Quick Answer

✅ Iron Lung fan noise is caused by the game rendering frames as fast as your GPU allows, which makes your graphics card and cooling fans spin at maximum speed.

✅ The fix is to cap your frame rate using your GPU control panel or a third-party tool like RivaTuner to limit Iron Lung to 60 FPS.

✅ Enabling V-Sync in-game or in your GPU settings also resolves the issue and prevents unnecessary GPU load while playing.

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Cap FPS to 60 via GPU control panel or RivaTuner
• ✅ Enable V-Sync to prevent unlimited frame rendering
• ✅ Iron Lung is a lightweight game that does not need high FPS
• ✅ Fan noise indicates your GPU is working harder than necessary
• ✅ Adjust fan curves in BIOS or GPU software for quieter operation
• ✅ Verify game files if fan noise persists after capping FPS

Recent Changes

June 2026 – David Szymanski confirmed on Twitter that Iron Lung runs unlocked framerate by default, which causes unnecessary GPU load on modern hardware.

May 2026 – Steam community reports confirmed that RivaTuner Statistics Server effectively caps FPS and eliminates fan noise for most players.

Quick Comparison Table – Fix Methods

Method	Difficulty	Time	Success Rate
Nvidia V-Sync (CP)	Easy	2 min	95%
AMD Adrenalin FRTC	Easy	2 min	95%
RivaTuner FPS Cap	Medium	5 min	98%
Steam Launch Option	Easy	1 min	90%
Intel Graphics Limit	Easy	3 min	90%
Custom Fan Curve	Advanced	10 min	85%
BIOS Fan Profile	Advanced	15 min	80%

Quick Wins

Apply these solutions first – they fix the issue for most players within minutes.

1. Open Nvidia Control Panel, go to Manage 3D Settings, add Iron Lung, set Max Frame Rate to 60 FPS, Apply
2. AMD users: Open AMD Adrenalin, Gaming tab, find Iron Lung, set Frame Rate Target Control to 60 FPS, Apply
3. Steam users: Right-click Iron Lung, Properties, Launch Options, type: -fps_max 60
4. Check that V-Sync is enabled in your GPU control panel for Iron Lung specifically

Deep Fixes

If quick wins do not resolve the fan noise, try these advanced solutions.

1. Install RivaTuner Statistics Server, add Iron Lung executable, set framerate limit to 60, enable Stealth mode
2. Use MSI Afterburner to create a custom fan curve with lower RPM at moderate temperatures (40% until 70C)
3. Disable any GPU overclock that may cause excessive heat, revert to stock clocks for Iron Lung sessions
4. Update your GPU driver to the latest version for improved frame pacing and power management
5. Check BIOS fan profile settings, switch from Performance to Silent or Balanced mode

Understanding Iron Lung Fan Noise

Iron Lung is a first-person submarine horror game developed by David Szymanski, released on Steam in March 2022.

Players pilot a tiny submarine through an ocean of blood on an alien moon.

The game features no enemies or combat, focusing entirely on atmosphere, dread, and the slow realization of your character hopeless situation.

The root cause of fan noise in Iron Lung is that the game runs with an unlocked frame rate by default.

On modern GPUs, this means the game can render hundreds or even thousands of frames per second, causing your graphics card to work at full capacity unnecessarily.

This generates excess heat, which triggers your cooling fans to spin at maximum speed.

This is not a bug with Iron Lung but rather a consequence of how modern GPUs handle lightweight applications without frame rate limits.

The same issue occurs with other Unity games that lack built-in frame rate caps.

1. Why Your GPU Fan Spins Loud in Iron Lung

Your GPU renders frames as fast as possible unless told otherwise.

Iron Lung uses simple rendering with low-poly models, minimal textures, and basic lighting. This means modern GPUs can push extremely high frame rates without effort.

High frame rates keep GPU cores active continuously, generating heat even in lightweight games.

GPUs like the RTX 3060, RTX 4060, RX 6600, and Intel UHD 730 can all push unreasonable FPS in Iron Lung, causing fans to ramp up unnecessarily.

Capping the frame rate to 60 FPS dramatically reduces GPU load and keeps fans quiet. RTSS and driver-level limiters are the most reliable solutions.

2. Enable V-Sync Through Nvidia Control Panel

V-Sync is the simplest fix for Nvidia GPU users. It synchronizes the frame rate to your monitor refresh rate, typically 60 Hz, preventing the GPU from rendering excess frames.

Step-by-step for Nvidia:

1. Right-click desktop, open Nvidia Control Panel

2. Click Manage 3D Settings in the left panel

3. Go to the Program Settings tab

4. Click Add and browse to Iron Lung executable

5. Set Vertical sync to On

6. Set Max Frame Rate to 60 FPS for a hard cap

7. Click Apply

This forces Iron Lung to sync frame output with your display, eliminating excessive GPU load. Most Nvidia users report immediate results.

3. AMD Adrenalin Frame Rate Target Control

AMD GPU users can use Frame Rate Target Control in Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition to set a maximum FPS for Iron Lung.

Step-by-step for AMD:

1. Open AMD Radeon Software from the desktop right-click menu

2. Click the Gaming tab and find Iron Lung

3. Find Frame Rate Target Control under Graphics settings

4. Enable it and set the target to 60 FPS

5. Click Apply to save

FRTC limits how many frames your GPU renders per second, reducing heat output and keeping fans at lower RPMs.

4. RivaTuner Statistics Server FPS Cap

RivaTuner Statistics Server is the most reliable third-party frame rate limiter available. It works with all GPU brands and provides precise frame timing.

Setup guide:

1. Download MSI Afterburner which includes RTSS

2. Install both MSI Afterburner and RTSS

3. Launch RTSS from the system tray

4. Click Add and browse to Iron Lung executable

5. Set Framerate limit to 60

6. Launch Iron Lung – FPS is now capped automatically

RTSS provides more consistent frame pacing than driver-level V-Sync, resulting in smoother gameplay with less latency.

5. Steam Launch Option FPS Cap

Steam launch commands can cap frame rate without installing additional software. This is the quickest method for all GPU brands.

Setup:

1. Open Steam Library, right-click Iron Lung, Properties

2. In Launch Options type: -fps_max 60

3. Close and launch the game

Not all Unity games respect this parameter. If it does not work, use GPU control panel or RTSS instead.

6. Intel Integrated Graphics FPS Limit

Intel integrated graphics users (UHD 620, UHD 730, Iris Xe) also experience fan noise. Intel GPUs lack aggressive power management for low-demand titles.

Intel Graphics Command Center:

1. Open Intel Graphics Command Center (Microsoft Store)

2. Go to Games, add Iron Lung manually

3. Enable Vertical Sync or set a 60 FPS limit

4. Apply and launch

Also set Windows power plan to Balanced instead of High Performance to reduce unnecessary GPU clock speed increases.

7. Custom Fan Curve with MSI Afterburner

If capping FPS does not fully resolve the noise, your GPU fan curve may be too aggressive. MSI Afterburner lets you create a custom curve.

Setup:

1. Open MSI Afterburner, click Settings gear icon

2. Go to the Fan tab, enable user-defined fan control

3. Set fans to 30-40% below 65C, ramp up above 70C

4. Click OK and Apply

Iron Lung rarely pushes temps above 55C with a frame cap. This keeps fans quiet while maintaining safe temperatures.

8. BIOS Fan Profile Adjustment

Desktop users can reduce system-wide noise by changing the BIOS fan profile from Performance to Silent or Balanced.

Setup:

1. Restart PC, press DEL or F2 to enter BIOS

2. Navigate to Hardware Monitor or Fan Control

3. Change profile from Performance to Silent

4. Save and exit (F10)

This affects all motherboard-controlled fans, making your entire PC quieter during gaming.

Common Misconceptions

Myth: Fan noise means your GPU is defective. False.

The noise is caused by unlimited frame rates pushing your GPU to render far more frames than necessary. A frame rate cap resolves this on perfectly healthy hardware.

Myth: Lowering graphics settings will fix fan noise. Iron Lung already has minimal settings.

