Borderlands 4 Low FPS or FPS Drops on PC: Borderlands 4 is the highly anticipated sequel in Gearbox Software’s iconic looter-shooter franchise. Known for its colorful cel-shaded graphics, chaotic combat, and offbeat humor, the game delivers a high-octane experience.
However, many PC gamers have reported performance issues, specifically low FPS (frames per second) or sudden FPS drops that make the game choppy, sluggish, or even unplayable at times.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the most common causes of FPS problems in Borderlands 4 on PC, and provide you with 15+ detailed solutions to help fix low frame rates, smooth out gameplay, and get the most out of your hardware.
🚨 Why Am I Getting Low FPS in Borderlands 4?
Low FPS or FPS drops in Borderlands 4 can be caused by a variety of issues, ranging from outdated drivers to incorrect game settings. Understanding the root cause is the first step in resolving the issue.
✅ Common Causes:
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Your PC does not meet minimum or recommended specs.
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Outdated graphics drivers.
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Poorly optimized game settings (e.g., ultra textures on a low-end GPU).
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Background apps eating up CPU/RAM.
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V-Sync or high refresh rates causing input lag.
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Thermal throttling due to overheating.
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Game file corruption.
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Software conflicts (e.g., overlays, antivirus).
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Outdated Windows or DirectX.
🛠️ How to Fix Low FPS or FPS Drops in Borderlands 4 on PC
1. ✅ Check System Requirements First
Before tweaking settings, ensure your PC meets the game’s minimum or recommended system requirements.
Minimum Requirements:
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OS: Windows 10 64-bit
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CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 / AMD FX-8350
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RAM: 8 GB
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GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti / AMD Radeon RX 560
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Storage: 75 GB HDD
Recommended Requirements:
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OS: Windows 11 64-bit
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CPU: Intel Core i7-8700 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
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RAM: 16 GB
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GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1070 / AMD RX 5700
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Storage: 75 GB SSD (recommended)
If your specs fall short, no amount of optimization will yield high FPS. Upgrade your hardware as needed.
2. 🔄 Update Your GPU Drivers
Outdated drivers are the #1 cause of performance problems in new games.
How to Update:
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NVIDIA: Use GeForce Experience to update.
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AMD: Use Adrenalin Software to install the latest drivers.
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Restart your PC after updating.
Pro Tip: Clean install drivers using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) if issues persist.
3. 🧹 Close Unnecessary Background Applications
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and end any non-essential processes:
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Google Chrome (uses lots of RAM)
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Discord (disable overlay)
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OBS/streaming software
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Game launchers (Epic, Battle.net, etc.)
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Antivirus (temporarily disable for testing)
This frees up CPU and RAM resources for the game.
4. ⚙️ Optimize In-Game Graphics Settings
Launch Borderlands 4 and go to:
Settings > Video/Graphics
Recommended Settings for Mid-Range PCs:
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Resolution: Native (e.g., 1080p), or reduce to 1600×900 for more FPS
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Display Mode: Fullscreen (NOT Borderless)
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V-Sync: Off
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Frame Rate Limit: Unlimited or match your monitor’s refresh rate
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Anti-Aliasing: FXAA or Off
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Texture Quality: Medium
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Shadow Quality: Low
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Draw Distance: Medium
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Foliage Detail: Low
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Ambient Occlusion: Off
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Motion Blur: Off
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Volumetric Fog: Low or Off
Apply changes and restart the game to check FPS improvement.
5. 🎮 Enable DLSS or FSR (If Available)
If you’re using an NVIDIA RTX GPU, turn on DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) in the graphics settings.
For AMD GPUs, enable FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution).
These technologies upscale the game from a lower resolution, increasing FPS with minimal visual loss.
6. 🧊 Monitor CPU & GPU Temperatures
High temperatures cause thermal throttling, which drops performance.
Use tools like:
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HWMonitor
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MSI Afterburner
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HWiNFO64
If temps go above:
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CPU: 85°C+
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GPU: 85°C+
Then clean dust from fans, reapply thermal paste, or improve airflow.
7. 🛑 Disable Windows Game Mode & Xbox Game Bar
These features are supposed to help performance but often cause problems.
Turn off Game Mode:
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Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode > Toggle Off
Disable Xbox Game Bar:
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Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar > Turn Off
8. 🔌 Set Power Plan to High Performance
Balanced mode can throttle your CPU/GPU.
How to Enable High Performance:
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Go to Control Panel > Power Options
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Select High Performance or Ultimate Performance
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On laptops: plug into power to avoid battery-saving modes
9. 📈 Lower Windows Display Settings
If you’re on a 4K display but playing at 1080p, your system may still process some tasks at native resolution.
Steps:
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Right-click Desktop > Display Settings
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Set resolution to match in-game (e.g., 1920×1080)
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Set Scale to 100%
10. 🧩 Disable Overlays (Steam, Discord, etc.)
Overlays often clash with games and cause FPS issues.
How to Disable:
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Steam: Settings > In-Game > Uncheck Enable the Steam Overlay
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Discord: User Settings > Overlay > Toggle Off
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GeForce Experience: Disable in-game overlay
11. 🧰 Verify Game File Integrity
Corrupted files can cause performance problems, crashes, or missing textures.
On Steam:
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Right-click Borderlands 4 > Properties > Installed Files > Verify Integrity
On Epic Games:
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Library > Click 3 dots next to game > Manage > Verify Files
12. 💾 Move Game to SSD (If on HDD)
Games load assets from storage frequently. If Borderlands 4 is on an HDD, FPS may stutter due to slow read speeds.
Move the game to an SSD via your launcher settings or reinstall on the SSD.
13. 📤 Update Windows + DirectX
Always keep your OS updated for the best compatibility with games and drivers.
Check for updates:
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Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates
Install latest DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables from Microsoft’s site.
14. 🧽 Clean Boot Your System
Boot with only essential services to rule out third-party interference.
Steps:
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Press Windows + R, type
msconfig, press Enter. -
Go to Services, check Hide Microsoft Services, then click Disable all.
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Go to Startup > Open Task Manager, disable all non-essential items.
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Restart your PC.
Test Borderlands 4 to see if FPS improves.
15. 🎯 Adjust NVIDIA or AMD Control Panel Settings
NVIDIA:
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Open NVIDIA Control Panel
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Manage 3D settings > Program Settings > Add Borderlands 4
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Power Management: Prefer Maximum Performance
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Texture Filtering: High Performance
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Vertical Sync: Off
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Low Latency Mode: On
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AMD:
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Open Radeon Software
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Set Graphics Profile to eSports
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Enable Radeon Anti-Lag
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Set Texture Filtering Quality to Performance
16. 🧱 Reinstall the Game (Last Resort)
If all else fails, a clean reinstall of Borderlands 4 might fix corrupted files or improper installations that affect performance.
🧠 Pro Tips for Smooth Performance
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Cap FPS to 60 if your hardware can’t push higher stably — consistent 60 is better than fluctuating 100-30.
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Turn off motion blur to reduce visual strain and improve perceived performance.
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Enable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (Windows 10/11 only).
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Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings
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