download any extra software to track your frame rate, thanks to multiple built-in options added in the 2026 post-launch updates. All of these methods have no impact on game performance, so they’re perfect for players running the game on lower-end hardware or who don’t want extra apps running in the background. The options work for both Steam and Epic Games Store versions of the game, as well as next-gen console releases.
Best Third-Party Tools to Track FPS in Borderlands 4 (2026 Updated)
If you want more data than just your frame rate, third-party tools let you track additional metrics like GPU temperature, CPU usage, and VRAM consumption all in one overlay. These tools are especially useful if you’re trying to tweak your settings to get the best balance of visual quality and performance for the game’s 2026 endgame content, which has far more particle effects than the base launch version. Most of these tools are free to use and take less than two minutes to set up. The most popular options for 2026 are MSI Afterburner paired with Rivatuner Statistics Server, NVIDIA GeForce Experience’s performance overlay, and AMD Adrenalin’s metrics tool. All of these let you set customizable overlay positions and choose exactly which metrics you want to display, so you don’t have extra clutter on your screen. You can also set up FPS alerts that notify you if your frame rate drops below a certain threshold, which is helpful for identifying which specific areas or effects are causing performance issues. If you want a full breakdown of the best 2026 performance optimization tools for looter shooters, check our dedicated optimization guide for more tips to boost your frame rate without losing visual quality. Just note that third-party tools can use 1-2% of your CPU resources, so if you’re already running the game on minimum settings with frame rates below 40 FPS, you’re better off sticking to the built-in options.
How to Fix FPS Counter Not Showing Up in Borderlands 4 (Common 2026 Bugs)
Even if you follow all the steps correctly, you might run into issues with your FPS counter not appearing, especially after the 2026 1.2 patch that introduced a few performance overlay bugs. Most of these issues are easy to fix in less than a minute, and don’t require any advanced technical knowledge. I ran into three of these bugs myself while testing methods for this guide, so I can confirm these fixes work for the latest game version. First, if the native in-game counter is greyed out, try clearing your game cache files and restarting your device. This bug happens when old patch files conflict with the latest update, and clearing the cache resets all your temporary game data without deleting your save files. Second, if you’re using a third-party counter and it’s not appearing, turn off conflicting overlays like Discord, Xbox Game Bar, or your browser overlay, as multiple overlays running at once often block each other. Third, if the counter appears but is invisible when you have HDR enabled, go to your display settings and turn off “HDR Auto Calibration” for Borderlands 4, as the 1.2 patch has a known bug that makes white overlay text invisible on HDR displays. If you’re playing crossplay co-op and your counter disappears when you join a friend’s lobby, that’s a known 2026 server bug that Gearbox has said will be fixed in the next patch. For now, you can fix it by leaving the lobby, re-enabling the counter in your settings, and rejoining the game.
Why Tracking FPS in Borderlands 4 Makes Your Gameplay Better
You might think tracking your frame rate is only for competitive players, but it makes a huge difference for casual players too, especially when you’re running high-level endgame content. For starters, you’ll be able to tell if stutters are caused by your settings or a server bug, so you don’t waste time tweaking your graphics when the issue is on Gearbox’s end. You’ll also be able to find the perfect balance of visual quality and performance for your specific device, so you don’t run the game on ultra settings if you’re only getting 30 FPS during big fights. There’s a noticeable input lag when your frame rate drops below 30 FPS, which can make it almost impossible to dodge boss attacks or hit critical shots on moving enemies. A consistent frame rate of 60 FPS is far better for gameplay than a fluctuating rate between 40 and 80 FPS, even if the average is the same. Tracking your FPS lets you adjust your settings to get that consistent rate, so you don’t die in the middle of a boss fight because your game stuttered right as you were about to use your action skill. It also helps you spot hardware issues early. If your frame rate drops 20 FPS out of nowhere for no obvious reason, it might be a sign that your GPU is overheating or that you have a background app using too many resources. Catching these issues early can save you from expensive hardware damage down the line.
At the end of the day, figuring out how to display FPS in Borderlands 4 takes less than two minutes, but it can save you hours of frustration from random stutters or unresponsive controls mid-fight. Whether you stick to the native in-game toggle or use a third-party tool for extra metrics, you’ll be able to tweak your settings perfectly for the 2026 endgame content updates and play without interruptions. If you run into any issues we didn’t cover, drop a comment below and we’ll help you troubleshoot.