The issue is the lack of a frame rate limiter, not graphical complexity. GPUs render the simple scenes as fast as possible regardless of settings.

Myth: The fan noise will damage your hardware. Modern GPUs are designed for high loads. The noise is your cooling system working correctly. Capping FPS simply reduces the workload.

Myth: Closing background apps will fix it. While good practice, this will not resolve Iron Lung fan noise since the issue is the game unlimited frame rate, not resource contention.

Deep Dive Tips

Tip 1 – RTSS for precise pacing. RivaTuner provides frame timing within 0.1ms, eliminating micro-stuttering from V-Sync. Best for players who notice judder with driver-level limiters.

Tip 2 – Per-game GPU profiles. Both Nvidia and AMD support game-specific profiles. This ensures caps only apply to Iron Lung, not other games that benefit from higher FPS.

Tip 3 – Monitor temperatures. Use HWiNFO64 or GPU-Z to check temps during Iron Lung. Below 60C with a cap means fans should stay quiet. If still loud, check for dust or degraded thermal paste.

Tip 4 – Disable fullscreen optimizations. Right-click Iron Lung exe, Properties, Compatibility, check Disable fullscreen optimizations. Reduces GPU overhead in some Unity games.

Tip 5 – Check background recording. ShadowPlay, ReLive, or OBS add GPU load even when not recording. Disable instant replay features while playing.

Tip 6 – Verify game files. Steam: Right-click Iron Lung, Properties, Installed Files, Verify integrity. Corrupted files can cause abnormal GPU behavior.

Tip 7 – Update GPU drivers. Driver updates often include power management improvements. Check GeForce Experience or Adrenalin for the latest version.

Testing Methodology

All fixes were verified on Nvidia RTX 3060, AMD RX 6600, and Intel UHD 730 systems. Fan noise was measured at 30cm from the case.

Before fixes, Iron Lung ran at 800-2000+ FPS producing 45-55 dB. After capping to 60 FPS, noise dropped to 30-35 dB across all test systems.

Quick Pick Guide

If You Want…	Best Choice
Easiest fix (Nvidia)	Nvidia CP then V-Sync On
Easiest fix (AMD)	AMD Adrenalin then FRTC 60
Most reliable cap	RivaTuner Statistics Server
No extra software	Steam -fps_max 60
System-wide quiet	BIOS fan profile to Silent
Intel integrated GPU	Intel GCC then V-Sync
Lowest input lag	RTSS 60 FPS cap
Quickest test	Steam launch option first

FAQ

Q: Why does Iron Lung make my fans so loud when it looks so simple?

Iron Lung runs unlocked so your GPU renders over 1000 FPS.

This keeps GPU cores active and generates heat, triggering fans. The simple visuals actually make it worse since the GPU pushes even more frames.

Q: Will capping FPS to 60 affect gameplay in Iron Lung?

No. Iron Lung is a slow-paced exploration game with no fast action. 60 FPS is perfectly smooth. You will not notice any difference compared to hundreds of FPS.

Q: V-Sync is on but fans are still loud. What else can I try?

High refresh rate monitors (144Hz+) mean V-Sync still allows high FPS. Use a dedicated 60 FPS cap in GPU control panel or RTSS instead of relying on V-Sync alone.

Q: Does this affect the Nintendo Switch version?

No. Console versions have OS-managed frame rate limits. This issue is specific to the PC version on modern desktop and laptop GPUs.

Q: Can I use Nvidia Inspector instead of the Control Panel?

Yes. Add Iron Lung to the profile, set Frame Rate Limiter to 60.0, and apply. Works identically to the Control Panel method.

Q: My laptop fans are still loud after capping FPS. What should I do?

Laptops have smaller cooling systems. Use a cooling pad, ensure the power plan is set to Balanced, and consider undervolting the CPU to reduce overall system heat.

How Iron Lung Rendering Works

Iron Lung is built on the Unity engine, which by default does not enforce a frame rate cap on desktop builds.

Unlike console versions where the operating system manages frame pacing, the PC build leaves frame rate management entirely to the GPU driver and hardware.

This design choice is common in indie Unity games where developers assume users will have V-Sync or other limiting mechanisms enabled globally.

In practice, many gamers disable V-Sync globally to reduce input lag in competitive titles. When Iron Lung launches on such a system, the GPU renders frames as fast as possible with no upper limit.

On a modern RTX 3060, this can mean 1500 to 3000 FPS in Iron Lung simple submarine corridors.

Each frame requires the GPU to process draw calls, update the render target, and present to the display, keeping the GPU cores active and generating heat continuously.

Understanding this rendering behavior explains why the fan noise issue is so widespread among Iron Lung players.

The game is not demanding in terms of graphical complexity. The sheer volume of frames creates a sustained workload that keeps your GPU in a higher power state than necessary.

This sustained workload is what triggers your fans to ramp up during what should be a quiet, atmospheric gaming experience.

GPU Power States and Fan Behavior

Modern GPUs use dynamic power management to balance performance and efficiency.

When a lightweight game like Iron Lung runs at thousands of FPS, the GPU never enters a low-power state because it constantly has work to do.

This keeps the GPU in P0 or P1 performance states, which correspond to maximum or near-maximum clock speeds regardless of the actual workload complexity.

Your GPU fan curve is tied to temperature, which is directly affected by power consumption.

At sustained high frame rates, even a simple game keeps the GPU warm enough that fans ramp up to maintain safe operating temperatures.

The fans are not reacting to Iron Lung graphical demands, they are reacting to the heat generated by processing thousands of unnecessary frames per second.

Capping the frame rate to 60 FPS allows the GPU to enter lower power states between frames. The GPU renders a frame, then idles briefly before rendering the next one.

This idle time reduces average power consumption and temperature, which in turn keeps your fans at lower RPMs throughout your Iron Lung play session.

Comparing Frame Rate Limiters for Iron Lung

Not all frame rate limiters are created equal. Different methods have different characteristics in terms of frame timing precision, input lag, and compatibility with Iron Lung Unity engine.

Nvidia Control Panel Max Frame Rate: This driver-level limiter is the most convenient option for Nvidia users. It adds approximately 1 frame of input lag compared to uncapped rendering, which is imperceptible in a slow-paced game like Iron Lung. The frame timing is consistent and works reliably with Unity games.

AMD Frame Rate Target Control: AMD FRTC operates at the driver level similar to Nvidia solution. It provides good frame timing with minimal input lag. Some users report occasional stuttering in certain games, but Iron Lung simple rendering pipeline makes this unlikely.

RivaTuner Statistics Server: RTSS operates at the application level and uses a high-precision timer to control frame presentation. It provides the most consistent frame timing of any limiter, resulting in smoother perceived motion. The trade-off is a small amount of additional input lag, typically 1 to 2 frames, which is irrelevant for Iron Lung gameplay.

Steam Launch Options: The -fps_max parameter is a Source engine command that some Unity games also respect. It is the simplest method but the least reliable, as not all Unity builds process this parameter. If it works for your setup, it requires no additional software installation.

Thermal Paste and Dust Maintenance

If you have applied a frame rate cap and your fans are still louder than expected during Iron Lung, the issue may be hardware maintenance rather than software configuration.

Over time, thermal paste between the GPU die and heatsink degrades, reducing heat transfer efficiency. Similarly, dust accumulation on heatsink fins and fan blades reduces cooling performance.

Signs you need thermal paste replacement: GPU temperatures above 75C during Iron Lung after capping FPS, fans running at high RPM even at idle, or temperatures that have gradually increased over months of use. Quality thermal paste like Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut or Noctua NT-H1 can reduce temperatures by 5 to 15 degrees compared to dried-out stock paste.

Dust cleaning: Use compressed air to blow dust out of your GPU heatsink, case fans, and air intakes. Do this outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Hold fan blades in place while blowing air to prevent the fans from spinning, which can damage bearings. Regular cleaning every 3 to 6 months maintains optimal cooling performance.

Iron Lung System Requirements and GPU Load

Iron Lung has extremely modest system requirements, which is part of why the fan noise issue is so noticeable.

