You want to turn on Xbox FPS Boost so an older Xbox One or Xbox 360 game runs smoother on your Xbox Series X or Series S. Once your console is updated and your game is on Microsoft’s list, the toggle itself sits two menus deep, but it only exists for games Microsoft has enabled, and it is a different feature from the native 120FPS mode found in newer games.
What Is Xbox FPS Boost?
FPS Boost is a free feature built into Xbox Series X and Series S. It raises the frame rate of select backward-compatible games beyond what they shipped with. There’s no app to install, nothing to buy, and no subscription to join. You need a Series X|S console and a game on Microsoft’s official supported list.
Microsoft applies FPS Boost one game at a time. When it announced the feature on February 17, 2021, it said FPS Boost could double the frame rate of supported games, and in some cases raise it to four times the original. In practice, a game locked at 30 frames per second (FPS) might run at 60, and a few titles can reach 120 on a compatible display.
FPS Boost gives you a smoother version of a game you already own, with no remaster to buy and no new console needed beyond the Series X|S you have.
FPS Boost vs. native 120FPS: the difference
These two features get mixed up constantly. Here’s the plain-language split:
| FPS Boost | Native 120FPS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Which games | Select backward-compatible Xbox One and Xbox 360 games | Games built or optimized for Xbox Series X\ | S |
| Who makes it work | Microsoft, at the system level | The game’s developer, inside the game | |
| Where you turn it on | Manage game and add-ons > Compatibility options | The game’s own settings menu (often called “Performance mode” or similar) | |
| Typical result | Often 30 → 60 FPS; some titles reach 120 FPS | A high-frame-rate mode (up to 120 FPS) when the game offers one; some are dynamic rather than locked | |
| Needs a 120Hz display? | Only for titles boosted to 120 FPS | Yes, to actually see 120 FPS | |
| Cost | Free | Free (part of the game) |
The short version: FPS Boost is for old games and lives in the console menus. Native 120FPS is for new games and lives inside the game. If you’re looking for an FPS boost option on a new Series X|S-optimized game, you generally won’t find one, because that game handles frame rate in its own settings.
Does FPS Boost cost anything extra?
No. FPS Boost is not an add-on, DLC, or Game Pass perk. It’s a system-level setting the console applies to supported games, so there’s nothing extra to buy or subscribe to.
Before You Begin
Check these before you open any menus:
- You have an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S. FPS Boost is a Series X|S console feature; Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles don’t have the setting.
- The game is on Microsoft’s official FPS Boost list at
news.xbox.com/en-us/fpsboost/. - The backward-compatible version of the game named on the official list is installed. (If Smart Delivery installed a Series X|S-optimized version instead, that version uses its own in-game settings.)
- Your console is fully updated.
- For 120 FPS only: a TV or monitor that accepts a 120Hz signal from your console. For 4K at 120Hz you also need an HDMI 2.1 input and an Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 cable; at lower resolutions, what works depends on your display and connection.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Device | Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S |
| Console software | Latest system update installed |
| Game | Must appear on the official FPS Boost list |
| Display (60 FPS boost) | Any TV or monitor |
| Display (120 FPS boost or native 120FPS) | 120Hz-capable TV or monitor; HDMI 2.1 and an Ultra High Speed cable for 4K at 120Hz |
| Cost | Free |
FPS Boost is a console-only setting. The Xbox app on Windows can’t toggle it, and it doesn’t apply to games you play on a Windows PC.
Step-by-Step Guide: Turn On FPS Boost
Step 1: Update your console
Supported games and system fixes arrive through console updates, so start here.
- Press the Xbox button on your Xbox Wireless Controller to open the guide.
- Go to Profile & system > Settings > System > Updates.
- If you see Update console available, select it and let it install. The console restarts on its own.
Expected result: The Updates screen reads No console update available.
Step 2: Confirm your game is on the official list
Don’t rely on forum posts or old videos. Check Microsoft’s official published list.
- On a phone or PC browser, open
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/fpsboost/. - Search the page for your game’s exact title.
- Note which consoles it supports (Series X, Series S, or both) and whether FPS Boost is on by default.
Expected result: You find your game listed, along with its console availability.
