How to Fix Lag and Stuttering Issues in DirectX 12: Best Solutions

Step 1: Disable Control Flow Guard (CFG)

Follow these steps to disable CFG:

1. Click on the Start menu and type Exploit protection. Press Enter.
2. In the settings window, navigate to Program settings.
3. Select Add program to customize and choose Choose exact file path.
4. Locate the folder where your game is installed, select the DX12 executable (.exe) file, and click Open.
5. Under Control Flow Guard, check the option Override system settings, then set it to Off.
6. Click Apply, then restart your computer.

Pro Tip: Disabling Control Flow Guard can greatly diminish stuttering by reducing runtime checks and overhead.

Step 2: Delete Shader Cache

To remove potentially corrupted shader files:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Storage.
3. Click on your main drive (usually C:) or where your game is installed.
4. Locate and click Temporary files.
5. Check DirectX Shader Cache and select Remove files.

Pro Tip: This action forces the game to rebuild shader files, potentially eliminating stuttering due to shader issues.

Step 3: Set DPI Scaling to Application Controlled

To adjust DPI settings for optimal performance:

1. Right-click the game’s executable and choose Properties.
2. Go to the Compatibility tab.
3. Check Override high DPI scaling behavior and select Application for scaling performed by.
4. Click Apply and then OK.

Pro Tip: This can prevent scaling mismatches that lead to stuttering.

Step 4: Disable Windows Defender and Firewall for the Game

To set your game executable as an exclusion in Windows Defender:

1. Open the Start menu, search for Windows Security and press Enter.
2. Go to Virus & threat protection.
3. Click on Manage settings under the protection settings.
4. Scroll to Exclusions and select Add or remove exclusions.
5. Add your game folder and executable to the exclusions.
6. Navigate to Firewall & network protection, click Allow an app through firewall, and ensure your game has access.

Pro Tip: Excluding your game from security checks can prevent performance drops.

Step 5: Disable DWM for Full-Screen Games

For experienced users, you can disable DWM if you’re facing performance issues:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
3. Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it DisableDWM, and set the value to 1.
4. Restart your computer.

Pro Tip: Disabling DWM can reduce input latency, though it may affect other system operations.

Step 6: Downclock Your GPU

To downclock your GPU using MSI Afterburner:

1. Download and install MSI Afterburner.
2. Open the application and locate the core clock speed slider.
3. Reduce the core clock by 100 MHz, then click Apply.
4. Play your game. If stuttering continues, reduce in increments of 25 MHz until stable.

Pro Tip: Some GPUs perform better at lower clock speeds, especially if the CPU cannot keep pace.

Step 7: Use RTSS to Cap the FPS

To cap your game’s FPS with RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS):

1. Download and install RTSS.
2. Open RTSS and add your game’s executable to the list.
3. Set the framerate limit to match your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g., 60, 120, or 144 FPS).
4. Save and exit RTSS, then start your game.

Pro Tip: Capping FPS helps maintain consistent frame pacing, reducing stuttering effects.

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