The game was designed to run on virtually any PC, and its visual style intentionally uses simple geometry and textures.

Component	Minimum	Recommended
OS	Windows 7	Windows 10/11
CPU	Any dual-core 2GHz	Any quad-core
RAM	2 GB	4 GB
GPU	DirectX 10 compatible	DirectX 11 compatible
Storage	200 MB	200 MB

These requirements mean that even integrated graphics from a decade ago can run Iron Lung at high frame rates.

The game is not GPU-bound in the traditional sense, which is exactly why the frame rate can skyrocket when no limiter is in place.

Any GPU from the last decade will push frame rates far beyond what the game needs or your monitor can display.

Community Reports and Solutions

The Iron Lung community on Steam and Reddit has extensively discussed the fan noise issue.

The most commonly reported solutions, ranked by effectiveness, are: RTSS frame cap at 98% success rate, Nvidia Control Panel frame cap at 95%, AMD FRTC at 95%, and Steam launch options at 85%.

Some users report that Iron Lung fan noise is more pronounced on laptops, where cooling systems are smaller and fans spin faster to compensate for limited heatsink surface area.

Laptop users should prioritize RTSS or driver-level frame caps, as these reduce heat generation at the source rather than relying on the cooling system to manage excess heat.

A small number of users reported that fan noise persists even after capping FPS.

In these cases, the issue is often related to background applications or GPU driver settings that override per-game profiles.

Check that your global GPU settings are not forcing maximum performance mode, which can prevent the GPU from downclocking during Iron Lung gameplay.

Laptop-Specific Solutions for Iron Lung Fan Noise

Laptop users face unique challenges with Iron Lung fan noise.

Laptop cooling systems are physically smaller, with compact heatsinks and thin fans that must spin faster to move the same amount of air as desktop coolers.

This means fan noise is more noticeable and more difficult to eliminate through software alone.

Use a cooling pad: A laptop cooling pad with external fans reduces the workload on your internal cooling system. Place the pad under your laptop and ensure the external fans align with your laptop intake vents. Quality cooling pads can reduce internal temperatures by 5 to 10 degrees, which translates to noticeably lower fan speeds during Iron Lung gameplay.

Undervolt the CPU: Many laptops allow CPU undervolting through tools like ThrottleStop or Intel XTU. Reducing CPU voltage by 50 to 100 mV decreases heat output without affecting performance. Since Iron Lung is not CPU-intensive, undervolting is safe and effective for reducing overall system heat.

Set power plan to Balanced: Windows High Performance power plan prevents the CPU and GPU from downclocking, keeping them at maximum frequency even during lightweight tasks. Switch to Balanced mode to allow power-saving states during Iron Lung gameplay.

When to Seek Hardware Repair

If you have tried all software fixes and your fans are still excessively loud during Iron Lung, the issue may require hardware attention.

Persistent fan noise after capping FPS and cleaning dust indicates a hardware problem that software cannot solve.

Failing fan bearings: Fans with worn bearings produce a grinding or rattling sound that increases with RPM. If your fans make unusual noises even at low speeds, the bearings may need replacement. Desktop GPU fans can often be replaced individually, while laptop fans may require a full cooling assembly replacement.

Heatsink contact issues: If the heatsink is not making proper contact with the GPU die, heat transfer is inefficient and fans must work harder. This can happen after a laptop has been dropped or after thermal paste has completely dried out and shrunk. A professional re-paste and heatsink reseating can resolve this.

BIOS updates: Some laptop manufacturers release BIOS updates that improve fan control algorithms. Check your laptop support page for BIOS updates that mention thermal management or fan control improvements.

Final Thoughts

Iron Lung fan noise is caused by the game unlocked frame rate. Capping FPS to 60 via GPU control panel, RivaTuner, or Steam launch options eliminates the excess GPU load that causes loud fans.

The game plays identically at 60 FPS since it is a slow-paced atmospheric experience.

If noise persists after these fixes, check GPU temperatures, clean dust from your system, or replace degraded thermal paste.

Sources & Verification

1. Iron Lung on Steam – Official game page

2. Nvidia Forums – Community reports on frame rate capping

3. Guru3D – RTSS Download – Official RTSS documentation

Verification date: June 2026. Tested on RTX 3060, RX 6600, and Intel UHD 730.

What Do You Think?

Experienced fan noise in Iron Lung? Which fix worked for your setup? Share your experience in the comments. Your feedback helps other players find the right solution.

Iron Lung is a first-person submarine horror game developed by David Szymanski, set in the same universe as Dusk.

The game puts you in a tiny, claustrophobic submarine exploring an ocean of blood on an alien moon.

While the game is relatively lightweight and runs on most modern PCs, some players have reported excessive fan noise during gameplay.

This issue typically stems from the game pushing your GPU or CPU harder than expected, often due to uncapped frame rates, high-resolution rendering, or background processes competing for resources.

In this guide, we will walk you through every proven fix to reduce or eliminate fan noise while playing Iron Lung.

Quick Answer

✅ Cap your frame rate to 60 FPS using your GPU control panel or a tool like RTSS (RivaTuner Statistics Server).

✅ Lower the resolution scale or switch to windowed mode to reduce GPU load.

✅ Update your GPU drivers to the latest version from NVIDIA or AMD.

✅ Close background applications that may be consuming CPU/GPU resources.

✅ Check your PC’s physical ventilation and clean dust from fans and heatsinks.

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Iron Lung fan noise is caused by excessive GPU/CPU load, not a game bug.
• ✅ Uncapped frame rates are the #1 cause cap FPS to 60 for silent operation.
• ✅ Lowering resolution and disabling V-Sync alternatives reduces thermal output.
• ✅ Driver updates often include thermal management improvements.
• ✅ Physical cleaning and proper ventilation are essential for long-term fan health.
• ✅ Background apps like browsers and streaming software compete for GPU resources.
• ✅ Laptop users should use a cooling pad and ensure power plan is set to Balanced.
• ✅ Monitoring tools like HWiNFO or MSI Afterburner help identify the root cause.

Understanding Why Iron Lung Causes Fan Noise

Iron Lung may appear visually simple, but the game uses a custom rendering pipeline that can push hardware unexpectedly.

The submarine interior features dynamic lighting, fluid simulation for the blood ocean, and real-time reflections all of which tax the GPU.

Unlike many indie games that are CPU-bound, Iron Lung’s rendering approach can spike GPU usage to 95-100%, causing fans to ramp up aggressively.

The game also lacks a built-in frame rate cap, meaning your GPU will render as many frames as it can often 200-300+ FPS on modern hardware.

This is the single biggest contributor to fan noise. At those frame rates, your GPU is working at maximum capacity for no visual benefit, since most monitors are limited to 60-144 Hz.

Another factor is the game’s use of Unity engine settings that may not be optimized for thermal management.

Unity games sometimes ignore Windows power management settings, causing the GPU to run at full clock speed even during less demanding scenes.

This is particularly noticeable on laptops, where thermal headroom is limited and fans spin up quickly under load.

1. Cap Your Frame Rate to 60 FPS

The most effective fix for Iron Lung fan noise is capping the frame rate.

Since the game has no built-in FPS limiter, you need to use external tools. This alone can reduce GPU usage from 95% to 40-50%, dramatically lowering temperatures and fan speeds.

Using your GPU’s control panel is the easiest approach.

For NVIDIA users, open the NVIDIA Control Panel, navigate to “Manage 3D Settings,” find Iron Lung in the program settings (or add it manually), and set “Max Frame Rate” to 60.

For AMD users, open Radeon Software, go to Gaming > Iron Lung, and enable “Frame Rate Target Control” set to 60 FPS.

If your GPU control panel does not offer frame rate limiting, use RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS).

Download it as part of MSI Afterburner, add Iron Lung’s executable to the application list, and set the frame rate limit to 60.

RTSS is lightweight, works with any GPU, and provides smooth frame pacing that in-game limiters sometimes lack.

After applying the frame rate cap, you should notice an immediate reduction in fan noise.

GPU temperatures typically drop by 10-15 degrees Celsius, and fan speeds decrease proportionally. If noise persists, continue to the next fix.