Tip: Games often have several editions, like an Xbox 360 release, an Xbox One release, and a Series X|S-optimized release. FPS Boost only applies to the exact version listed. Match the name carefully.
Step 3: Open Manage game and add-ons
This is the first of the two menu steps.
- Press the Xbox button and select My games & apps > See all.
- Highlight the supported game’s tile. Don’t launch it.
- Press the Menu button (three horizontal lines) on your controller.
- Select Manage game and add-ons.
Expected result: The game’s management screen opens, with its install size, add-ons, and a list of options on the left.
Tip: If the game is already running, fully quit it first. Highlight the game on the Home screen, press the Menu button, and select Quit.
Step 4: Turn on FPS boost in Compatibility options
This is the second menu step.
- On the game’s management screen, select Compatibility options.
- Check the box next to FPS boost.
- Leave Auto HDR as it is unless you want to change it too. It’s a separate setting that happens to sit in the same menu.
- Press the B button to back out.
Expected result: The FPS boost box shows a checkmark. The console may warn that the change applies the next time you launch the game.
Warning: On some games, FPS Boost is off by default because Microsoft had to lower the rendering resolution to hit the higher frame rate. The trade-off is covered in the troubleshooting section below.
Step 5: Launch the game fresh
The setting only applies on a clean launch.
- Launch the game from My games & apps.
- Once you’re in, press the Xbox button to open the guide. When Microsoft announced FPS Boost, it said the guide would show an indicator while a game runs with FPS Boost. If you don’t see one on your console, judge by the smoother motion instead.
Expected result: The game loads normally and motion looks noticeably smoother, especially when you turn the camera quickly.
Tip: Quick Resume can bring back a game session started before you changed the setting. If nothing seems different, quit the game from the Home screen and launch it again.
How to Enable Native 120FPS on Series X|S Games
Native 120FPS is a separate process. You set the console’s display output first, then pick a performance option inside the game. This also covers FPS Boost titles that reach 120 FPS, since they need the same display setup.
Step 1: Connect a 120Hz-capable display
- Check your TV or monitor’s specs for 120Hz input support. If you want 4K at 120Hz, look for “HDMI 2.1” or “4K 120” on the port.
- Plug the console into an HDMI port on the TV that supports 120Hz. Many TVs support it on only one or two ports, often labeled “4K@120” or “eARC/HDMI 2.1.”
- Use the HDMI cable that came with your console, or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- On the TV, turn on its game mode and its enhanced HDMI signal setting (sometimes called “Input Signal Plus,” “HDMI Ultra HD Deep Colour,” or similar, depending on the brand).
Expected result: The TV recognizes the console on the high-bandwidth HDMI port.
Step 2: Set the console’s refresh rate to 120Hz
- Press the Xbox button and go to Profile & system > Settings.
- Select General > TV & display options.
- Open Refresh rate and choose 120 Hz.
- Confirm the change when the console asks you to.
Expected result: The Refresh rate field shows 120 Hz. If 120 Hz isn’t in the list, the console doesn’t detect a 120Hz-capable connection. Recheck the port, cable, and TV settings from Step 1.
Tip: On the same TV & display options screen, select Video modes and turn on Allow variable refresh rate if your TV supports VRR. This helps prevent tearing when a game’s frame rate moves around.
Step 3: Pick the game’s performance mode
- Launch a Series X|S-optimized game that advertises 120FPS support.
- Open its Settings, Options, Graphics, or Display menu. The name varies by game.
- Select the mode labeled Performance, 120 FPS, High Frame Rate, or similar.
- Save or apply the change. Some games ask you to restart.
Expected result: The game runs in its high-frame-rate mode. Some games show the target frame rate in the menu; many don’t.
Do you need a special TV?
- For a 60 FPS boost: No. Any TV or monitor that runs at 60Hz, which covers nearly all of them, will show the improvement.
- For 120 FPS (boosted or native): Yes. You need a 120Hz TV or monitor plus a compatible HDMI connection (HDMI 2.1 if you want 4K at 120Hz). A 60Hz screen can’t display more than 60 frames a second, whatever the game produces.
