Overwatch 2: How to Fix Screen Tearing Issues

The much-anticipated hero-based FPS Overwatch 2 launch was marred with several technical issues. The most common are login problems across platforms and a 1,999-players long queue, among others. Aside from connection issues, players also reported that, for some reason, they keep experiencing screen tearing even with a capable PC. If you encounter an annoying screen tearing problem while running Overwatch 2, here’s how you can fix the issue.

Overwatch 2 – Fix Screen Tearing Issues

1. Turn On V-Sync

Screen tearing usually happens when your monitor’s refresh rate and GPU’s frame rate are different and not in sync, causing a vertical visual error. As you can expect, the V-Sync option in game settings will attempt to sync them by locking the game’s frame rate to 60 FPS. To turn on V-Sync, simply open the Overwatch 2 in-game Options menu,  the Video tab, and switch the V-Sync toggle to On.

If you don’t want to limit your FPS, then you might need to check your monitor’s refresh rate, whether it supports G-Sync or not, and if your graphic card can actually keep up with it. Nevertheless, a few Overwatch 2 players on Reddit have reported that turning on V-Sync still does not fix the screen tearing issue. There are still a few other ways that might help you with that.

2. Turn On Fast Sync (Nvidia GPU)

If you’re using an Nvidia GPU, you might want to look at the Fast Sync option in the Nvidia Control Panel. Open the application, go to the Manage 3D settings, and then enable Fast Sync through the Vertical sync drop-down menu. You can easily enable Fast Sync globally or on a per-game basis.

The Fast Sync feature is only supported on Maxwell GPUs (GeForce 900 series) and up, including the Pascal (GeForce 10 series) and Turing (GeForce 20 series) GPUs. You also need to disable SLI or 3D Stereo for the option to appear.

3. Lower the Graphics or Video Settings

Talking about video settings, sometimes your issue might not be caused by a lack of V-Sync — but simply because of your hardware, especially if it’s an older rig. Try reducing all the Graphics Quality options in the Video settings menu until you reach the desired performance by running a Custom Match.

And although the official Minimum system requirements often overshoot the “actual minimum” spec you need to run a game, taking a peek and following it never hurts.

4. Update Your Graphic Card Driver

Updating the GPU driver might fix any problems related to how the game renders its visual. If you use Nvidia cards, you can install the latest drivers by downloading them through the GeForce Experience app or the Nvidia site. Meanwhile, AMD users would want to download their drivers from AMD.com. You can also manually update your driver by:

1. Open the Windows Start menu.
2. Search for Device Manager.
3. Search for Display adapters.
4. Right-click on your GPU’s name.
5. Select Update driver.
6. Wait until it finishes, then restart your PC.

5. Verify Integrity of Overwatch 2 Files

Corrupted or missing game files might also cause the issue. Here’s how you can repair the game files through Battle.net:

1. Open the Battle.net desktop application.
2. Click on the Overwatch 2 icon.
3. Click the gear icon next to the Play button, and choose the Scan and repair option.
4. You’ll need to reinstall the game if there are any missing or corrupted files.

6. Update Overwatch 2

If your Overwatch 2 failed to receive a patch or update for some reason, you can try manually updating the game by clicking the gear icon and picking the Check for Updates option.

7. Close Unnecessary Applications Running in the Background

Finally, especially on older rigs, closing any unused apps may improve the efficiency of the game. You should be able to close them through the taskbar or the Windows Task Manager. Open the Task Manager application by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete, open the Processes tab, and press End Task on any background apps you deem unnecessary. But keep in mind that randomly End Tasking programs might disable an important function, although a simple restart will fix the issue.

Related:

Is Overwatch 2 Down? Here’s How to Check Server Status

Overwatch 2 is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Battle.net.