To show FPS on the Steam Machine, open the Quick Access Menu while your game is running, go to the Performance tab, and move the Performance Overlay Level slider up from off. Level 1 is the minimal setting, a small frame rate readout, and each notch above it adds more data on top of your game, up to the full readout at level 4.
The counter is drawn by SteamOS, not by the game, so it works the same whether a game has its own FPS option or not. Below are the buttons that open Quick Access on each controller, what the higher overlay levels add, the settings that sit next to it, and how to get a frame counter in Desktop Mode or Windows 11.
Where the FPS Counter Lives on Steam Machine
The Steam Machine runs SteamOS, and Valve’s Steam Machine store page says you “experience SteamOS in the same way as other Steam hardware, like Steam Deck and Steam Frame.” The frame counter is part of that shared system: it sits in the Performance tab of the Quick Access Menu (QAM), the side panel you open over any game.
Steam’s own description of the setting, shown when you highlight it, reads: “The performance overlay provides realtime data about the current status of your device, including frames per second, power consumption, GPU and CPU usage and more.” For a plain FPS counter, you only want the first of those.
How to Open the Quick Access Menu
| Controller | How to open Quick Access |
|---|---|
| Steam Controller | Press its Quick Access Menu (QAM) button. Valve lists separate Steam and QAM buttons on the controller. |
| Xbox controller | Hold the Xbox button and press A (Steam’s default shortcut) |
| PlayStation controller | Hold the PS button and press Cross (the same default shortcut) |
Shortcuts can differ by controller, so Valve gives one way to check yours. Its Steam Machine Feature and Troubleshooting guide says: “To see a list of available button chords specific to your controller, perform a long press of the Steam/PS/Xbox button and select Show Controller Shortcuts from the dialog that appears.”
If holding the Xbox or PS button does nothing, open Settings > Controller and make sure Enable Guide Button Chords for controllers is on. Still pairing a pad? Our Xbox controller guide for the Steam Machine walks through the Bluetooth menu.
Step by Step: Turn On the FPS Counter
- Start the game you want to check.
- Open the Quick Access Menu with the button for your controller (table above).
- Scroll down the menu’s tabs to Performance.
- Find Performance Overlay Level and move the slider from off to 1.
- Close the menu with B (Circle on PlayStation) or by pressing the QAM button again. The counter stays on screen while you play.
To turn it off, go back to the same slider and drag it down to off.
What the Higher Overlay Levels Add
| Level | What you see |
|---|---|
| Off | Nothing |
| 1 | The minimal view: frame rate only |
| 2 and 3 | More readouts on top of the frame rate, such as CPU and GPU use |
| 4 | The full readout, with the most detail |
Level 1 is the one to leave on during play. The higher levels are useful when you are tuning a game, because they show whether the CPU or the GPU is the part holding the frame rate down. The overlay also has an FSR indicator: Valve’s SteamOS 3.8 notes fixed an “FSR badge remaining off in the performance overlay, even if it was actually active.”
Performance Tab Settings Next to the Counter
The same tab holds the settings that change the number you are looking at:
- Frame Limit. Steam’s description: “Specify the maximum frames per second (FPS) the game is allowed to render.” If your counter never climbs above a round number, check this first.
- Disable Frame Limit. Lets a game render as fast as the hardware allows, even past your display’s refresh rate.
- Enable VRR and Allow Tearing. Variable refresh settings for displays that support them. The Machine’s store page lists FreeSync on both its DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 outputs.
- Use per-game profile. Steam’s explainer says performance settings “(like refresh rate, framerate limit, etc) can be adjusted for the system as a whole, or on a per-game basis.”
Keep SteamOS current under Settings > System > Software Updates. Valve’s SteamOS 3.9 update on October 23, 2026 fixed the “Disable Frame Limiter” toggle when VRR is on, and fixed frame limits giving a lower frame rate than intended on certain external displays.
Also remember what resolution you are measuring. Valve’s guide says “1080p is the system default game resolution on Steam Machine (labeled ‘Default’ in the Display dropdown menu)”, and you can change it in Settings > Display or per game.
How to Show FPS in Desktop Mode or Windows 11
Outside Gaming Mode, the Quick Access Menu is not there, but Steam’s in-game overlay has its own performance monitor. Valve’s performance monitor FAQ says: “To enable the performance monitor, go to Settings->In Game, and find the Performance Monitor settings and detail level options.” The detail levels run from FPS Single Value (just the number) up to a full-detail view that adds CPU, GPU and RAM readouts, and you can set a toggle key under Toggle performance monitor key(s).
Valve notes that its full set of metrics launched on Windows first and that some are not yet supported on other operating systems, so expect the most detail if you have put Windows 11 on your Steam Machine. For the SteamOS desktop itself, our Desktop Mode guide covers getting there and back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I show FPS on the Steam Machine? Open the Quick Access Menu during a game, go to the Performance tab, and set Performance Overlay Level to 1. Higher levels add more data.
Which button opens Quick Access on an Xbox or PS5 controller? Steam’s default shortcut is the Xbox or PS button plus A (Cross on PlayStation). Long-press the Xbox or PS button and pick Show Controller Shortcuts to see your controller’s full list.
How do I turn the FPS counter off? Go back to Quick Access > Performance and drag Performance Overlay Level down to off.
Why is my frame rate stuck at one number? Check Frame Limit in the same Performance tab, and make sure SteamOS is up to date: the October 2026 SteamOS 3.9 update fixed frame limits running low on certain external displays.
Can I move the counter or change its size? In Gaming Mode, the overlay level is the main control. Steam’s overlay performance monitor, used in Desktop Mode and Windows, lets you adjust “detail levels, screen position, contrast/saturation, and background opacity” in Settings > In Game, per Valve’s FAQ.