Series S owners should also check the game’s listing. Series S supports 120Hz output, but some games offer their 120 FPS modes only on Series X. For a full breakdown, see Xbox Advisor’s Series X vs. Series S performance comparison.
Which Backward-Compatible Games Support FPS Boost?
Microsoft’s official list is the Xbox Wire “Games Featuring FPS Boost” page at news.xbox.com/en-us/fpsboost/ (first published April 2021, last updated June 2023 per the page’s metadata). Any list you see elsewhere, including this one, is a snapshot.
Titles Microsoft has publicly named for FPS Boost
The games below were named in Microsoft’s own FPS Boost announcements. The first five were in the original February 17, 2021 Xbox Wire post. The rest arrived in later 2021 publisher batches. Before you rely on any entry, confirm console support and default status on the official list.
| Game | Where it was announced |
|---|---|
| Far Cry 4 | Xbox Wire, Feb. 17, 2021 launch post |
| New Super Lucky’s Tale | Xbox Wire, Feb. 17, 2021 launch post |
| Sniper Elite 4 | Xbox Wire, Feb. 17, 2021 launch post |
| UFC 4 | Xbox Wire, Feb. 17, 2021 launch post |
| Watch Dogs 2 | Xbox Wire, Feb. 17, 2021 launch post |
| Fallout 4 | Xbox Wire, 2021 Bethesda batch |
| Fallout 76 | Xbox Wire, 2021 Bethesda batch |
| The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition | Xbox Wire, 2021 Bethesda batch |
| Battlefield 1 | Xbox Wire, 2021 EA batch |
| Battlefield 4 | Xbox Wire, 2021 EA batch |
| Battlefield V | Xbox Wire, 2021 EA batch |
| Star Wars Battlefront II | Xbox Wire, 2021 EA batch |
| Titanfall 2 | Xbox Wire, 2021 EA batch |
| Mirror’s Edge Catalyst | Xbox Wire, 2021 EA batch |
This isn’t the full list. Microsoft kept adding titles through 2021, including 11 newly backward-compatible games and 26 existing catalog games in its November 15, 2021 update. Frame-rate caps (60 or 120 FPS) and Series X vs. Series S support differ by game, so the official list is where you check the details for your specific title.
How to check for games added after this article
- Bookmark
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/fpsboost/and check it rather than relying on screenshots or old lists. Its last visible update was June 2023, so also watch the console release notes below. - Read the console release notes at
https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/hardware-network/settings-updates/whats-new-xbox-one-system-updatesafter each system update. - On your console, open Manage game and add-ons for any backward-compatible game you own. If Compatibility options appears, the game supports FPS Boost, Auto HDR, or both. Open it to see which.
- For whether an older game runs on Series X|S at all, start with Xbox’s backward compatibility page and Xbox Advisor’s guide to which Xbox One and Xbox 360 games work on Series X|S.
Configuration: Common Settings and Patterns
There are only three settings to manage. How they combine matters.
| Setting | Where it lives | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| FPS boost | Manage game and add-ons > Compatibility options | Raises frame rate for that one game | Turn on for smoother motion; turn off if the image looks too soft |
| Auto HDR | Same Compatibility options screen | Adds HDR-style brightness and color to older games | Turn on if you have an HDR TV. The Xbox Advisor Auto HDR setup guide covers it in detail |
| Refresh rate | Settings > General > TV & display options | Sets console output to 60Hz or 120Hz | Set to 120 Hz only if your display supports it |
Common patterns:
- 60Hz TV, any supported game: Turn on FPS boost and leave refresh rate at 60Hz. You’ll get the 60 FPS boost where it’s offered.
- 120Hz TV, game boosted to 120 FPS: Turn on FPS boost, set Refresh rate to 120 Hz, and turn on Allow variable refresh rate if available.
- Resolution matters more than smoothness: Leave FPS boost off for games where Microsoft notes a resolution trade-off.
- Game shows odd behavior after boosting: Turn FPS boost off for that one title. The setting is per game, so everything else stays boosted.
Troubleshooting: FPS Boost or 120FPS Not Working
Work through these in order. The first fixes take seconds. The later ones take longer.
