What Is & How to Fix Stuttering in Games

Game or PC stuttering on Windows 10 is the irregular delays between GPU frames that can have a notable impact on gameplay and, depending on the intensity, even make a game unplayable.

A game that stutters will feel slow or laggy and momentarily delay the player’s actions. This delay is even more annoying if you’re playing a game online, but applies to single-player experiences as well.

Some players have stated on forums that their games stutter after Windows build updates, so both sides experienced game stuttering on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.

Others reported that their games stuttered when played at higher frame rates. Even though the situations are similar, the causes for them and the exact steps will differ.

We’ve also noticed that the Diagnostics Policy Service is causing the game to stutter for some people, but it seems to be an easy fix. Also, many had old games stuttering in Windows 10, which, too, will be addressed here.

First and foremost, let’s explore what can actually cause stutter to happen, as this would help us better understand what we can do to fix and also prevent it.

What causes game stuttering?

Game stuttering usually occurs if your system is not powerful enough to run the specific game, but there are other possible reasons.

We will discuss each of them, thus allowing you to identify which ones apply to your case and deal with them accordingly.

➡ Outdated drivers

As we know, not having the latest drivers installed on your PC will affect how your hardware will cope with games and other processes.

The most common device driver which needs to be checked is the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) driver, but making sure the others are covered will ensure no problem will occur.

➡ Lack of system optimization

If your system is running slower because of clutter like browser caches and temporary files, this will greatly impact the speed at which games and other apps will run.

Fixing this is extremely easy if you’re using the right optimization software, enabling you peace of mind that no useful files have been removed or changed.

➡ Not meeting system requirements

If the recommended system requirements of your game are not met, in most cases, the game will stutter and even close entirely.

Checking the developer’s page for information on the hardware required to run the game optimally is a must, and not doing so would imply wasting both money and time on a game you can’t play.

Does HDD cause stutter?

If your HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or for that matter, even the SSD, is filled up with apps and files, then the required space to run the game and the OS might not be sufficient. In this case, the games will lag or even sometimes make the game crash on Windows 10.

This is why it is always recommended to keep your PC clean of any unused software and games, as any installed programs that haven’t been used lately are only slowing down your PC. Also, you could run Disk Cleanup or set up Storage Sense to automatically clear storage on the PC.

How do I fix lagging games on Windows 10?

Tip

Not all the recommended changes here will make your PC run faster and enhance gaming performance. Some might turn out counterproductive, and it’s due to several localized factors. No matter the case, if you find the computer’s performance affected, revert the change.

1. Reduce the game’s graphics settings

In case you are wondering why my games are stuttering suddenly, remember the graphics settings significantly influence the stuttering of games in Windows 10.

If your system’s capabilities fall short of the requirements for running the game optimally, then the stuttering of your game will be influenced considerably.

To change this option, simply open the game, navigate to its Settings, choose Graphics, and make sure to set a lower overall value or de-activate some features like Antialiasing, Shadow values, and others. This should also fix game stuttering with high FPS.

2. Update the Graphics card driver

1. Press Win key + X and choose Device Manager from the list.
2. Toggle the Display Adapters option.
3. Right-click your GPU, and choose Update Driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
5. Wait for the process to complete.

If you have the GPU stuttering constantly or even micro stuttering in Windows `10, updating the graphics driver should help. So, if you were wondering why my PC is stuttering in games, it could be the outdated graphics driver to blame.

If you want to avoid going through all these steps, you can achieve the same results using a specialized driver updater software like DriverFix.

Tip

Depending on your GPU, it might come with software that includes an update section, so be sure to check that out.

3. Turn off the Windows Game Bar and DVR

1. Press the Start button and select Settings.
2. Click on Gaming from the left pane, then select Xbox Game Bar from the right.
3. Un-toggle the Xbox Game Bar option.
4. Go back to the previous screen and click Captures.
5. Turn off the Record what happened option.

4. Enable V-Sync

➡ Nvidia graphics

1. Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. Click 3D Settings and select Manage 3D Settings.
3. Scroll down through the list, click on Vertical sync, and click the drop-down menu.
4. Choose On from the drop-down menu.
5. Press the Apply button.

➡ AMD graphics

1. Right-click the desktop and select the AMD Radeon Settings option.
2. Click the Gaming tab.
3. Choose Global Settings.
4. Click Wait for Vertical Refresh and select the Always on option.