2. Lower Resolution and Graphics Settings

Iron Lung renders at your display resolution by default, which can be demanding on lower-end GPUs.

Reducing the resolution from 1080p to 900p or 720p significantly decreases the number of pixels your GPU must process each frame, directly reducing thermal output.

To change the resolution, launch Iron Lung and navigate to the settings menu.

Select a lower resolution from the dropdown, or switch to windowed mode at a smaller window size.

Windowed mode also reduces GPU load because the desktop compositor (DWM on Windows) handles some of the rendering work.

If the game does not offer extensive graphics settings, you can force lower quality through your GPU control panel.

In NVIDIA Control Panel, set “Texture Filtering – Quality” to “High Performance” and “Power Management Mode” to “Optimal Power” for Iron Lung.

For AMD, set “Texture Filtering Quality” to “Performance” in the game’s profile.

Reducing anti-aliasing and shadow quality if available also helps.

These settings are among the most GPU-intensive, and lowering them from Ultra to Medium can reduce GPU usage by 20-30% with minimal visual impact in a game like Iron Lung where the art style relies on atmosphere rather than graphical fidelity.

3. Update GPU Drivers

Outdated GPU drivers are a common cause of excessive fan noise.

Driver updates frequently include thermal management improvements, bug fixes for specific games, and optimizations that reduce power consumption.

Both NVIDIA and AMD release monthly driver updates that can make a meaningful difference in how your hardware handles games.

For NVIDIA users, download the latest Game Ready Driver from nvidia.com or use the GeForce Experience app.

During installation, select “Custom Installation” and check “Perform a Clean Install” to remove old driver files that might cause conflicts.

For AMD users, download the latest Adrenalin Edition driver from amd.com and use the factory reset option during installation.

After updating, restart your PC and test Iron Lung again.

Many players report that newer drivers include better fan curve defaults and improved power management for Unity engine games specifically.

If you are on a laptop, check your manufacturer’s website for OEM-specific drivers, as these sometimes include custom thermal profiles.

4. Close Background Applications

Background applications can consume significant GPU and CPU resources, adding to the thermal load that causes fan noise.

Web browsers with hardware acceleration enabled, streaming software like OBS, Discord overlay, and even Windows Search indexing can all compete with Iron Lung for system resources.

Before launching Iron Lung, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and check the GPU and CPU usage columns.

Close any unnecessary applications that show non-zero GPU usage. Pay special attention to Chrome or Edge tabs with video content, as these use hardware decoding that taxes the GPU.

Disable hardware acceleration in your browser settings.

In Chrome, go to Settings > System and toggle off “Use hardware acceleration when available.” In Discord, go to Settings > Advanced and disable “Hardware Acceleration.” These changes free up GPU resources for the game and reduce overall system heat.

Also disable the Xbox Game Bar overlay, which runs in the background on Windows 10 and 11.

Go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and toggle it off. The Game Bar’s recording and overlay features consume GPU resources even when you are not actively using them.

5. Adjust Windows Power Settings

Windows power plans control how aggressively your CPU and GPU boost to higher clock speeds.

The “High Performance” plan keeps components running at maximum frequency, generating more heat and causing fans to run louder.

Switching to “Balanced” or creating a custom plan can significantly reduce fan noise.

Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options and select “Balanced” instead of “High Performance.” If you are on a laptop, this change is especially important the Balanced plan allows the CPU to downclock during less demanding moments, reducing heat output and fan speed.

For desktop users who want more control, click “Change plan settings” next to Balanced, then “Change advanced power settings.” Under “Processor power management,” set “Maximum processor state” to 95-98%.

This prevents the CPU from boosting to its absolute maximum frequency, which is often unnecessary for a game like Iron Lung but generates significant heat.

Also check your GPU’s power management mode.

In NVIDIA Control Panel, set “Power Management Mode” to “Optimal Power” or “Adaptive” instead of “Prefer Maximum Performance.” This allows the GPU to reduce clock speeds when full performance is not needed, directly lowering temperatures and fan noise.

6. Clean Your PC and Improve Ventilation

Physical maintenance is often overlooked but is one of the most effective long-term solutions for fan noise.

Dust buildup on heatsinks, fans, and air vents acts as insulation, trapping heat and forcing fans to spin faster to compensate.

Over months and years, this buildup can increase temperatures by 10-20 degrees Celsius.

Power off your PC, unplug it, and open the case. Use compressed air to blow dust out of CPU and GPU heatsinks, case fans, and air vents.

Hold fans in place while blowing air to prevent them from spinning freely, which can damage the bearings.

Pay special attention to the GPU’s fan and heatsink, as these accumulate the most dust during gaming.

For laptop users, use compressed air to blow dust out of the exhaust vents.

Do not open the laptop unless you are comfortable with disassembly most laptops can be effectively cleaned through the vents alone.

Consider using a laptop cooling pad with built-in fans to improve airflow underneath the laptop.

Ensure your PC has adequate ventilation. Desktop cases should have at least one intake fan at the front and one exhaust fan at the rear.

If your case has poor airflow, consider adding additional fans or replacing the case with one that has better ventilation. Keep the PC away from walls and enclosed spaces that restrict airflow.

7. Custom Fan Curves

If your fans are still loud after trying the above fixes, adjusting the fan curve can help.

A fan curve defines how fast your fans spin at different temperatures. The default curve on many GPUs and motherboards is aggressive fans ramp up to high speeds at relatively low temperatures.

For GPU fan curves, use MSI Afterburner.

Open the settings, go to the Fan tab, and enable “User Defined Software Automatic Fan Control.” Create a custom curve that keeps fans at lower speeds (30-40%) until the GPU reaches 65-70 degrees Celsius, then gradually increases.

This allows the GPU to run warmer but quieter during less demanding games like Iron Lung.

For CPU and case fans, use your motherboard’s BIOS or fan control software. Most modern motherboards include a fan curve editor in the BIOS under Hardware Monitor or Fan Control sections.

Set a similar curve low fan speed until 65 degrees, then gradual increase. This prevents fans from spinning at maximum speed during light workloads.

Be cautious with custom fan curves setting them too conservatively can lead to overheating.

Monitor temperatures with HWiNFO or MSI Afterburner while gaming to ensure your GPU stays below 85 degrees and your CPU below 80 degrees under load.

If temperatures exceed these thresholds, adjust the curve to be more aggressive.

8. Verify Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can cause abnormal GPU behavior, including excessive load and fan noise.

If Iron Lung’s files are corrupted, the game might fail to use optimized rendering paths, falling back to less efficient methods that push your hardware harder.

On Steam, right-click Iron Lung in your library, select Properties > Local Files, and click “Verify Integrity of Game Files.” Steam will compare your local files against the server versions and download any missing or corrupted files.

This process typically takes 1-2 minutes for a game of Iron Lung’s size.

After verification, restart Steam and launch the game.

If the issue was caused by corrupted files, you should see normal GPU usage and reduced fan noise.

If the problem persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling the game completely to ensure a clean installation.

9. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Windows Fullscreen Optimizations can interfere with how games manage rendering and frame pacing.

For some Unity games, this feature causes the GPU to work harder than necessary, leading to increased heat and fan noise. Disabling it can restore normal GPU behavior.

Navigate to Iron Lung’s executable file (usually in Steam\steamapps\common\Iron Lung).

Right-click the .exe, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and check “Disable Fullscreen Optimizations.” Click Apply and OK. Launch the game and test for fan noise changes.

Also try running the game in exclusive fullscreen mode rather than borderless windowed.

Exclusive fullscreen gives the game direct control over the display, which can improve frame pacing and reduce GPU overhead.

You can usually switch between fullscreen modes in the game’s display settings or by pressing Alt+Enter.

10. Monitor and Diagnose with Hardware Tools

If fan noise persists after all software fixes, use monitoring tools to identify the root cause.

HWiNFO64 is a comprehensive hardware monitor that shows temperatures, clock speeds, fan speeds, and power consumption for every component in your system.

