DirectX 12 is Laggy and Stuttering? Here are the Best Ways to Fix it

You can also try using DirectX 11 instead

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 7, 2024

updated onOctober 7, 2024

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Experiencing lag and stuttering in your DirectX 12 games can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of an intense gaming session. Here are some practical solutions to help you fix these issues and improve your gaming performance.

How do I fix lag and stuttering in DirectX 12?

1. Disable Control Flow Guard (CFG)

Disabling the Control Flow Guard for the game’s executable can alleviate stuttering issues by reducing the overhead caused by runtime checks, allowing the game to run smoother. This has been a common recommendation across multiple forums and has shown positive results for many users.

2. Delete Shader Cache

Deleting the shader cache helps to remove any potentially corrupted shader files, forcing the game to rebuild them, which can reduce stuttering caused by shader compilation issues.

3. Set DPI Scaling to Application Controlled

This setting ensures that the game controls its own DPI scaling, which can sometimes resolve stuttering issues related to display scaling mismatches.

4. Disable Windows Defender and Firewall for the Game

Adding the game to the exclusions in Windows Security can prevent security checks from interfering with game performance, which can sometimes cause stuttering issues.

5. Disable DWM for Full-Screen Games (for experienced users)

DWM (Desktop Window Manager) can sometimes cause performance issues with full-screen games. Disabling it can reduce input latency and stuttering, but it may affect other system functionalities.

6. Downclock GPU

Some GPUs may run more stably at lower clock speeds, especially if the CPU and GPU are mismatched in performance or if the GPU is overheating. Downclocking the GPU can help stabilize performance.

7. Use RTSS to cap the FPS

Capping your FPS with RTSS can help manage the game’s frame pacing and reduce stuttering caused by fluctuating frame rates, providing a smoother gaming experience.

By following these steps, DirectX 12 shouldn’t be laggy or causing stuttering in games. There is also a way toreinstall DirectX 12if it got corrupted and to fixdxerror.log and directxlog errors in Windows 11. You might alsocheck if your graphics card is DirectX 12 compatibleorDirectX 9 compatible.

To keep your system running smoothly, regularly update your drivers and clear out temporary files. Did you managed to fix the DirectX 12 lag and stuttering? Let us know in the comments below.

DirectX 12 is Laggy and Stuttering? Here are the Best Ways to Fix it#

How do I fix lag and stuttering in DirectX 12?#

1. Disable Control Flow Guard (CFG)#

2. Delete Shader Cache#

3. Set DPI Scaling to Application Controlled#

4. Disable Windows Defender and Firewall for the Game#

5. Disable DWM for Full-Screen Games (for experienced users)#

6. Downclock GPU#

7. Use RTSS to cap the FPS#