Apex Legends PC System Requirements: Minimum and Recommended

Last checked: November 9, 2026.

Apex Legends needs a 64-bit Windows 10 PC with DirectX 12 support, at least 6 GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7790 graphics card and 75 GB of free storage. The tables below combine EA's official PC requirements page with the Apex Legends listing on Steam. Both are published by EA, and where they differ we show both.

Apex Legends minimum and recommended specs

A few details matter more than they look:

• The recommended specs target 60 fps. EA says the minimum hardware can play the game, but the recommended list is what it suggests for smooth 60 fps gameplay.
• DirectX 12 is required. EA's page notes that the graphics card must support DirectX feature level 12_0. Very old cards that only support DirectX 11 won't qualify.
• Language packs take extra space. Steam notes that one localized language takes about 3.8 GB on top of the base install.
• Windows only. Both official lists name 64-bit Windows 10 and no other operating system.

How to check if your PC can run Apex Legends

You can check your hardware in about a minute without installing anything:

1. Press Windows + R, type dxdiag and press Enter.
2. On the System tab, note your processor, memory and DirectX version.
3. On the Display tab, note your graphics card name, its display memory and the Feature Levels line. You need 12_0 in that list.
4. Compare those with the table above. Your card should be at least as fast as a GTX 950 for the minimum, or a GTX 970 for the recommended spec.

If your processor or graphics card is below the minimum, the game isn't officially supported on that PC. It may still launch, but EA doesn't promise it will run properly.

How big is Apex Legends on PC?

Plan for 75 GB of free space, which is the figure on both official lists, plus extra room for updates. Steam's listing warns that content updates download automatically and can need additional storage.

The install got smaller recently. EA's Season 31 (Cipher) patch notes say the Season 30.0 and 31.0 patches were larger than usual because existing textures were recompressed. Once they're applied, total disk usage is about 30 GB lower than in Season 29 on most platforms, and about 17 GB lower on Nintendo Switch 2. EA expects future patch sizes to return to normal.

An SSD isn't on either requirements list, but it's worth using if you have one. Large map and texture loads are much quicker from an SSD than from a hard drive.

Anti-cheat: EA Javelin replaced Easy Anti-Cheat

Since September 29, 2026, Apex Legends on PC uses EA Javelin Anticheat instead of Easy Anti-Cheat. You don't have to do anything to switch. After the update downloads, the game moves you over automatically the next time you launch it.

Some other EA games that use Javelin ask players to turn on Secure Boot in their BIOS. EA's announcement says that is not required for Apex Legends at this time, so you can install and play as usual.

Launchers, accounts and controllers

You can play the PC version through three stores:

Progress belongs to your EA account, so your unlocks carry over if you switch between Steam and the EA app. EA's FAQ warns against launching the game on both at the same time with the same linked account, because it can cause progression problems.

Apex Legends officially supports Xbox and PlayStation controllers on PC. If you play with friends on consoles, see our guide to Apex Legends crossplay and cross-progression for how PC and console matchmaking works.

PC graphics settings that affect FPS

EA lists the full set of PC video options. These are the ones that matter most if you're near the minimum spec:

Shadow and lighting settings are usually the biggest performance cost in most games, so start there before you lower textures or resolution. Change one setting at a time and test in the Firing Range so you can see what actually helps your PC.

Apex Legends on consoles

If your PC can't run it, Apex Legends is also free on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. The original Nintendo Switch version stopped working on August 4, 2026. PS5 and Xbox Series X have native next-gen versions with 4K and HDR output, according to EA's FAQ.

New to the game? Our Apex Legends beginner guide covers your first matches.

Frequently asked questions

What are the minimum requirements for Apex Legends?

You need 64-bit Windows 10, an Intel Core i3-6300 or AMD FX-4350 processor, 6 GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7790 graphics card, DirectX 12 and 75 GB of free space. Those figures appear on both EA's requirements page and the Steam store listing.

Can my PC run Apex Legends at 60 fps?

EA says its recommended specs are meant for smooth 60 fps gameplay. That means 8 GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon R9 290, and a Ryzen 5 or Core i5-3570K class processor. Lowering shadow settings can help if you're slightly below that.

How many GB is Apex Legends on PC?

Both official lists ask for 75 GB of free space, and Steam notes that each localized language adds about 3.8 GB. EA said in November 2026 that recent texture compression cut disk usage by about 30 GB compared with Season 29.

Does Apex Legends need DirectX 12?

Yes. Both requirement lists name DirectX 12, and EA's page says your graphics card must support feature level 12_0. You can check this in the Display tab of dxdiag.

Does Apex Legends require Secure Boot?

Not at the moment. When Apex Legends switched to EA Javelin Anticheat on September 29, 2026, EA said players don't need to enable Secure Boot for this game. Check EA's news page if that changes in a later season.

Can you play Apex Legends on a Mac?

There's no native Mac version. The official requirements list only 64-bit Windows 10, and the PC stores sell the Windows version.

Can I use a controller on PC?

Yes. EA's FAQ says Apex Legends officially supports Xbox and PlayStation controllers on PC, and the PC version includes gamepad settings with several layouts and sensitivity options.