Hi guys!

I've been playing Skyrim on the PC for a couple of weeks and love the game but still consider myself a newbie!

I've always felt that the default FOV in first person view is too narrow but I didn't realise until now that it could be changed. Having read a few sources on here and around the Internet, I've decided that I definitely want to change the FOV.

The trouble is that I've read several conflicting instructions both on these forums and also around the Internet regarding the best way to do this. Some suggest that you just use the FOV command on the console, however I've also read that this method might disable Steam achievements and potentially might not 'stick' as a permanent setting. The rumour regarding the dangers of using the console has put me off using it!

Other instructions talk about using an INI file but I've read various descriptions of what should be entered and in which sections of the existing INI file. Some suggest up to three separate commands in the INI file, some suggest one. Others talk about putting the commands under the General part of the INI, whilst others state that they need to go under 'display'. Some sources even suggest that I need to put it under Skyrimprefs.ini instead. So I'm left thoroughly confused!

I'm using a monitor at 16:9 widescreen with a resolution of 1920x1080. Sometimes, I've set the resolution for Skyrim to 1440x900 so that it plays in a smaller window and this is because I found the 'zoomed in' effect of the default FOV to be less dizzying when using a smaller window.

I'm also interested to know what people suggest as the best FOV settings (whilst also being aware that it is a matter of personal preference, of course). I think the default is 65. I've heard people recommending anything between 75-90 for PC players. I'm interested to hear any recommendations.

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

1. Using console commands does NOT disable Steam achievements.

2. It's true that there's a chance FOV won't stick if you only use console (without .ini files), but it's entirely random. For example, I've only changed it by console command and it works fine, switched back to default maybe 2-3 times but then I just set it back. Hasn't switched to default since December so I guess this method is quite reliable.

3. I don't remember the .ini settings right off the bat, so wait for someone who has actually used this method.

There's no danger in using console to change FOV. You could try it and see if it sticks, if it doesn't then change the .ini files. If it sticks then you're good to go
The command is
fov XX
where XX is obviously your desired FOV. I'm using 100, but people usually settle for 90. It's all a matter of personal preference, try various settings and see which one you're comfortable with.

Use the FOV=xx, where xx is the value you want, so fov=90 for example, in the console until you find one you like. Most folks like a value between 85 and 100, but your mileage may vary.

Then, once you have figured out what setting you do like, then do this to make it permanent

Head to My Documents, select My Games, select Skyrim and then Skyrim again, then create a backup of the skyrim.ini file. Scroll down to [General] in the file and add fdefaultfov=XX (where XX is the field of view you want). Then save and exit.

Permanent fixes wont work so dont even bother. Just open up the console and type fov 90. Done deal.

It is permanent on mine, so it might be OS dependent, like a W7 issue. I run XP.

Perhaps this needs to be changed in the default INI in the root directory on W7 machines instead of the Profiles INI.

Thanks for such detailed and helpful answers Rosveen and CCNA. I'll give the FOV command a try and see what I like best.

Still a bit confused about making it a permanent change. From what you guys have said above, I'm guessing that possibly just using the FOV command itself might make it stick? I did read somewhere that the FOV setting might save with the save file you're using but I don't know if that sounds right?

I've also read some people suggesting a command like 'saveini' in the console to make it permanent?

I guess maybe just experimenting is the only answer.......

Well, this is how I set it up in the Skyrim.ini


fDefaultFov=80
fDefaultWorldFOV=80
fDefault1stPersonFOV=95

Then you have to type FOV 80 from the console whilst playing the game AND make a save with that active.

The fDefault1stPersonFOV decides where your arms are.

Cheers!