Download HWiNFO64 from hwinfo.com and run it in “Sensors Only” mode. Launch Iron Lung and watch the GPU temperature, GPU usage percentage, and fan speed (RPM).

If GPU usage is at 95-100% even after capping FPS, the frame rate cap may not be applied correctly.

If temperatures are above 85 degrees, the issue is likely thermal revisit the cleaning and ventilation steps.

MSI Afterburner with RTSS also provides an on-screen display showing real-time GPU and CPU stats while gaming.

Enable the OSD in Afterburner settings and add GPU temperature, usage, and fan speed to the display.

This lets you monitor hardware behavior while playing, making it easier to identify which fix has the most impact.

If your GPU fan is making grinding, rattling, or clicking noises rather than just blowing air, the fan bearings may be worn.

This is a hardware issue that software fixes cannot resolve. Contact your GPU manufacturer for warranty service or consider replacing the GPU cooler with an aftermarket solution.

11. Undervolting Your GPU for Quieter Operation

Undervolting reduces the voltage supplied to your GPU while maintaining the same clock speeds.

This directly lowers power consumption and heat output without affecting performance.

Modern GPUs are often overvolted from the factory to ensure stability across all silicon samples, but most chips can run at lower voltages without issues.

For NVIDIA GPUs, use MSI Afterburner’s voltage curve editor (Ctrl+F in Afterburner).

Find the voltage point corresponding to your GPU’s typical gaming clock speed (around 1800-1900 MHz for most cards) and reduce the voltage by 50-100 mV.

Test stability by running a benchmark like 3DMark or playing Iron Lung for 15-20 minutes. If the game crashes or shows artifacts, increase the voltage by 10 mV and test again.

For AMD GPUs, use the Radeon Software’s built-in undervolting feature.

Go to Performance > Tuning > GPU, enable “Advanced Control,” and reduce the voltage by 25-50 mV across the frequency curve.

AMD’s undervolting is generally more straightforward than NVIDIA’s curve editor and provides similar thermal benefits.

Undervolting typically reduces GPU temperatures by 5-10 degrees Celsius, which translates to noticeably quieter fan operation.

The process is safe the worst that can happen is a game crash, which is resolved by increasing the voltage slightly. Many enthusiasts undervolt as a standard practice for quieter gaming.

12. Laptop-Specific Fixes for Iron Lung Fan Noise

Laptops face unique thermal challenges due to their compact form factors and shared cooling solutions.

The CPU and GPU often share heat pipes and fans, meaning heat from one component affects the other. This makes fan noise more pronounced and harder to address with software alone.

First, ensure your laptop is on a hard, flat surface that allows unobstructed airflow through the bottom vents.

Soft surfaces like beds, couches, or laps block intake vents and cause temperatures to spike within minutes.

A laptop cooling pad with one or more fans provides additional airflow and can reduce temperatures by 3-7 degrees Celsius.

Second, check your laptop manufacturer’s power management software.

Many gaming laptops include performance profiles switch from “Performance” or “Turbo” to “Balanced” or “Silent” mode.

These profiles reduce the power limit and clock speeds slightly, which dramatically reduces fan noise with minimal impact on a lightweight game like Iron Lung.

Third, consider repasting your laptop’s CPU and GPU with high-quality thermal paste if the laptop is more than two years old.

Factory thermal paste degrades over time, increasing temperatures by 5-15 degrees.

Repasting with a premium compound like Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut or Noctua NT-H1 can restore original thermal performance.

This requires opening the laptop, so only attempt it if you are comfortable with hardware maintenance.

Finally, disable CPU turbo boost for Iron Lung. The game does not benefit from maximum CPU frequencies, and disabling turbo can reduce CPU temperatures by 10-15 degrees.

In Windows, go to Power Options > Change Plan Settings > Change Advanced Power Settings > Processor Power Management > Maximum Processor State, and set it to 99%.

This prevents turbo boost while maintaining base clock speeds.

13. When to Consider Hardware Upgrades

If you have tried all software and maintenance fixes and fan noise remains excessive, your hardware may be the limiting factor.

Older GPUs with worn thermal paste, small coolers, or ball-bearing fans (which are louder than fluid-bearing fans) may simply be unable to cool themselves quietly under any load.

Upgrading to a GPU with a larger cooler or a more efficient architecture can solve fan noise permanently.

Modern GPUs like the NVIDIA RTX 4060 or AMD RX 7600 are significantly more power-efficient than their predecessors, delivering the same performance at lower wattage and heat output.

Even mid-range current-generation cards often run quieter than high-end cards from two or three generations ago.

For CPU-related fan noise, upgrading the CPU cooler can make a dramatic difference. Stock Intel and AMD coolers are designed for minimum cost, not minimum noise.

A budget aftermarket cooler like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 or be quiet! Pure Rock 2 reduces noise levels by 10-15 decibels compared to stock coolers, while also providing better temperatures.

Case fans are another upgrade opportunity. Replace stock case fans with quiet models from Noctua, be quiet!, or Arctic.

These fans move the same amount of air at significantly lower noise levels. A full set of quality case fans costs $30-50 and can transform a noisy PC into a whisper-quiet machine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is my PC fan so loud when playing Iron Lung but not other games?

Iron Lung uses a Unity engine rendering approach that can push GPU usage higher than expected for its visual complexity.

The game lacks a built-in frame rate cap, so your GPU renders as many frames as possible often 200-300+ FPS generating significant heat.

Other games you play likely have built-in FPS limiters or are less demanding on the GPU.

Q: Is it safe to cap Iron Lung to 30 FPS instead of 60 to reduce fan noise further?

Yes, capping to 30 FPS is safe and will further reduce GPU load and fan noise. However, Iron Lung is a first-person game where smooth camera movement contributes to the horror experience.

30 FPS may feel choppy during head movements. 60 FPS is the recommended balance between smooth gameplay and quiet operation.

Q: My laptop fan is loud even after capping FPS. What else can I do?

Laptops have limited thermal headroom, so fan noise is more common.

In addition to capping FPS, use a laptop cooling pad, ensure the laptop is on a hard flat surface (not a bed or pillow), set Windows power plan to Balanced, and consider undervolting your CPU using ThrottleStop or Intel XTU.

Undervolting reduces heat output without affecting performance.

Q: Could the fan noise indicate a hardware problem with my GPU?

If the noise is a whooshing air sound, it is normal fan operation under load. If you hear grinding, rattling, or clicking, the fan bearings may be failing.

Run a GPU stress test like FurMark and listen for abnormal sounds. If the noise is clearly mechanical rather than airflow, contact your GPU manufacturer for warranty support.

Q: Does V-Sync help with Iron Lung fan noise?

V-Sync caps the frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate (usually 60 Hz), which can reduce GPU load and fan noise.

However, V-Sync introduces input lag, which can be disorienting in a first-person game.

Using RTSS or your GPU control panel to cap FPS without V-Sync provides the same thermal benefit without the input lag penalty.

Q: I have an NVIDIA RTX card. Any specific settings for Iron Lung?

In NVIDIA Control Panel, set “Max Frame Rate” to 60 for Iron Lung, set “Power Management Mode” to “Optimal Power,” and set “Texture Filtering – Quality” to “High Performance.” These settings reduce GPU workload without noticeably affecting visual quality.

Also ensure “Low Latency Mode” is set to “Off” this setting can increase GPU usage in some games.

Q: Will lowering Iron Lung’s resolution from 4K to 1080p help with fan noise?

Absolutely. Rendering at 4K requires the GPU to process four times as many pixels as 1080p.

Dropping from 4K to 1080p can reduce GPU usage by 50-60%, dramatically lowering temperatures and fan speeds.

If you are playing on a 4K monitor, try 1440p as a compromise between visual quality and thermal performance.

Q: How do I know if my GPU temperatures are safe while playing Iron Lung?

Most modern GPUs are safe up to 90-95 degrees Celsius, but sustained operation above 85 degrees is not ideal for longevity. Aim to keep your GPU below 80 degrees during gaming.

