The fastest way to show FPS in CS2 is Settings > Game > Telemetry, then set “Show frame time and FPS” to Always. If you prefer a console command, enable the developer console and enter cl_showfps 1. Use cl_showfps 0 to hide it again.
Updated September 11, 2026: This guide now leads with CS2’s built-in Telemetry setting, fixes the obsolete net_graph 1 advice, and replaces the retired GeForce Experience steps with the current NVIDIA App.
Open Settings > Game > Telemetry and set Show frame time and FPS to Always. For a console counter, enter cl_showfps 1; use cl_showfps 0 to turn it off.
Show FPS fast
| Method | Best for | Turn it on | Turn it off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telemetry | Clean built-in counter | Settings > Game > Telemetry > Always | Set it to Never |
| Console | Fast command | cl_showfps 1 | cl_showfps 0 |
| Launch option | Counter on every launch | +cl_showfps 1 | Delete the launch option |
| GPU overlay | FPS plus hardware data | NVIDIA App or AMD Software | Disable the metrics overlay |
Show FPS with CS2 Telemetry
- Open CS2 and select the Settings gear.
- Open the Game tab.
- Scroll to Telemetry.
- Set Show frame time and FPS to Always.
This is the best choice for most players. It uses CS2’s own HUD and stays enabled without a launch option. Choose If conditions are poor if you only want the readout to appear when frame time gets worse, or choose Never to hide it.
Use the CS2 show FPS console command
- Open Settings > Game.
- Set Enable Developer Console (~) to Yes.
- Press the tilde key (
~) to open the console. - Enter this command and press Enter:
cl_showfps 1
The small FPS readout appears near the top of the screen. Enter cl_showfps 0 to remove it. The live CS2 command data also lists modes 2, 3, and 4, but mode 1 is the simple counter most players are looking for.
Make the FPS counter load every time
- In Steam, right-click Counter-Strike 2 and choose Properties.
- Stay on General and find Launch Options.
- Enter
+cl_showfps 1. - Close the window and start CS2.
Remove that text when you no longer want the counter. See our CS2 launch options guide before adding other commands; old CS:GO option lists often contain entries that do nothing in CS2.
How to show FPS, ping, and network trouble
The old CS:GO command net_graph 1 is not the current answer in CS2. Use the Game > Telemetry menu instead. You can set frame time/FPS, ping, and network problems to Never, poor conditions only, or Always.
- For a permanent ping readout, set Show ping to Always.
- For connection trouble, set the network problem readout to Always or poor conditions only.
- If FPS is low but ping is normal, start with graphics and hardware checks. If FPS is steady but movement stutters, inspect ping and network delivery.
Valve’s Telemetry HUD support page explains the current network readout, while the live commands include cl_hud_telemetry_ping_show and cl_hud_telemetry_net_misdelivery_show. Each uses 0 for Never, 1 for poor conditions, and 2 for Always.
Show FPS with NVIDIA or AMD software
NVIDIA App
The NVIDIA App can display FPS, GPU use, temperature, and other hardware data through its statistics overlay. Open the in-game overlay, choose Statistics, configure the metrics you want, then toggle the overlay while CS2 is running. This replaces the old GeForce Experience route shown in older guides.
AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition
Open AMD Software, go to Performance > Metrics, and enable the Metrics Overlay. AMD’s current controls let you choose which readings appear and where the overlay sits. This is more useful than CS2’s small counter when you are checking whether the CPU or GPU is limiting performance.
FPS counter not showing?
- Check that the console command uses an underscore:
cl_showfps 1. - If the tilde key does nothing, enable Developer Console in Settings > Game.
- If Telemetry only appears sometimes, change it from poor conditions only to Always.
- If a GPU overlay is missing, confirm its in-game overlay is enabled and that CS2 is included in the app’s settings.
- Do not use
net_graph 1as a CS2 FPS fix. That advice belongs to CS:GO.
What FPS should you aim for in CS2?
A stable frame rate matters more than chasing one universal number. At minimum, try to stay above your monitor’s refresh rate: above 60 FPS for 60Hz, 144 FPS for 144Hz, or 240 FPS for 240Hz. Competitive players often run much higher, but a counter is useful because it shows drops and frame-time trouble, not because one target fits every PC.
If you are tuning a full setup, compare current CS2 pro settings and browse CS2 player profiles.
Sources
- Valve Source 2 Telemetry HUD support: current network readout.
- Current CS2 console variable dump: FPS, frame-time, ping, and network commands.
- NVIDIA App and AMD performance monitoring: current GPU overlay features.
