Guide

How to use a custom crosshair overlay on PC

Updated 10 November 2026 · PixelForge team

A crosshair overlay draws your own crosshair on top of a game. It helps in games with no hip-fire crosshair, with a crosshair you dislike, or when you want the exact same crosshair in every game. This guide explains how overlays work, how to set one up, and what to watch out for.

PixelForge Crosshair page with presets and a custom crosshair builder

What a crosshair overlay is

A crosshair overlay is a small transparent window that sits on top of your game and shows a crosshair in the middle of your screen. The game does not know it is there. It is the same idea as an FPS counter in the corner of your screen.

That is different from the crosshair settings inside a game. In-game crosshairs are drawn by the game itself and can react to movement and spread. An overlay is fixed: it always sits in the exact same spot.

When an overlay helps

No hip-fire crosshair: some games, Rust included, give you only a small dot or nothing when you are not aiming down sights.
A crosshair you cannot see: the default color blends into the map, for example white on snow.
One crosshair everywhere: the same shape and size in every game, so your eyes always know where the center is.

Setting it up

Run the game in borderless windowed mode. Windows cannot draw overlays on top of exclusive fullscreen in most games. This is the number one reason an overlay does not show.
Check the center. If you play a stretched resolution, set it before you start the overlay, so the crosshair centers on the new resolution.
Turn off the in-game crosshair if you want only yours, or keep both and line them up.

Choosing a crosshair

Shape: a small cross or a dot is the most precise. A circle helps you judge spray or spread.
Size: small enough not to cover a far-away player's head, big enough to find instantly.
Color: pick a color that is rare in your game's maps. See the best crosshair color.
Outline: a thin dark outline keeps any color visible on bright and dark backgrounds.

Is a crosshair overlay allowed?

An overlay that only draws on your screen does not change the game, read its memory or give information the game does not show. Even so, rules are set by each game and each server. Some competitive games and some Rust servers do not allow overlays at all. Read the rules where you play and turn the overlay off where it is not allowed.

Common problems

Overlay not visible: switch the game to borderless windowed.
Crosshair off-center: restart the overlay after changing resolution, or check Windows display scaling.
Overlay shows on the desktop: use an overlay that only shows when your game is running, or turn it off with a hotkey.

Crosshair, zoom and FPS in one app

PixelForge has a crosshair overlay with ready-made presets, a builder for your own shape, size and color, and the option to load any crosshair image. It shares the overlay with a zoom lens and an FPS and ping counter, so you run one small app instead of three. See zoom and crosshair overlay.

PixelForge zoom lens with a crosshair inside, over a Rust scene — The zoom lens can show a crosshair inside it.

Step by step: your first overlay crosshair

1. Set your game to borderless windowed in its video settings.
2. If you play stretched, switch to your stretched resolution now.
3. Start with a small preset: a dot, or a cross with a small gap.
4. Pick a color the game's maps do not use and add a thin outline.
5. Load into the game and check the crosshair sits exactly where your shots land, using a wall to test.
6. Play a few games before changing anything. Your eyes need time to get used to a new crosshair.

Overlay crosshair vs in-game crosshair

An in-game crosshair can show spread, recoil and movement, which an overlay cannot know about. An overlay is always perfectly still and identical across games. Many players keep the in-game crosshair for spray and use the overlay only as a center reference, for example a tiny dot. If the two do not line up, trust the in-game one for where bullets go.

Performance

A crosshair overlay is a tiny picture on screen and costs practically no FPS. Heavier overlays that record or stream video are a different thing.

Crosshair overlay with a zoom lens

When you zoom with an overlay lens, the center of the lens should still show where you aim. A crosshair inside the lens keeps that reference while zoomed. Check your server rules first: many Rust servers allow crosshair overlays but not external zoom.

Sharing your crosshair

If you find a crosshair you love, save its settings or image so you can restore it after reinstalling. Some tools let you share settings as a code, so your friends can use the same crosshair in seconds.

Last tip: give any new crosshair at least three full sessions. The first game always feels strange, and judging too early is the most common reason players keep switching.

Your crosshair in every game

PixelForge is a small Windows app that does all of this in one place, with a free 24-hour trial and no install.

See pricing Try it free for 24 hours

Questions

Why is my crosshair overlay not showing?

Run the game in borderless windowed mode. Windows overlays cannot draw on top of exclusive fullscreen in most games.

Can I get banned for a crosshair overlay?

An overlay only draws on your screen and does not touch the game, but each game and server sets its own rules. Check them and turn it off where overlays are not allowed.

Does a crosshair overlay work in every game?

It works on top of any game running in borderless windowed mode.

Can I use my own crosshair image?

Yes, many overlays, including PixelForge, let you load an image as your crosshair.

Does a crosshair overlay cost FPS?

Practically none. It is a small static picture on top of the game.

Will a crosshair overlay show in my stream or recording?

It depends on how you capture. Window capture of the game usually does not include the overlay, while full display capture usually does.

Is it safe?

PixelForge does not inject into games, touch game files or read game memory. It only changes how your screen looks and draws overlays. No tool can promise what every anti-cheat or server admin will accept, and some Rust servers ban external zoom tools, so check the rules and leave those features off if you are not sure.