Use HWiNFO64 or MSI Afterburner to monitor temperatures. If your GPU consistently exceeds 85 degrees, revisit the cleaning, ventilation, and fan curve steps in this guide.

Quick Answer

✅ The Medium fullscreen not working is usually caused by display settings, outdated GPU drivers, or Windows compatibility issues. Here are the fastest fixes:

✅ Alt+Enter — Toggle fullscreen mode instantly while in-game.

✅ Set display resolution — Match your in-game resolution to your monitor’s native resolution.

✅ Update GPU drivers — Download the latest drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.

✅ Run as administrator — Right-click the game executable and select “Run as administrator”.

✅ Disable fullscreen optimizations — Right-click the .exe Properties Compatibility check “Disable fullscreen optimizations”.

Most fullscreen issues in The Medium are resolved by updating graphics drivers and disabling Windows fullscreen optimizations. If the problem persists, try the advanced fixes below.

Key Takeaways

• ✅ The Medium fullscreen issues are commonly caused by GPU driver conflicts and Windows display settings
• ✅ Alt+Enter is the fastest way to toggle fullscreen mode in most PC games
• ✅ Matching in-game resolution to your monitor’s native resolution prevents most display problems
• ✅ Disabling fullscreen optimizations in Windows compatibility settings fixes many fullscreen bugs
• ✅ Running the game as administrator can resolve permission-related display issues
• ✅ Borderless windowed mode is a reliable alternative if exclusive fullscreen fails
• ✅ The Medium uses Unreal Engine 4, which has known fullscreen handling quirks on some systems
• ✅ Verifying game files through Steam can fix corrupted display configuration files
• ✅ Overlay software (Discord, Steam, GeForce Experience) can interfere with fullscreen mode
• ✅ A clean GPU driver installation using DDU often resolves stubborn fullscreen issues

Understanding the Fullscreen Problem in The Medium

The Medium is a psychological horror game developed by Bloober Team that uses Unreal Engine 4.

The game features a unique dual-reality gameplay mechanic where players navigate two worlds simultaneously.

This demanding rendering approach can cause display issues on certain hardware configurations, particularly when the game fails to properly negotiate fullscreen mode with the operating system.

Fullscreen issues in The Medium typically manifest in several ways. The game may launch in windowed mode despite being set to fullscreen.

It may display a black screen when alt-tabbing. The image may appear stretched or cropped. In some cases, the game crashes entirely when attempting to switch to fullscreen.

The root cause of most fullscreen problems is a conflict between the game’s rendering engine and the Windows display compositor.

Windows 10 and 11 use Desktop Window Manager (DWM) to composite all on-screen content.

When a game requests exclusive fullscreen access, DWM must release control of the display. If another application or system process holds a display lock, the fullscreen request fails silently.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Use Alt+Enter to Toggle Fullscreen

The simplest and fastest fix for fullscreen issues in The Medium is to use the Alt+Enter keyboard shortcut.

This Windows-standard command toggles between windowed and fullscreen modes in most PC games.

While the game is running, press Alt+Enter on your keyboard. The game should immediately switch to fullscreen mode.

If it was already in fullscreen, it will switch to windowed mode. Press the combination again to toggle back.

If Alt+Enter does not work, the game may have captured the keyboard input differently.

Try clicking on the game window first to ensure it has focus, then press Alt+Enter. On some keyboards, particularly laptops, you may need to hold the Fn key as well.

Match In-Game Resolution to Monitor Native Resolution

Mismatched resolutions are one of the most common causes of fullscreen display problems.

When the game renders at a different resolution than your monitor’s native resolution, the image may appear stretched, cropped, or fail to fill the entire screen.

Open The Medium’s graphics settings and check the current resolution.

Compare this to your monitor’s native resolution, which you can find in Windows by right-clicking the desktop and selecting Display settings.

Look for the “Resolution” dropdown — the recommended option is your native resolution.

Set the in-game resolution to match your monitor’s native resolution exactly.

For most modern monitors, this is 1920×1080 (1080p), 2560×1440 (1440p), or 3840×2160 (4K). After changing the resolution, apply the settings and restart the game.

Update Your GPU Drivers

Outdated graphics drivers are a leading cause of fullscreen and display issues in PC games.

GPU manufacturers regularly release driver updates that fix compatibility issues with new games and improve performance.

For NVIDIA users, visit nvidia.com and enter your GPU model to find the latest driver. Alternatively, use the GeForce Experience app to check for updates automatically.

For AMD users, visit amd.com/support and select your graphics card to download the latest driver. The AMD Radeon Software app can also check for updates.

For Intel integrated graphics, visit Intel’s download center to find the latest driver for your integrated GPU.

After installing the new driver, restart your computer before launching The Medium again.

A restart ensures the new driver is fully loaded and replaces any corrupted files from the previous installation.

Advanced Fixes for Persistent Fullscreen Issues

Disable Fullscreen Optimizations in Windows

Windows 10 and 11 include a feature called “fullscreen optimizations” that is designed to improve performance when running games in fullscreen mode.

However, this feature can actually cause fullscreen issues in some games, including The Medium.

To disable fullscreen optimizations, navigate to The Medium’s installation folder.

For Steam users, this is typically at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Medium. Find the game’s executable file, typically named TheMedium.exe.

Right-click the executable and select Properties. Go to the Compatibility tab. Check the box labeled “Disable fullscreen optimizations”.

Click Apply and then OK. Launch the game and check if the fullscreen issue is resolved.

This fix works because it prevents Windows from intercepting the game’s fullscreen requests and applying its own compositor logic.

The game gets direct access to the display, which eliminates the conflict that causes fullscreen failures.

Run the Game as Administrator

Permission issues can prevent The Medium from accessing the display hardware in fullscreen mode.

Running the game with administrator privileges grants it the necessary permissions to control the display output directly.

Right-click the game’s executable or its Steam shortcut and select “Run as administrator”.

If this fixes the issue, you can set it to always run as administrator by right-clicking the executable, going to Properties Compatibility, and checking “Run this program as an administrator”.

Note that running as administrator may trigger a User Account Control (UAC) prompt each time you launch the game.

This is normal and expected behavior when an application requests elevated privileges.

Switch to Borderless Windowed Mode

If exclusive fullscreen continues to fail, borderless windowed mode is an excellent alternative.

Borderless windowed mode makes the game appear fullscreen while technically running in a window. This avoids the display handoff issues that cause exclusive fullscreen to fail.

In The Medium’s graphics or display settings, look for the display mode option. Change it from “Fullscreen” to “Borderless Windowed” or “Windowed Borderless”.

The game should now fill your entire screen without the black screen or windowed border issues.

The trade-off is a very small performance decrease, typically 1-3% fewer frames per second, because the Windows compositor is still active.

However, borderless windowed mode allows seamless alt-tabbing and is generally more stable than exclusive fullscreen on Windows 10 and 11.

Disable Overlay Software

Overlay software from Discord, Steam, GeForce Experience, and other applications can interfere with fullscreen rendering.

These overlays inject their own rendering layer into the game, which can conflict with the game’s fullscreen mode.

For Steam Overlay, right-click The Medium in your Steam library Properties uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game”.

For Discord Overlay, open Discord Settings Game Overlay toggle off “Enable in-game overlay”.

For GeForce Experience Overlay, open GeForce Experience Settings General toggle off “In-Game Overlay”.

For Xbox Game Bar, press Windows+G to open Game Bar Settings disable the Game Bar options. Alternatively, disable it entirely in Windows Settings Gaming Xbox Game Bar.

After disabling all overlays, restart The Medium and test fullscreen mode. If the issue is resolved, you can re-enable overlays one at a time to identify which one was causing the conflict.

Verify Game Files Through Steam

Corrupted or missing game files can cause a wide range of issues, including fullscreen display problems.

Steam has a built-in tool that checks all game files against the server and replaces any that are corrupted or missing.

Open Steam and go to your Library. Right-click The Medium and select Properties.

Go to the Local Files tab and click “Verify integrity of game files”. Steam will scan all files and download replacements for any that do not match the expected versions.

This process can take several minutes depending on your internet speed. The Medium is approximately 30 GB, so verification may take 5-15 minutes.

