Use Dead by Daylight's own graphics menu and one repeatable match area before changing Windows. Lower the quality preset and resolution carefully, close heavy background apps, update Windows and the graphics driver, and verify the game files. Use a clean boot or reinstall only if those safer checks do not work; do not edit GameUserSettings.ini or force the game to High priority.
Use the tutorial, a custom match, or the same map area and camera movement for each test. Note the current resolution, quality preset, approximate FPS, and whether the slowdown began after an update.
2
Lower the in-game quality preset
Open Settings and lower the Graphics Quality preset by one level. Apply the change and repeat the same scene. If the game becomes smoother, keep the lower preset as the starting point.
3
Change resolution only if needed
Keep the monitor's normal resolution for the first comparison. If the lower preset is not enough, select the next lower resolution, apply it, and check whether the image and interface remain clear enough to play comfortably.
4
Close recording and background work
Close unneeded browser tabs, recording software, downloads, launchers, and overlays. Test again before making more changes, because background CPU, memory, or storage use can cause pauses that look like a graphics problem.
5
Update Windows, DirectX, and the driver
Install current Windows updates and the recommended graphics driver, then restart the PC. Dead by Daylight Support includes Windows, DirectX, and driver updates in its PC recovery checklist.
6
Verify the game files
In Steam, open Dead by Daylight's Properties > Installed Files and select Verify integrity of game files. Wait for Steam to finish before launching the game and repeating the same scene.
If the problem remains, follow Dead by Daylight Support's clean-boot test to find a conflicting program. Reinstall the game only after the other checks fail. Avoid manual GameUserSettings.ini edits and Task Manager priority changes because they are not required by the current support procedure.
If only online actions are delayed while animation stays smooth, check the connection and server status instead of lowering graphics quality.
If the game crashes rather than merely losing FPS, write down the exact error and follow the crash section of the official guide before reinstalling.
If clean boot improves performance, re-enable startup programs in small groups until the conflict returns. Do not leave security software disabled permanently.
ⓘ Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Dead by Daylight on Windows.
The written procedure uses current official support guidance and the game's visible settings. If a menu label moves after an update, use the linked official page and the option's description rather than an old screenshot.