5. Turn off Intel Turbo Boost

1. Enter powercfg.cpl in Run, and select the OK option.
2. Click Change plan settings next to the selected plan.
3. Then click Change advanced power settings.
4. Double-click the Processor power management to expand that category.
5. Then double-click Maximum processor state.
6. Adjust the On battery and Plugged in values to 99 %.
7. Click the OK button.

6. Turn off Dynamic Tick

1. Right-click the Start menu and select Windows Terminal (Admin). On Windows 10, you can use Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt as administrator instead.
2. Type in the following command and press Enter: bcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes
3. Input this line, and press Enter: bcdedit /set useplatformclock true
4. Run the following command: bcdedit /set tscsyncpolicy Enhanced
5. Close the command window and restart your system.

Note that there are a few game booster programs that optimize system resources for games.

Software such as Game Fire 6, Razer Cortex, and Wise Game Booster include numerous resources for boosting games. This software will also close superfluous third-party programs and services for users.

Game stuttering is more likely when players don’t optimize system resources for games. As such, make sure there aren’t too many background programs consuming system resources before launching the game.

NOTE

If you want to revert all the changes made in Windows PowerShell, Command Prompt, or Windows Terminal, you can simply run the following commands:

bcdedit /set disabledynamictick no
bcdedit /set useplatformclock no
bcdedit /set tscsyncpolicy Default

7. Turn off the Diagnostic Policy Service

1. Press Win key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Enter services.msc in Run and click OK.
3. Double-click Diagnostic Policy Service.
4. Select Disabled on the Startup type drop-down menu.
5. Click the OK button and restart your system.

The most efficient ways to prevent in-game stuttering

➡ Buy some new components

To avoid encountering the same issues in the future, the best way is to invest in better computer components for your gaming rig.

The PC components market growth estimates have been steadily increasing across time, but it does show a leveling when it comes to 2022 and 2023, so you might want to invest in some new components as soon as possible.

As it is the brain of your PC, a good processor (CPU) can make a huge difference in gameplay smoothness and overall experience.

Of course, a capable CPU will not only give you an advantage while gaming but also in everyday usage.

Besides the processing capabilities, a PC that will allow you to play games without encountering stuttering will also be equipped with a good Graphics Process Unit (GPU).

Contributing to a streamlined gaming experience also includes having enough RAM available and also high-speed storage like SSD.

➡ Update your game with the latest patches

As there might be situations where your PCs components are strong enough to run the game without issues, there might be a problem with the game itself.

Game developers release patches and fixes for known bugs regularly, so if you find yourself in this category, check out the producer’s websites for any updates.

Bonus: Games stuttering on high-end PCs

This very particular situation caught our attention, and it’s closely linked to the mentions above. In other words, the game or games may be unfit, buggy, or otherwise broken.

However, other potential culprits can cause serious lagging even on computers with superior specs.

For instance, virus and malware infections are generally responsible when you have games stuttering on a high-end PC. Thus, running a full system scan with a trustworthy antivirus program such as ESET makes sense.

You can also try these methods and see if they help solve or reduce the stuttering:

• Drop any intermediary wires and connect your GPU straight to the Power supply
• Check if your GPU’s firmware is up to date and take appropriate measures if it’s not
• Clean up some storage and memory space (erase temp files, junk files, optimize partitions, etc.)
• Check for signs of corruption at the system level

Can RAM cause stuttering in games?

Yes, the RAM, like any other component, can just as well be responsible for stuttering in games. Its role is to store the files for the programs currently running, and if the memory starts running low, the game’s performance is affected.

The RAM’s timing also plays a critical role here, and it has to be optimal for the best gaming experience, neither too high nor too low. Usually, adding more RAM modules to PC does help, but you can start by increasing the virtual memory.

As you can see, it is not complicated to fix game and PC stuttering in Windows 10 and 11 as long as you know what you’re doing.

Our solutions cover all bases, from the least to the more invasive troubleshooting methods, thus allowing you to get the most results with the least effort.

You don’t need to worry about causing any extra issues as long as you’re following the steps exactly.

Preventing stuttering from appearing should be one of your top priorities as a gamer, but in case it happens suddenly, following our guide will ensure a quick resolution.

Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts about this topic with us. You can do so easily by using the comment section below.