Apex Legends: Best settings to master competitive play

A gaming setup with a large monitor displaying Apex Legends scene
Trio crossing a pathway in Apex Legends / Image credit: EA

TL;DR

  • With a huge collection of in-game settings, every Apex Legends player should adjust their options to get a leg up in online play.
  • Finding the perfect sensitivity in Apex is key to mastering recoil control.
  • Important environmental sounds should be prioritised in the volume settings.
  • This list will walk you through all the best settings for Apex Legends.

The best Apex Legends settings grant players a mix of crisp visuals and a high frame rate. Field of view, brightness, and sensitivity are all values that each individual may want to adjust to their personal needs, while turning up gameplay volume to max is an essential step for every top-tier competitor.

Esports Insider has created this Apex Legends best settings guide to explain how to set up your options in the best way for competitive play, so let’s look at how you can gain an advantage in Respawn’s futuristic FPS.

Best gameplay settings in Apex Legends

Three Apex Legends characters with weapons
Three legends teaming up in Apex / Image credit: EA

Gameplay settings have a variety of important values within them, so let’s take a quick look at the options that’ll enhance your performance for competitive play in Apex Legends. Keeping Always Run set to On offers convenience, while Health and Ammo Voicelines give you important reminders.

Interact Prompt Style Compact
Button Hints On
Crosshair Damage Feedback Off
Damage Numbers Stacking
Enemy Healthbar Enabled
Ping Opacity Faded
Enemy Highlight Enabled
Obituaries On
Minimap Rotation On
Weapon Auto-Cycle on Empty On
Always Sprint On
Sprint Control Press (If Always Sprint is off)
Auto-Run Off
Jetpack Glide Control Hold
Mantle Boost Activation Jump
Mantle Boost UI Hide Prompt
Incoming Damage Feedback 3D
Taking Damage Closes Deathbox or Crafting Menu Off
Health and Ammo Pop-Ups Limited
Health and Ammo Voicelines On
Arsenals Map + HUD Icons Maximum
Offscreen Portraits Off
Hop-Up Pop-Up Off
Streamer Mode Off
Anonymous Mode Disabled
Usage Sharing Enabled
Performance Display On
Communication Filter Individual Preference
Tutorial Systems On
Reticle Default
Laser Sight Default
Colour Blind Mode Off
Subtitles Off
Subtitle Size Normal
Enable Accessible Chat Features Off
Convert Incoming Voice to Text Chat Off
Play Incoming Text Chat as Speech Off

Best Apex Legends crosshairs and HUD – Mouse & keyboard settings

A futuristic vehicle fires at distant targets in a vibrant landscape with cherry blossoms in Apex Legends
Apex Legends player aiming down sights / Image credit: EA

Your crosshair and HUD offer various advantages, like smoother recoil control after adjusting the sensitivity values. Below you’ll find our picks for the best Apex settings PC players should use in 2025.

Mouse Sensitivity 4 (This can be adjusted based on preference)
ADS Mouse Sensitivity Multiplier 1
Per Optic ADS Sensitivity Off
Mouse Acceleration Off
Mouse Invert Off
Clamp Mouse Cursor to Game Window Off
Lighting Effects Off

Best Apex Legends controller settings and sensitivity

First-person Apex Legends scene shows a player aiming a purple gun at an armored enemy
Player aiming at an opponent in Apex Legends / Image credit: EA

For players who use controllers, the controller settings are an essential stop. You should consider adjusting your sensitivity and a few other values to help you compete effectively against mouse and keyboard players. This is a list of the best Apex Legends controller settings.

Button Layout Based on Preference
Stick Layout Default
Interact/Reload Button Tap to Use and Reload
Crouch Button Hold
Aim Button Hold
Survival Slot Button On
Adaptive Triggers Off
Trigger Deadzones None
Menu Cursor Speed 50%
Look Sensitivity 3 (Default)
Look Sensitivity (ADS) 2 (Low)
Per Optic ADS Sensitivity Off
Response Curve Classic
Look Deadzone None
Movement Deadzone Small
Inverted Look Off
Vibration Off
Custom Look Controls Off

Best Apex Legends graphics settings

A dynamic Apex Legends scene shows two armored characters in battle
Two legends in combat in Apex / Image credit: EA

Depending on your PC, it may be important to reduce unnecessary graphics settings so that Apex can run at a higher frame rate. In-game speed is usually more important than good-looking textures, though there are still a few best video settings for Apex Legends that offer an advantage. Here’s a breakdown of how to set up your settings to maximise visuals and frame rate.

Display Mode Full Screen
Aspect Ratio Native (16:10)
Resolution Native (1,920 x 1,200)
Brightness 60%
Field of View 110
FOV Ability Scaling Disabled
Sprint View Shake Minimal
UI Layout Mode Auto
V-Sync Disabled Disabled
AMD Anti-Lag 2 Disabled
Adaptive Resolution FPS Target 0
Anti-Aliasing TSAA
Texture Streaming Budget Low
Texture Filtering Bilinear
Ambient Occlusion Quality Disabled
Sun Shadow Coverage Low
Sun Shadow Detail Low
Spot Shadow Detail Disabled
Volumetric Lighting Disabled
Dynamic Spot Shadows Disabled
Model Detail Medium
Map Detail Low
Effects Detail Low
Impact Marks Disabled

Best Apex Legends audio settings

Apex Legends scene with a character using jetpacks, shooting blue energy
Player attacking an enemy from above in Apex Legends / Image credit: EA

The best audio settings in Apex focus on enhancing the volume of environmental surrounding sounds like footsteps and gunshots, while minimising unnecessary noise that might distract you mid-match, such as music.

Master Volume 100%
Output Device System Default
Audio Mix Focused
Output Configuration Device Default Surround
Voice Chat Input Device System Default
Voice Chat Record Mode Push to Talk
Open Mic Record Threshold 1,300
Incoming Voice Chat Volume 100%
Sound Effects Volume 100%
Dialogue Volume 40%
Music Volume 0%
Lobby Music Volume 50%
Gameplay Volume when Spectating 50%
Emote Preview Sound On
Sound in Background On

Top competitive Apex Legends settings

Apex Legends characters using a zipline
Apex Legends characters holding a zipline / Image credit: EA

The top Apex Legends settings pair optimised recoil control with audio settings that allow you to hear your enemies coming from around the corner. It’s nice to have your visuals set to maximum, but it’s often better to reduce them slightly to increase your frames per second. If you want to play Apex Legends on a competitive level, then switching up your settings is the first step towards success.

Conclusion

Apex Legends is a huge battle royale that has had many years to add to and adjust its settings menu. As such, there are dozens of values that may need attention before you jump into the higher ranks of competitive Apex Legends.

Our guide provides a breakdown of the best Apex settings for each set of options, allowing you to compete on an even playing field with opponents who optimise their settings.

FAQs

What are the best Apex Legends settings?

The best settings in Apex offer loud environmental sound effects and a high frame rate, often at the cost of reducing your graphics settings.

What Apex Legends settings do pros use?

Pro Apex players test their recoil with various guns, then adjust their sensitivity as they see fit for maximum recoil control. Using the Apex Legends pro settings can help you compete with high-ranked opponents.

What video settings improve visibility in Apex Legends?

Brightness and field of view can both be adjusted to improve visibility in Apex Legends. The best Apex Legends video settings improve your visibility without decreasing the frame rate.

What are the best graphics settings for Apex Legends performance?

Settings like volumetric lighting should often be set to their minimal values to improve performance, alongside other non-essential video options.

What Apex settings help with recoil?

Adjusting your sensitivity is key to minimising recoil in Apex Legends.

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