Guys, c'mon - we just hammered this out a week or 10 days ago (in a FOV thread).
Typing FOV=75 or whatever in the console won't stick, but it's great to test out different settings.
I found 75 to be a good jump back from the default! I found 90 to be extreme.
90 might be okay on 16:9 display. I use 16:10, so for me 75 is perfect.
To make it stick simply add these three lines to your Skyrim.ini in \MyDocuments\Skyrim:

[Display]
fDefault1stPersonFOV=75.0000
fDefaultWorldFOV=75.0000
fDefaultFOV=65.0000

I was told the third line is important and must always remain 65.
Set the other two to what you want, but anything beyond 90 is out of hand...
and can reportedly introduce issues.
Regards

Heheh, Locksley that's messed up.
You need fDefaultFOV=65.0000 always.
And the other two need to both be set to the same thing.

Here's what I did and it's stuck.

In game, type your desired FOV in console and then save your game.

Open up Skyrim.ini and add this to the bottom of the display section,
fDefaultWorldFOV=75
fDefault1stPersonFOV=75.0000

Now go into SkyrimPrefs.ini and add this to the bottom of the general section:
fDefaultFOV=75

That works for me but my arms clip sometimes, any help on that? or is that just the way it is?

Do you have a link to that thread?

Chances are I've already come across it whilst searching the forum but perhaps I haven't seen it before, in which case it would be useful to know.

I've been playing around with the FOV command and I think I quite like around 80-85. I think that when I crank it up to 90 and beyond it doesn't feel quite right. I'm having trouble making up my mind about which value to go with though.

One thing is for sure though - I'm much happier to switch to full screen with FOV at 75 and above. When I had it at default (which appears to be 65) I had to play on a smaller window as I found it kind of dizzying with such a narrow FOV.

I really don't understand why the game isn't set to a default FOV for PC users on the PC version of the game. The default FOV is definitely too zoomed in and I've read several times that this is because it is set for Xbox and PS3 users. Why they couldn't just set a different default for the PC version, I don't know.

You need to do some searching...


Gryphon may be referring to http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1342737-what-fov-are-you-using/page__hl__fov. My post explains why fDefaultFOV needs to remain at default 65. Otherwise, you may experience problems with the UI, menus, etc. The console command should not be used if your intent is to force a higher FOV and make it stick. I would repeat it but it has already been posted by Gryphon in this thread (the others are not correct). Or you can go directly to http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1342737-what-fov-are-you-using/page__view__findpost__p__20239280 in the previous thread.

My experience on a 4:3 screen (21" CRT) is the following:
- I use FOV=90. The fisheye effect is clearly noticeable but not yet disturbing (to me).
- I have all the three ini parameters (see posts above) set to 90.
- I have all three parameters duplicated under both [General] and [Display] in Skyrim.ini. (Probably overkill, but there is no harm in that, and I couldn't be bothered to test which might be the essential ones.)
- The FOV setting is apparently permanent, I have never seen it revert to default on its own.
- I have encountered no adverse UI/menu/other effects whatsoever.
- Oh, and this takes place on 32-bit WInXP.

^ This with the values you want leave the bottom value alone and at default.

fDefaultFOV should remain at the default setting. This is 65 for me, but may be different depending on the aspect ratio of the resolution you chose in the Skyrim launcher. It should be 65 or 75, whatever is default - not 80.


This was certainly true in Fallout: New Vegas, but Skyrim works a little differently - fDefaultWorldFOV and fDefault1stPersonFOV should be the same. If they aren't, then your FOV will change after area transitions, fast traveling and switching between 1st and 3rd person views.

Yep 65 for the bottom value if you experiencing clipping that wasn't therewith the default.

By default, do you mean the setting you start with in the game or the default when you type 'FOV' into the console without any number?

My default setting when playing the game normally seems to be 65. However, when I type FOV into the console on its own, it sets to a default of 75.

I'm using a 16:9 monitor set to a resolution of 1920x1080 btw.

Kastagir, I've used your approach. I decided that I prefer an FOV of 80 so I used the following in my INI file:

[Display]
fDefault1stPersonFOV=80.0000
fDefaultWorldFOV=80.0000
fDefaultFOV=75.0000

Upon loading up my game, I found that it was still set to an FOV of 65.