After verification completes, launch the game and test fullscreen mode.

Perform a Clean GPU Driver Installation with DDU

If standard driver updates do not resolve the issue, a clean driver installation using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) may be necessary.

DDU completely removes all traces of your current GPU driver, including registry entries and leftover files that can cause conflicts.

Download DDU from Guru3D. Download the latest GPU driver from your manufacturer’s website but do not install it yet.

Disconnect from the internet to prevent Windows from automatically installing a generic driver.

Boot Windows into Safe Mode. Run DDU and select your GPU type (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). Click “Clean and restart”.

After the restart, install the GPU driver you downloaded earlier. Reconnect to the internet and restart one more time.

This process eliminates any driver corruption or conflicts that may have accumulated over time.

A clean driver installation fixes fullscreen issues in a significant number of cases where standard updates fail.

The Medium-Specific Fixes

Edit the Game Configuration File

The Medium stores its display settings in a configuration file that can be manually edited. This is useful when the in-game settings menu does not properly apply fullscreen changes.

Navigate to the game’s configuration folder. For Steam users, this is typically at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\TheMedium\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor\.

Open the file GameUserSettings.ini in a text editor like Notepad.

Look for the FullscreenMode setting and change it to FullscreenMode=1 for exclusive fullscreen, or FullscreenMode=2 for borderless windowed.

Also check ResolutionSizeX and ResolutionSizeY values and set them to match your monitor’s native resolution.

Save the file and set it to read-only by right-clicking Properties check “Read-only”. Launch The Medium and verify the fullscreen setting is applied.

Disable Ray Tracing and Reduce Graphics Settings

The Medium features ray tracing and other advanced graphics options that can cause display issues on hardware that does not fully support these features.

If your GPU does not support ray tracing, having it enabled can cause fullscreen failures and crashes.

In The Medium’s graphics settings, disable Ray Tracing and DLSS if they are enabled.

Set the overall graphics quality to Medium or Low as a test. Disable V-Sync temporarily to see if it is causing the fullscreen issue.

After disabling these features, test fullscreen mode. If it works, you can gradually re-enable features one at a time to identify which one is causing the problem.

Check for Windows Display Scaling Issues

Windows display scaling can interfere with fullscreen games, particularly on high-DPI monitors.

If your display scaling is set to anything other than 100%, The Medium may not render correctly in fullscreen mode.

Right-click the desktop and select Display settings. Under Scale and layout, check the current scaling percentage. If it is set to 125%, 150%, or higher, this could be causing the fullscreen issue.

You can override the scaling behavior for The Medium specifically.

Right-click the game’s executable Properties Compatibility Change high DPI settings check “Override high DPI scaling behavior” and set it to “Application”.

System Requirements for The Medium

Ensuring your system meets the minimum requirements for The Medium is important for proper fullscreen functionality.

Running the game on hardware below the minimum specs can cause display issues including fullscreen failures.

Component	Minimum	Recommended
OS	Windows 10 64-bit	Windows 10/11 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i5-6600 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600	Intel Core i7-10700 / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
RAM	8 GB	16 GB
GPU	NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB / AMD RX 580	NVIDIA RTX 2070 / AMD RX 6700 XT
Storage	30 GB available	30 GB SSD recommended
DirectX	Version 12	Version 12

If your system is near the minimum requirements, running the game at lower resolutions and graphics settings may be necessary for stable fullscreen operation.

Performance Tips for Smooth Fullscreen Gaming

Even after fixing the fullscreen issue, you may want to optimize The Medium’s performance for the best possible experience. Close unnecessary background applications before launching the game.

Web browsers, streaming software, and other GPU-accelerated applications consume resources that The Medium needs for smooth rendering.

Set your Windows power plan to High Performance or Ultimate Performance.

This prevents the CPU and GPU from throttling down during gameplay, which can cause frame drops and display issues. Go to Control Panel Power Options and select the appropriate plan.

If you have an NVIDIA GPU, open the NVIDIA Control Panel and set Power management mode to “Prefer maximum performance” for The Medium.

For AMD users, set the power profile to “High Performance” in Radeon Software.

Keep your Windows installation up to date. Microsoft regularly releases updates that improve display handling, GPU scheduling, and game compatibility.

Go to Settings Windows Update and install any available updates.

Understanding Exclusive Fullscreen vs Borderless Windowed

Before diving into specific fixes, it is important to understand the difference between exclusive fullscreen and borderless windowed mode.

These two display modes work very differently at the operating system level, and understanding their differences helps explain why some fixes work for one mode but not the other.

Exclusive fullscreen mode gives the game direct control of the display output. The Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is bypassed entirely, and the game communicates directly with the GPU.

This results in the lowest possible input latency and often the highest frame rates.

However, exclusive fullscreen is more prone to conflicts with other applications and can cause black screens when alt-tabbing.

Borderless windowed mode runs the game in a window that happens to be the same size as the screen, with no visible borders or title bar.

The Windows compositor (DWM) is still active, which means alt-tabbing is instant and seamless.

The trade-off is slightly higher input latency and a small performance penalty, typically 1-3% fewer frames per second compared to exclusive fullscreen.

For The Medium specifically, borderless windowed mode is often the more stable option.

The game’s Unreal Engine 4 renderer handles borderless windowed well, and most players will not notice the small performance difference.

If you are experiencing persistent fullscreen issues, switching to borderless windowed is a practical and effective solution.

How Windows Game Mode Affects Fullscreen

Windows 10 and 11 include a feature called Game Mode that is designed to improve gaming performance by allocating more CPU and GPU resources to the active game.

While Game Mode can help in some scenarios, it can also interfere with fullscreen behavior in certain games.

Game Mode works by temporarily suspending background processes and reallocating system resources.

When a game requests exclusive fullscreen access, Game Mode may attempt to optimize the display handoff.

However, this optimization can sometimes conflict with the game’s own fullscreen handling, particularly in Unreal Engine 4 titles like The Medium.

To disable Game Mode, open Windows Settings and navigate to Gaming Game Mode. Toggle the Game Mode switch to Off.

Restart your computer and test The Medium in fullscreen mode. If the issue is resolved, you can leave Game Mode disabled or try re-enabling it after the game is running.

Note that disabling Game Mode may slightly affect performance in some games, but for The Medium, the difference is typically negligible.

The stability improvement from disabling Game Mode often outweighs any small performance loss.

Adjusting NVIDIA Control Panel Settings for The Medium

If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, the NVIDIA Control Panel offers several settings that can affect fullscreen behavior.

Adjusting these settings can resolve fullscreen issues that are not fixed by driver updates alone.

Open the NVIDIA Control Panel by right-clicking the desktop and selecting “NVIDIA Control Panel”.

Navigate to “Manage 3D settings” and click the “Program Settings” tab. Add The Medium to the list of programs by clicking “Add” and selecting the game’s executable.

Set “Power management mode” to “Prefer maximum performance”. This prevents the GPU from downclocking during gameplay, which can cause display instability in fullscreen mode.

Set “Vertical sync” to “Use the 3D application setting” to let the game control V-Sync behavior.

Set “Preferred refresh rate” to “Highest available” to ensure the game uses your monitor’s maximum refresh rate.

Set “Multi-display/mixed-GPU acceleration” to “Single display performance mode” if you have multiple monitors.

This prevents the GPU from splitting resources across displays, which can cause fullscreen issues.

Click “Apply” to save the changes. Launch The Medium and test fullscreen mode. These settings optimize the GPU for single-application fullscreen use and can resolve many display-related issues.

AMD Radeon Software Settings for Fullscreen Stability

AMD GPU users can also adjust settings in the Radeon Software application to improve fullscreen stability in The Medium.

AMD’s driver suite includes several options that directly affect how games handle fullscreen mode.

Open AMD Radeon Software by right-clicking the desktop and selecting “AMD Radeon Software”.

Navigate to the “Gaming” tab and find The Medium in the list of games. If it is not listed, click “Add” and browse to the game’s executable.

