Apex Legends: Best settings to master competitive play

Michael Caruso
Duncan Proctor
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Table of Contents
  1. TL;DR
  2. Best gameplay settings in Apex Legends
  3. Best Apex Legends crosshairs and HUD – Mouse & keyboard settings
  4. Best Apex Legends controller settings and sensitivity
  5. Best Apex Legends graphics settings
  6. Best Apex Legends audio settings
  7. Top competitive Apex Legends settings
  8. Conclusion
  9. FAQs
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 StyleCompact
Button HintsOn
Crosshair Damage FeedbackOff
Damage NumbersStacking
Enemy HealthbarEnabled
Ping OpacityFaded
Enemy HighlightEnabled
ObituariesOn
Minimap RotationOn
Weapon Auto-Cycle on EmptyOn
Always SprintOn
Sprint ControlPress (If Always Sprint is off)
Auto-RunOff
Jetpack Glide ControlHold
Mantle Boost ActivationJump
Mantle Boost UIHide Prompt
Incoming Damage Feedback3D
Taking Damage Closes Deathbox or Crafting MenuOff
Health and Ammo Pop-UpsLimited
Health and Ammo VoicelinesOn
Arsenals Map + HUD IconsMaximum
Offscreen PortraitsOff
Hop-Up Pop-UpOff
Streamer ModeOff
Anonymous ModeDisabled
Usage SharingEnabled
Performance DisplayOn
Communication FilterIndividual Preference
Tutorial SystemsOn
ReticleDefault
Laser SightDefault
Colour Blind ModeOff
SubtitlesOff
Subtitle SizeNormal
Enable Accessible Chat FeaturesOff
Convert Incoming Voice to Text ChatOff
Play Incoming Text Chat as SpeechOff

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 Sensitivity4 (This can be adjusted based on preference)
ADS Mouse Sensitivity Multiplier1
Per Optic ADS SensitivityOff
Mouse AccelerationOff
Mouse InvertOff
Clamp Mouse Cursor to Game WindowOff
Lighting EffectsOff

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 LayoutBased on Preference
Stick LayoutDefault
Interact/Reload ButtonTap to Use and Reload
Crouch ButtonHold
Aim ButtonHold
Survival Slot ButtonOn
Adaptive TriggersOff
Trigger DeadzonesNone
Menu Cursor Speed50%
Look Sensitivity3 (Default)
Look Sensitivity (ADS)2 (Low)
Per Optic ADS SensitivityOff
Response CurveClassic
Look DeadzoneNone
Movement DeadzoneSmall
Inverted LookOff
VibrationOff
Custom Look ControlsOff

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 ModeFull Screen
Aspect RatioNative (16:10)
ResolutionNative (1,920 x 1,200)
Brightness60%
Field of View110
FOV Ability ScalingDisabled
Sprint View ShakeMinimal
UI Layout ModeAuto
V-Sync DisabledDisabled
AMD Anti-Lag 2Disabled
Adaptive Resolution FPS Target0
Anti-AliasingTSAA
Texture Streaming BudgetLow
Texture FilteringBilinear
Ambient Occlusion QualityDisabled
Sun Shadow CoverageLow
Sun Shadow DetailLow
Spot Shadow DetailDisabled
Volumetric LightingDisabled
Dynamic Spot ShadowsDisabled
Model DetailMedium
Map DetailLow
Effects DetailLow
Impact MarksDisabled

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 Volume100%
Output DeviceSystem Default
Audio MixFocused
Output ConfigurationDevice Default Surround
Voice Chat Input DeviceSystem Default
Voice Chat Record ModePush to Talk
Open Mic Record Threshold1,300
Incoming Voice Chat Volume100%
Sound Effects Volume100%
Dialogue Volume40%
Music Volume0%
Lobby Music Volume50%
Gameplay Volume when Spectating50%
Emote Preview SoundOn
Sound in BackgroundOn

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.

Michael Caruso

Features Writer
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Michael has been a freelance game journalist for six years. With a deep passion for competitive gaming and first-person shooters, he now focuses his time writing about the fast-moving world of esports. If Michael isn't writing, he's likely in a high-stakes match of Fortnite or Call of Duty.
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