What does Low Client FPS mean in VALORANT?

It is an on-screen warning that your frame rate is low. Reports say it is often a bug triggered by overlays, but weak hardware and outdated software can also cause it.

Can a strong PC get this warning?

Yes. Reports say it affects both weak and strong PCs.

Is disabling HPET safe?

It is an advanced Windows change that some players say helps. Skip it if unsure, and note it may not help on the latest patch.

Do I need to reinstall Vanguard?

Only as a last step, after overlays, drivers and background apps are ruled out.

VALORANT Low Client FPS and Lag: How to Fix It

VALORANT shows a Low Client FPS warning in the top right corner when your frame rate falls. According to reports from Dot Esports and Dexerto, it is often triggered by overlays or software conflicts and can appear even on strong PCs. These fixes come from those guides, checked on October 13, 2026. Check the VALORANT system requirements first.

Key takeaways

Turn off overlays from your graphics card software, Discord and Xbox Game Bar first.
Update graphics drivers and Windows.
Close tracker and helper apps in the system tray.
Reinstall VALORANT and Vanguard only if nothing else works.

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The fixes, in order

Disable overlays. In AMD Radeon software, turn off the overlay and Instant Replay. In NVIDIA software, turn off the in-game overlay. Test Discord and Xbox Game Bar too.
Update graphics drivers. Run dxdiag to see your card, then install the driver from NVIDIA or AMD, and install pending Windows updates.
Disable fullscreen optimizations. Right-click the VALORANT program file, open Properties, then Compatibility, and tick the option.
Close background apps like stat trackers.
Lower in-game settings. Use Low, turn off extra effects and try FXAA or no anti-aliasing on weak PCs.
Set High priority in Task Manager, Details, for the VALORANT processes while the game runs.
Reinstall VALORANT and Riot Vanguard from Windows Apps, restart, and install again from the official site.

Frame drops after patches

Dexerto reported FPS drops after patches 2.05 and 2.06, which Riot linked mainly to certain agents and said it was improving CPU performance. One reported workaround is disabling the HPET timer. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run bcdedit /enum all /v | findstr "clock". If it shows useplatformclock Yes, run bcdedit.exe /set useplatformclock false and restart. This is an advanced step, so skip it if you are not comfortable, and note it may not help on newer patches.

Not sure your PC is ready? Try the Can my PC run it? calculator and the FPS calculator.

Still stuck?

Send a support ticket to Riot with your logs and the steps you tried. Meanwhile, see how the game should look on live VALORANT streams and read our VALORANT beginner guide.