Navigate to your Documents/Call of Duty/players folder and open the options.4.cod23 file (for the 2023 version) with Notepad.
Did this issue start after a or driver installation ? Does this 45 FPS lock happen in menus, gameplay, or both ? I can provide tailored steps for your exact PC build. Share public link
Mismatched refresh rates within the game settings frequently cause the 45 FPS lock.
Right-click the file and select (or move it to your desktop as a backup). cod mw3 45 fps fix
Set to DLSS (NVIDIA) or FSR 3.0 (AMD/Other) and set to "Quality" or "Balanced." Video Memory Scale: Set to 80-90 .
In 80% of cases, the 45 FPS lock in MW3 is caused by a conflict between and V-Sync . The game tries to dynamically scale your resolution to save performance, but if it conflicts with your monitor's refresh rate, it gets stuck.
Shaders are pre-compiled files that help your graphics card render in-game environments quickly. If a shader update fails or gets interrupted, it can create a bottleneck that permanently throttles your FPS. In MW3, go to . Scroll to the bottom and click Restart Shader Optimization . Close the game. Navigate to your Documents/Call of Duty/players folder and
Corrupted shaders can cause significant performance degradation.
If the quick fixes above don’t work, the solution lies in the game’s configuration files, where deeper restrictions are applied.
For players running on modern versions of Windows, a frustrating performance cap—often hovering around 45 to 85 FPS —can occur due to compatibility issues with Windows 10 and 11. This "bug" stems from engine optimizations originally designed for Windows 7 that now inadvertently cripple performance on newer operating systems. Primary Fixes for the 45 FPS Cap I can provide tailored steps for your exact PC build
If the issue persists, your local profile configuration file might be bugged. Forcing the game to generate a fresh file can resolve hidden limiters. Close the game and open Windows . Navigate to Documents\Call of Duty\players .
If the game settings look correct but the issue persists, your operating system or drivers might be forcing a low-power state.
To ensure these steps work perfectly for your system, tell me: What and processor do you have? What is the native refresh rate (Hz) of your monitor?