To switch Fortnite’s rendering mode on PC, open Settings → Video → Rendering Mode, choose a mode, apply the change, and restart the game if prompted. If Fortnite keeps reverting to another mode, set it with the Epic Games Launcher’s Additional Command Line Arguments option.
Change the rendering mode in Fortnite
- Launch Fortnite and open Settings.
- Select the Video tab.
- Find Rendering Mode, choose the mode you want, and apply the change.
- Restart Fortnite if the game prompts you to do so.
Epic’s instructions describe this setting for PC. Console players should not assume these PC steps or options apply to their platform.
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Choose a mode for your needs
Performance Mode
Epic labels this option “Performance – Lower Graphical Fidelity.” It may help if you are getting low frame rates, but it reduces graphical fidelity and is not guaranteed to improve performance on every PC. Epic also suggests trying it for certain display problems, including crashes, freezing, or black screens associated with DirectX 12. Epic’s Performance Mode instructions explain how to enable it.
DirectX 12
Choose DirectX 12 if you need the PC anti-aliasing and super-resolution options covered in Epic’s guidance, which include TSR, NVIDIA DLSS, Intel XeSS, FXAA, SMAA, and TAA where supported by the hardware and settings. Epic says PC ray tracing requires DirectX 12 and compatible hardware. See Epic’s anti-aliasing and super-resolution guidance and its ray-tracing requirements.
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DirectX 11
Epic recommends switching to DirectX 11 if you are using DirectX 12 and having trouble playing. There is no guaranteed frame-rate advantage from choosing one mode over another; the right setting depends on your PC, the features you use, and whether the game runs reliably.
Force a mode if Fortnite does not save your choice
If the in-game selection keeps resetting, Epic documents setting the mode through the Epic Games Launcher. First clear any existing command-line arguments so they do not conflict with the mode you intend to use.
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- Open the Epic Games Launcher.
- Open Settings.
- Scroll to Fortnite and expand its settings.
- Enable Additional Command Line Arguments.
- Delete any existing text in the arguments box, then enter the argument for the mode you want:
| Rendering mode | Argument | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX 11 | -d3d11 |
Epic’s DirectX 11 instructions |
| DirectX 12 | -d3d12 -sm6 |
Epic’s instructions for a mode that was not saved |
| Performance Mode | -d3d12 -FeatureLevelEs31 |
Epic’s instructions for a mode that was not saved |
Launch Fortnite after setting the argument. To switch later, remove the old argument and enter only the one for the new mode. Epic specifically says to remove -d3d11 to return to DirectX 12.
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If changing modes does not fix stutter or crashes
A mode change may not address the underlying cause. Epic identifies repeated shader recompilation as one possible cause of DirectX 12 stutter and recommends clearing the graphics-driver shader cache; the game may stutter while shaders are rebuilt afterward. Follow Epic’s DirectX 12 stutter troubleshooting for the relevant cache steps.
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