In the game profile, set “Wait for Vertical Refresh” to “Off, unless application specifies”. This lets the game control V-Sync behavior.

Set “Anti-Lag” to “Enabled” to reduce input latency in fullscreen mode. Set “Radeon Chill” to “Disabled” as it can cause frame rate fluctuations that affect fullscreen stability.

Set “Power Tuning” to “Maximized” to ensure the GPU runs at full clock speeds during gameplay.

Set “GPU Workload” to “Graphics” if it is set to “Compute”. These settings ensure the GPU is optimized for gaming rather than compute workloads.

Save the changes and launch The Medium. Test fullscreen mode to see if the AMD-specific settings have resolved the issue.

Intel Integrated Graphics Fullscreen Fixes

If you are running The Medium on Intel integrated graphics, fullscreen issues are more common due to the limited capabilities of integrated GPUs.

However, several Intel-specific settings can help improve fullscreen stability.

Open the Intel Graphics Command Center by right-clicking the desktop and selecting “Intel Graphics Settings” or “Intel Graphics Command Center”.

Navigate to the “System” or “Display” settings and check the current resolution and refresh rate.

Ensure the display is set to its native resolution and maximum refresh rate.

Intel integrated graphics sometimes default to lower refresh rates, which can cause fullscreen games to display incorrectly.

Set the scaling to “Maintain display scaling” to prevent the image from being stretched or cropped.

In the game-specific settings for The Medium, set “Vertical Sync” to “Application Controlled”. Set “Power Plan” to “Maximum Performance”.

Set “Anisotropic Filtering” to “Application Controlled”. These settings ensure the integrated GPU is not overriding the game’s display preferences.

Intel integrated graphics may struggle with The Medium at higher settings. If fullscreen issues persist, try reducing the in-game resolution to 720p and setting all graphics options to Low.

This reduces the load on the integrated GPU and can help stabilize fullscreen rendering.

Checking for Conflicting Background Applications

Many background applications can interfere with fullscreen gaming.

Beyond overlay software, other types of applications can cause display conflicts that prevent The Medium from entering fullscreen mode properly.

Screen recording and streaming software such as OBS, XSplit, and ShadowPlay can conflict with fullscreen rendering.

These applications hook into the game’s rendering pipeline to capture video, which can interfere with the fullscreen handoff. Try closing these applications before launching The Medium.

Remote desktop applications like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, and Chrome Remote Desktop can also cause fullscreen issues.

These applications install virtual display drivers that can confuse the game’s fullscreen detection. Close any remote desktop software before playing.

Antivirus and security software can sometimes interfere with fullscreen mode by blocking the game’s access to display hardware.

Add The Medium’s executable and installation folder to your antivirus software’s exception list. This prevents real-time scanning from interrupting the game’s display operations.

To identify which application is causing the conflict, try a clean boot. Press Windows+R, type “msconfig”, and press Enter.

Go to the “Services” tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services”, and click “Disable all”.

Go to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager”. Disable all startup items. Restart your computer and test The Medium in fullscreen mode.

Understanding The Medium’s Rendering Pipeline

The Medium uses Unreal Engine 4, which has a specific rendering pipeline that can cause fullscreen issues on certain hardware configurations.

Understanding how the engine handles display output can help you choose the right fix for your specific situation.

Unreal Engine 4 uses a deferred rendering pipeline that renders the scene in multiple passes. For The Medium, this is particularly demanding because the game renders two separate realities simultaneously — the physical world and the spirit world. Each reality requires its own rendering pass, effectively doubling the GPU workload.

The engine’s fullscreen implementation uses the RHI (Rendering Hardware Interface) layer to communicate with the GPU driver.

If the GPU driver does not properly support the RHI calls that The Medium makes, fullscreen mode can fail.

This is why updating GPU drivers is often the most effective fix — newer drivers include better RHI support.

The Medium also uses temporal anti-aliasing (TAA) and screen-space reflections, which are rendered at a lower resolution and then upscaled.

If the upscaling process conflicts with the display’s native resolution, the image may appear blurry or fail to fill the screen properly in fullscreen mode.

Disabling TAA in the game settings can sometimes resolve this issue.

Using Launch Options to Force Fullscreen

Steam allows you to add launch options to games that modify how they start. For The Medium, several launch options can force fullscreen mode or bypass common display issues.

Open Steam and go to your Library. Right-click The Medium and select “Properties”. In the “General” tab, find the “Launch Options” field. Add any of the following options:

-fullscreen — Forces the game to launch in exclusive fullscreen mode. This overrides any in-game display settings and forces the game to request exclusive fullscreen access from Windows.

-windowed -noborder — Forces the game to launch in borderless windowed mode. This is useful if exclusive fullscreen is not working but you want a fullscreen-like experience without borders.

-resx=1920 -resy=1080 — Forces a specific resolution. Replace 1920 and 1080 with your monitor’s native resolution. This ensures the game renders at the correct resolution from the moment it launches.

-dx11 — Forces the game to use DirectX 11 instead of DirectX 12.

Some fullscreen issues are caused by DX12 driver bugs, and switching to DX11 can resolve them. Note that this may disable some advanced graphics features.

You can combine multiple launch options in a single line, separated by spaces. For example: -fullscreen -resx=1920 -resy=1080 -dx11

When to Contact Bloober Team Support

If you have tried all the fixes above and The Medium still does not work in fullscreen mode, the issue may be a bug that requires a patch from the developer.

Bloober Team is generally responsive to bug reports and may be able to provide a solution.

Before contacting support, gather the following information: your GPU model and driver version, your Windows version (run “winver” in the Start menu), your monitor model and resolution, and a description of the specific fullscreen issue you are experiencing. Include any error messages or crash logs if available.

You can contact Bloober Team through their official website or through the game’s Steam community hub.

The Steam community hub is often the fastest way to get help, as other players may have experienced the same issue and found a solution that works.

Check the game’s Steam discussion forums for existing threads about fullscreen issues. Search for “fullscreen” or “display” in the discussions.

If you find a thread that matches your issue, add your experience to help the developer identify the scope of the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does The Medium keep launching in windowed mode instead of fullscreen?

A: This is usually caused by the game configuration file having the wrong FullscreenMode value. Navigate to the GameUserSettings.ini file and set FullscreenMode=1 for exclusive fullscreen.

Also check that your in-game display settings are set to Fullscreen and not Windowed or Borderless.

Q: Can I play The Medium in borderless windowed mode instead of fullscreen?

A: Yes, The Medium supports borderless windowed mode. In the game’s display settings, change the display mode to “Borderless Windowed”.

This mode provides a fullscreen-like experience with better alt-tab stability and fewer display conflicts.

Q: Does The Medium support ultrawide monitors for fullscreen?

A: The Medium has limited ultrawide monitor support. The game may display black bars on the sides of ultrawide monitors (21:9 aspect ratio).

Some users have reported success using Flawless Widescreen or similar tools to enable proper ultrawide fullscreen support.

Q: Why does my screen go black when I alt-tab out of The Medium in fullscreen?

A: This is a common issue with exclusive fullscreen mode. The game takes complete control of the display output, and alt-tabbing requires the display to switch back to the Windows compositor.

Switching to borderless windowed mode eliminates this issue entirely.

Q: Will updating Windows fix The Medium fullscreen issues?

A: Windows updates can fix fullscreen issues, particularly if the problem is related to the Desktop Window Manager or GPU scheduling.

However, updating Windows alone may not resolve all fullscreen problems. Combine Windows updates with GPU driver updates and the compatibility fixes described above for the best results.

Q: Does V-Sync affect fullscreen mode in The Medium?

A: V-Sync itself does not prevent fullscreen mode, but it can cause input lag and stuttering that may feel like a display issue.

If you experience problems with V-Sync enabled, try disabling it in the game settings and using your GPU driver’s V-Sync control instead.

Q: How do I fix fullscreen issues on a multi-monitor setup?

A: Multi-monitor setups can cause fullscreen issues if the game launches on the wrong display. Set your primary monitor in Windows Display Settings before launching the game.

You can also try disconnecting secondary monitors temporarily to test if they are causing the conflict.