Fix #1: Quit and relaunch the game
The setting doesn’t apply to a session that’s already running, including one saved by Quick Resume.
- Press the Xbox button and highlight the game.
- Press the Menu button and select Quit.
- Launch the game again from My games & apps.
Fix #2: Confirm the toggle is actually checked
Some supported titles ship with FPS Boost off by default because boosting lowers the resolution.
- Highlight the game, press the Menu button, and select Manage game and add-ons.
- Select Compatibility options.
- Make sure FPS boost has a checkmark, then repeat Fix #1.
Fix #3: Check why the Compatibility options menu is missing
If Compatibility options doesn’t appear under Manage game and add-ons, the console doesn’t see a supported game.
- Search for the exact game title on
news.xbox.com/en-us/fpsboost/. - If it’s listed only for Series X, the menu won’t appear on a Series S.
- Check that you installed the listed version, not a different edition. If a Series X|S-optimized version installed through Smart Delivery, that version has its own in-game frame-rate settings and doesn’t use FPS Boost.
- If the game isn’t on the official list and Compatibility options shows no FPS boost checkbox, there’s no console setting you can change to add it.
Fix #4: Update the game and the console
A missing or greyed-out toggle can come from an outdated game or system version.
- Go to Profile & system > Settings > System > Updates and install any console update.
- Press the Xbox button and go to My games & apps > See all > Manage > Updates.
- Install any pending update for the game, then check Compatibility options again.
Fix #5: Match your expectations to the game’s frame-rate cap
The toggle may be working without the jump you expected.
- Look up the game on the official FPS Boost page.
- Check whether it’s boosted to 60 FPS or 120 FPS, and on which console.
- Many games only reach 60 FPS. On those, a 120Hz display adds nothing.
Fix #6: Set up 120Hz output correctly
If the game supports 120 FPS but doesn’t feel faster than 60:
- Go to Settings > General > TV & display options and confirm Refresh rate is set to 120 Hz.
- If 120 Hz isn’t available, move the HDMI cable to the TV’s 120Hz-capable port (often labeled HDMI 2.1 or 4K@120).
- Swap in the cable that came with the console, or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Older “High Speed” cables often can’t carry 120Hz.
- Turn on your TV’s enhanced HDMI signal option for that input.
Fix #7: Fix screen tearing or stutter
Tearing (a horizontal split in the image) or uneven motion can show up when a boosted game’s frame rate doesn’t hold steady.
- Go to Settings > General > TV & display options > Video modes.
- Turn on Allow variable refresh rate if your TV supports VRR.
- Turn on your TV’s game mode to reduce processing lag.
- If stutter continues in one game only, turn FPS boost off for that game. A steady 30 FPS can feel better than an unstable higher rate.
Fix #8: Accept or reverse the resolution trade-off
Why the picture looks softer: To hit a higher frame rate, Microsoft sometimes renders the game at a lower resolution. This is expected behavior, not a bug.
- If sharpness matters more to you than smoothness, go back to Compatibility options.
- Uncheck FPS boost.
- Quit and relaunch the game.
When the fixes don’t work
If a listed game still won’t show Compatibility options after updates and a reinstall, contact Xbox Support at support.xbox.com with the exact game title and your console model. If every game has picture problems, including ones that aren’t boosted, the cause is more likely your TV, cable, or HDMI port than FPS Boost.
Tips and Hidden Features
- Settings are per game: Turning FPS Boost on for one title doesn’t touch any other game, so you can test one without risk.
- Auto HDR shares the same menu: Because both toggles live in Compatibility options, review Auto HDR while you’re there.
- Series X and Series S can differ: A game may be boosted on both consoles but reach different frame rates. Check the official list for each console.
- Owned library, no repurchase: Xbox One games you already own can get boosted on Series X|S without buying a new edition.
Wrapping Up
On a supported game, Manage game and add-ons > Compatibility options is where FPS Boost lives. For most people, checking the box and relaunching the game is the whole job. If you still play older games, a boost from 30 to 60 FPS changes how they feel, and the main cost is a slightly softer image in some titles. Skip 120Hz setup unless the official list says your game actually goes that high.