How To Fix Lost Ark FPS Drop

Performance is the least of your worries when playing Lost Ark, as the game is fairly non-demanding. Most systems should be able to clock a solid 60 FPS at 1080p. Though experiencing issues is still common, it is nothing to worry about and can be easily fixed. 

Methods to Fix Lost Ark FPS Drop

Before jumping into detail, it is essential to get the basics sorted. Sometimes the issue could be for seemingly trivial reasons, so make sure you’ve tried some of the most obvious things first. 

• Restart your PC 
• Make sure your Windows is up-to-date 
• Download the latest update for the game 
• Switch resolution to low and tinker with the in-game settings to favor performance 
• Disable chat

The other obvious thing to keep in mind is your build. Yes, most GPUs have sufficient power to run Lost Ark, but you should always keep in check with the required specs. 

Additionally, you need to be mindful of your monitor refresh rate. If you can’t hit beyond a certain FPS in all game, that could be because of lower refresh rates. The number of Hz represents the maximum number of frames that can be seen, so 60 Hz equals 60 FPS.

Once the basics are clear, here’s how you can solve FPS issues in Lost Ark. 

Verify Game Files

The first thing you can do is verify the game files to ensure everything is properly installed. Games have dozens of different files that handle different things, and missing even a single one may hurt performance. If you have mistakenly deleted them, a prompt will appear asking you to re-install them—the warning may not appear on some instances. 

To verify files, 

1. Open Steam 
2. Head to Library and locate Lost Ark
3. Then right click on Lost Ark, or click on the gear icon 
4. Next, select Properties and navigate to Local Files 
5. You should see the Verify integrity of game file button 
6. Select Verify 

The process may take several minutes, and don’t do anything in the background while it is verifying, especially something that is power-intensive. 

Update Graphics Driver 

Outdated drivers also result in performance issues. Some versions of drivers may carry bugs that are usually patched in the next cycle of updates. They get downloaded automatically for most, but you can always check manually and see if your GPU is running the latest version. 

For GeForce

To update your Nvidia drivers, you must install GeForce Experience. It can be easily found on NVIDIA.com. After downloading the app, it is easy. 

1. Open GeForce experience app
2. Make en route to Drivers 
3. Then click on Check for Updates   

For AMD

You’ll need an AMD Radeon settings application installed. Similar to Nvidia you can download it through the AMD website. Once installed, 

1. Go to the desktop home screen and Right click 
2. Select AMD Radeon Settings
3. Click on Updates
4. Then select Check for updates 

You can also update drivers directly through Windows by using the device manager. Follow these steps, 

1. Search for device manager on your taskbar 
2. Then select Device Manager
3. Look out for your driver in the menu 
4. Click on the device that you want to update and select Update Driver 

You can select Search automatically for updated driver software, your Windows will then load the latest driver automatically whenever they’re available. 

There are some third-party apps as well that you can use to update your drivers. Always resort to official methods when available, but there are other options in case you want to try them.

Switch Windows power settings to High Performance

There are several programs that boost your performance, like Game Mode in Windows 10. To make sure your PC always prioritizes performance, 

1. Open the run box by pressing Windows + R on the home page 
2. Type powercfg.cpl and press enter
3. Select High performance 

If you also want to turn on Game Mode, just head to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. 

Perform a clean boot in Windows

Clean boot basically means “booting up” a PC without anything running in the background. Each time you open, or continue to use, your Windows, several apps run in the background, which may take power and reduce the overall performance.

Here is how you can disable them, 

1. Type msconfig on the search box and select System Configuration
2. On Service tab disable all apps you do not wish to run by checking the box and clicking disable all 
3. Now, head to Start Up tab and click Open task manager, and further disable apps that you don’t want to run after booting up 

Check your GPU Temperature

An overheated GPU results in lower frame rates. It also throttles the power that will damage the PC over time. You can read our detailed blog post about various methods to check GPU temperature. 

If your GPU heats up while you play Lost Ark, despite everything else being alright, try re-installing the game. An overheating GPU is sometimes a sign of a PC getting old. However, as Lost Ark isn’t intensive by any means, it is probably something else. 

Turn off Vertical Sync to unlock Frame Rates

The last thing you can try is unlocking your frame rates by disabling Vertical Sync. Keep in mind that if you experience screen tearing, the Vsync should remain on, but when your games get laggy and frames dip too often, it is best to let it remain off. Not every performance issue is caused by VSync being on, but it is a factor. 

The general rule of thumb is, when you experience any screen tearing keep VSync on. In case there are notable performance issues, like lower FPS or general lag, best to have it off. 

To disable Vsync, 

For Nvidia GPU

1. Right click on your desktop and open Nvidia Control Panel 
2. Click on Manage 3D Settings
3. The Program Settings and afterward lostark.exe
4. Select Vertical Sync 
5. Turn it off and click apply 

For AMD  GPU 

1. Open AMD Radeon Software
2. Select Gaming
3. Click on Lost Ark and check for Vsync option
4. Turn it to Off, and you’re done. 

The only other option to try is, uninstall and reinstall the game. If you want to make sure the same issue doesn’t happen again, maintain your PC properly by regularly updating software, cleaning it to avoid heating, and refraining from downloading unnecessary things that can bring malware.