How to Fix Stuttering and Resolution Issues Guide

[toonwise]

Use this guide to remove stutters and fix resolution issues until the developer patches the game.

Step 1: Enable 32-bit Compatibility
* Note: This is to revert back to 32-bit before the new technical update.

- Navigate to your Steam Library and right click on Stardew Valley.
- Click properties and select Betas.
- Under the drop down menu which says "Select the beta you would like to opt into:".
- Select "compatibility - For 32-bit systems. The legacy, XNA version of Stardew Valley".

Step 2: Change High DPI Settings (If using a resolution greater then 1080p)
* Note: UHD and 4k monitors will need this to scale down Stardew Valley on launch as the game is developed for what seems to be 1080p. This is what is causing zoom in issues.

- Navigate to your Steam Library and right click on Stardew Valley.
- Click manage and browse local files.
- Right click on the Stardew Valley application and select properties.
- Select the Compatibility tab at the top of the properties window.
- Select "Change high DPI settings".
- Check the box under "High DPI scaling override" and make sure the drop down is set to "Application".
- Apply and press OK.

Step 3: Change Your Refresh Rate (For monitors capable of higher then 60hz)
* Note: Stardew Valley seems to target 60hz. Anything above this seems to cause the tearing issue people have been reporting.

- Type in your search bar "Display Settings" or navigate there under settings.
- Navigate to the "Advanced display settings".
- Change your refresh rate to 60hz
* Stardew Valley stutters if the refresh rate is higher then 60hz.
- Now launch Stardew Valley.

Step 4: Adjust In Game Settings
* Note: Stardew Valley is not optimized for monitors larger then 1080p. Hence why the screen is zoomed all the way out at this point. But we can fix that in game!

- Start a new game or load a save.
* If starting a new game parts of the visuals will be corrupted such as the road the bus is driving on in the cutscene. This is because Stardew Valley has yet to optimize resolutions higher then 1080p.
- The game will be zoomed out all the way by default.
- Open the options tab in the menu and find the UI scale and Zoom options.
- Scale the UI to a comfortable level for you.
- Zoom as far in as you'd like.
- Ensure Vsync is on.
- Now play the game.
- Stutter should be gone now.
* Ignore what the resolution states in the grayed out resolution setting. We took care of that in Step 2.

* DO NOT zoom your UI all the way in to where you can't see the options tab. If you press escape at this point you will have you force close the game as you will not be able to select options again. If you happen to save then you just locked yourself out of the menus for good. At that point you will need to delete some files in the Stardew Valley folder.

* DO NOT attempt to adjust your resolution in the game resolution settings as this option is currently bugged. During testing I've found that selecting in game full screen can black screen the game requiring a reboot, remove focus from the game removing sound and lagging the in game cursor, and freeze your desktop. Please wait for a patch before messing with these settings. For now continue to use "Windowed Borderless".

If you want to go ahead and mess with the resolution settings then make your game full screen with alt + enter. Then press alt + enter again and navigate to the full screen option. The full screen option will only show under these conditions. Select full screen and hope for the best. Then you may adjust your resolution.

[Amduskas]

Yikes. I'll wait for a fix, I think.
Nice guide though.

[toonwise]

Yeah I understand it's a frustrating pain. But the fix can be accomplished in about 5 or so minutes. Also you may not even need to do all the steps. Some got it working correctly with just step 1. It's a case by case basis.

[KillAllHumans722]

You are my hero, this has fixed my problems running Stardew on my 4K tv. My girlfriend had no idea what I was talking about with the stuttering and she said I was crazy, but it’s all better now thanks to you. Thank you so much!