How to Fix Micro-Stutter in Counter-Strike 2

Mahir Faisal
By Mahir Faisal
6 Min Read
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If you are experiencing microstutters in your CS2 matches, don’t panic! You can follow this guide to fix in-game stutter issues.

CS2 is the latest entry in the long legacy of the classic 5v5 tactical shooter. The newest title of the series relies on the same fundamentals while making the game compatible with modern visuals and adding up-to-date features.

Utilizing the Source 2 engine, CS2 introduces new responsive volumetric smoke, a sub-tick server, better lighting and environment rendering, and many more. The game came as a free update on the popular Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and was fully released on September 27, 2023.

As CS2 is a competitive multiplayer game, it is crucial to have a smooth in-game performance, as milliseconds matter. Unfortunately, micro-stuttering has been a headache for gamers in CS2. These stutters cause your game to freeze for a minimal timeframe and affect your gameplay.

However, this guide will cover several solutions to help you fix micro-stutter in CS2.

Read More: How Does the Weekly Care Package System Work in Counter-Strike 2?

How to Fix Micro-Stutter in CS2

Micro-stutters can affect your gameplay performance in CS2. Follow these procedures to get rid of this problem.

Switch to Fullscreen

CS2 launches on ”windowed” display settings by default. You need to change that option to fullscreen for optimal performance.

To do this:

Go to the Video tab from Settings. Change Mode to Fullscreen.

How to Fix Micro-Stutter in CS2
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Disable Vertical Sync

Ve­rtical Sync synchronizes the frame rate with the re­fresh rate of your monitor. This option is used to prevent screen tearing and smooth gameplay. However, using Ve­rtical Sync can limit your frame rate and cause input lag. Therefore, it is recommended to disable this option while playing.

To disable Ve­rtical Sync:

Go to the Advanced Video tab from Settings. Toggle Wait for Vertical Sync option to Disabled

How to Fix Micro-Stutter in CS2
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Disable Fullscreen Optimisations

  1. Launch CS2.

2. Minimize the game and Open Windows Task Manager.

3. Find CS2 from the list. Right-click on it and go to Properties.

How to Fix Micro-Stutter in CS2

4. Find the Compatibility tab. Check on the Disable fullscreen optimizations box. Press Apply and Ok.

How to Fix Micro-Stutter in CS2

Disable Steam Overlay

Steam Overlay lets you access several Steam features without closing the game. However, keeping the overlay on might cause a stutter in CS2.

To disable Steam Overlay:

Right-click on CS2 from Steam Library and go to Properties. Toggle the slider to disable the option to Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.

How to Fix Micro-Stutter in CS2

Update GPU Drivers

Your graphics card is an essential component that will help you run games like CS2 smoothly. So it is crucial to keep the GPU drivers up to date.

For Nvidia GPU:

If you use an NVIDIA GPU, you can check for updates from the GeForce Expe­rience app. Just go to the Driver tab and Download any update available.

How to Fix Micro-Stutter in CS2

For AMD GPU:

AMD has released the latest drivers aiming to fix CS2 performance issues. To update your AMD GPU Drivers owne­rs, simply select the “Home­” button in the lower left corne­r of your screen and click on “New Update­” to see if any minor patches are­ available.

Update Windows

Keeping your Windows up to date can also help to fix stutter issues. According to professional Counter-Strike player Robin “ropz” Kool, Windows version before 22H2 can cause lag issues in CS2.

To update Windows:

Search for Windows Update Settings from the Windows search bar. A tab named Windows Update will open. This will show you if any update is available for your current version. You can also Check for Update manually to ensure your Windows version is updated.

How to Fix Micro-Stutter in CS2

Optimize Video Settings

Optimizing in-game video settings is essential to enjoy a smooth, lag-free CS2 experience. We have a whole guide covered in detail on how you can choose the best setting to have optimal performance. Check this guide for more information.

These are the best video settings to ensure smoother performance and eradicate stuttering issues:

CategoryOptimal SettingsDescription
Boost player contrastDisableIncreases FPS slightly
Wait for vertical syncDisabledEnabling will lock FPS and increase input lag
Current video values presetCustom
Multisampling Anti-Aliasing ModeNone*None will provide better FPS
Global Shadow QualityLow*Low will provide better FPS
Model / Texture DetailLowLow will provide better FPS
Texture Filtering ModeBilinearBilinear will provide better FPS
Shader DetailLowLow will provide better FPS
Particle DetailLowLow will provide better FPS
Ambient OcclusionDisabledLow will provide better FPS
High Dynamic RangePerformancePerformance mode will provide better FPS
FidelityFX Super ResolutionPerformance*Improves FPS slightly but makes the visual blurry and edgy.
NVIDIA Reflex Low LatencyDisabledFor a weaker CPU, increases FPS

Following these steps will help you to lessen the micro-stutter issue in CS2 and will ensure a smooth performance. Good luck!

Read More: Counter-Strike 2 Essential Smoke Lineups for Overpass: For both T and CT Side

By Mahir Faisal FPS Writer
Mahir, an Electrical Engineering student currently working as an FPS writer at GameRiv, prefers to introduce himself as a video game enthusiast. Mostly keen on competitive FPS titles like VALORANT and CS: GO, he also enjoys exploring casual story games.