7 Ways to Fix Path of Exile 2 Stuttering Issues on Windows PCs

Some players who’ve started playing Path of Exile 2 have reported stuttering is ruining the game. For example, this is what one POE 2 player said on Reddit: “POE2 stuttering… I’m experiencing rather annoying stutters every 1-2 seconds, which makes the game unplayable.” Too much stuttering ruins the Path of Exile 2 gameplay, especially during more intense combat. These are some potential ways you can remedy Path of Exile 2 stuttering issues on Windows PCs.

Read also: 7 Ways to Fix Path of Exile 2 Not Launching on a Windows PC

Adjust Path of Exile 2’s Graphical Settings

Adjusting POE 2’s graphical settings could be a good way to start troubleshooting the stuttering. Players have confirmed lowering and disabling certain POE 2 graphical settings has fixed their Path of Exile 2 stuttering. To apply this potential fix, start POE 2 and click Options. Adjust settings on the Graphics tab like this:

• Dynamic Resolution: Disable
• Foreground FPS Cap: 60 (or set to match your monitor’s refresh rate)
• Background FPS Cap: 60 (this setting should match Foreground FPS Cap)
• Texture Quality: Medium
• Engine Multithreading: Enable

The Graphics tab

Disable Triple Buffering

Some players confirm disabling the Triple Buffering option can fix Path of Exile 2 stuttering. You can find that option within Advanced Settings on the Graphics tab in POE 2. Click the Triple Buffering setting to unselect it.

The Triple-Buffering setting

Clear and Update the Shader Cache

Path of Exile 2 will recompile shaders when you clear its shader cache. This can help to remedy game stuttering caused by old or even corrupted cache data. These are the steps for clearing the cache.

1. Bring up the Run dialog using the Windows logo + R hotkey.
2. Next, input %appdata% inside Run and select OK to access the Roaming folder.
3. Double-click the Path of Exile 2 folder to open it.
4. Right-click ShaderCacheD3D12 to select Delete.
   
   

   The ShaderCacheD3D12 folder

5. Next, right-click the Minimap folder and select Delete.

Select High Performance for Path of Exile 2

Selecting High Performance will prioritize graphical quality over power saving for Path of Exile 2. If your PC has two GPUs, selecting that option will also set the game to utilize the superior graphics card. This is how you can select High Performance for POE 2:

1. Open the file search box (press the Windows logo key + S). 
2. Enter graphics settings and select the matching result. 
3. Click Browse to select the Path of Exile 2 EXE game file. 
   
   

   The Graphics settings

4. Next, click the Path of Exile 2 game added and Options. 
5. Select High Performance > Save. 

The High-performance radio button

Disable Controller Vibration Master

Are you playing Path of Exile 2 with a gamepad controller? If so, try disabling the Controller Vibration (Master) setting, which can cause Path of Exile 2 stuttering and FPS drops. You can turn off that option like this:

1. Go into the Path of Exile 2 game and click Options.
2. Select the Input tab.
   
   

   The Input tab

3. Turn off Controller Vibration (Master) by unselecting the radio button for that setting.

Change Your Global Chat Channel

Global chat can cause Path of Exile 2 stuttering to arise. Players confirm changing the global chat channel has reduced their POE 2 stuttering. This is how you can change your global chat channel:

1. Open chat in Path of Exile 2.
2. Click the Global tab.
3. Input /global 8201 in the text box and press Enter.
4. Select the Trade tab.
5. Enter /trade 9671 in the text box.

Update Graphical Drivers

Updating graphics drivers is quite a generic potential fix that can feasibly resolve stuttering for many games. Our guide for updating graphics drivers includes instructions for how to apply this potential fix in different ways. When installing a new NVIDIA driver, make sure you select the Custom Installation > Perform a clean installation option.

The graphics driver download page

There’s no guaranteed way to fix Path of Exile 2 stuttering, but applying the possible remedies above has worked for some players. So, some of those fixes could feasibly reduce POE 2 stuttering for you. Then, Path of Exile 2 will be more playable than before, with much smoother gameplay.

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