I exited the game and replicated the lines under [General] in the INI file. I also added the lines into the Skyrimprefs.ini under the General and Display headings just to be sure I had covered all bases. Loaded Skyrim again and found that I was still on FOV 65.

You've said that the 'fov' console command is not necessary and won't make the FOV stick but I can't seem to change the FOV at all without using it as the INI file changes seem to be making no difference.

Am I doing something wrong?

I think I've worked it out. It's seems that the INI file only works with a new save. You need the console to change the configuration on an old save.

I haven't been playing Skyrim lately (probably not since 1.4.21 was released) and my former method is no longer working for me either. However, I determined a method that does work without fail. Make the following changes to your ini files (and only these ini files):

Skyrim.ini

[Display]
fDefaultWorldFOV=80.0000
fDefault1stPersonFOV=80.0000

SkyrimPrefs.ini

[General]
fDefaultFOV=80

These are now the settings Skyrim will revert to on transitions and for new games. However, for existing games, you will need to set the FOV in the console. You only need to do this once as it is stored in the save file. Load your game and type fov 80 in the console, then create a new save. Exit Skyrim and the next time you load that save, it will have a FOV of 80 and due to your ini settings, it won't revert to any other FOV.

Here's how the fov console command works: if you type fov 90 it will set your field of view to 90. If you just type fov it will set the field of view to 75 degrees if it hasn't already been set higher. You can use this to determine whether or not your game is still using the default field of view of 65 degrees since typing fov will increase it to 75.

Remember that changing FOV in the console and saving your game will save that FOV in the save file. If you experiment with different values, make sure not to save or to simply record what you were originally using.

Five minutes later ...........Bethesda adds FOV last minute into the 1.5 official patch

^this^ except all my numbers are 90°. It works well for me on a 30" 2560x1600 16:10 display. No clipping problems with arms. Occasionaly though in 1st person when walking close to a wall, the other side breaks through. Normally that doesn't bother me. I spend an awful lot of time with the social networking game "Second Life" where that sort of clipping happens all the time and we simply accept it as a fact of that existence.

I do not see any noticeable fisheye. Maybe that's just because I have mentally compensated. Whatever. 90 works well enough for me. I guess it has to be a different solution for every setup and there are no hard and fast rules.

Go into your inventory and expand the 3d view of items....what happened? Even if you see everything great that is YOU. Welcome to the world of multiple PC configs. Also what you described is indeed clipping so how do you have no clipping and clipping at the same time? What you should say(or I think mean to say) is the game is fine FOR YOU.

You've misunderstood. Of course it's ME! I stay with what works for ME. I am hardly likely to use another's arrangement because it works for them. Yours is a rather silly statement. We use what works and I am fine with what others might find good for them. Are you trying to make a case that I want everybody to do as I do? That's crazy. This topic was always about comparing notes on FOV and the steps to make changes, nothing more. It's been full of excellent advice.

Posters have spoken of clipped arms. My arms don't clip. No problems with wielding a bow, etc, in 1st person. There is only a minor issue with a few walls that my camera seems to try to pass through on the edges (in 1st person). Doesn't happen every day. Doesn't bother me. I am not a perfectionist and what works in a general sense is all I need.

So is there a problem with the centralised rotatable 3D view of inventory items? Not on my screen. Zooming a little closer would be nice but that's the limitation of FOV=90, I guess. Inventory item views work well for me — I have no problems seeing the symbols on claw keys for example. And there are no menu problems generally. To what were you referring regarding this view?

I think the biggest problem I've seen with higher FOV values isn't clipping of environment or even fisheye. It's clipping of armor and worn items that are being partially shown in first person at higher FOV settings. This usually happens during combat when you're flailing about, so make sure you don't see any of that. It's most likely to appear when wearing bulkier armors.