Graphics Settings

Ryujinx emulates the Nintendo Switch’s Maxwell GPU using modern graphics APIs. This guide covers graphics backend selection, resolution scaling, and visual enhancements to optimize your gaming experience.

Graphics Backend Selection

Ryujinx supports three graphics backends depending on your platform:

Vulkan
OpenGL
Metal

Recommended for most usersAdvantages:

Best performance on modern GPUs
Lower CPU overhead
Better multi-threading support
Required for macOS (via MoltenVK)

Requirements:

Vulkan 1.2+ compatible GPU
Latest graphics drivers

Platform Support:

Windows (with compatible GPU)
Linux (native Vulkan)
macOS (via MoltenVK)

Changing Graphics Backend

Open Graphics Settings

Navigate to File > Settings > Graphics

Select Backend

Choose your preferred backend:

"GraphicsBackend": "Vulkan"

Options:

Vulkan (default on systems with Vulkan support)
OpenGL (fallback, not available on macOS)

Select GPU (Multi-GPU Systems)

If you have multiple GPUs:

Click the Preferred GPU dropdown
Select your dedicated GPU (usually marked as “dGPU”)
Integrated GPUs are also listed but not recommended

Restart Ryujinx

Graphics backend changes require restarting Ryujinx to take effect.

Resolution Scaling

Increase rendering resolution for sharper graphics:

Resolution Scale Options

Native (1x)

720p docked / 1080p handheldOriginal Switch resolution. Best performance, lowest quality.

2x

1440p docked / 2160p handheldBalanced quality and performance. Recommended for most systems.

3x

2160p docked / 3240p handheldHigh quality. Requires powerful GPU.

4x

2880p docked / 4320p handheldMaximum quality. Very demanding, recommended for high-end GPUs only.

Custom Resolution Scale

For fine-tuned control:

Select Custom Scale

In Settings > Graphics, set Resolution Scale to Custom

Set Custom Value

Enter a floating-point multiplier:

"ResScale": -1,
"ResScaleCustom": 1.5

1.0 - Native resolution
1.5 - 1.5x scaling
2.5 - 2.5x scaling
Up to 4.0 or higher

Resolution scaling has the most significant impact on performance. Start with 2x and adjust based on your GPU capabilities.

Visual Enhancements

Ryujinx offers six graphics enhancements:

1. Disk Shader Caching

Pre-compile and cache shaders for smoother gameplay:

"EnableShaderCache": true

How Shader Caching Works

First Run:

Shaders compile when needed during gameplay
May cause stuttering when new effects appear
Shaders are saved to disk

Subsequent Runs:

Cached shaders load instantly
No stuttering from shader compilation
Smooth gameplay experience

Cache Location:

<RyujinxFolder>/games/<TitleID>/cache/

Keep shader caching enabled unless experiencing specific issues. Disabling it will cause significant stuttering.

2. Anti-Aliasing (AA)

Smooth jagged edges for better image quality:

None
FXAA
SMAA

Default - No anti-aliasing

Best performance
Visible aliasing on edges
Recommended for lower-end GPUs

"AntiAliasing": "None"

3. Scaling Filters

Improve upscaling quality when using resolution scaling:

Bilinear
Nearest Neighbor
FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution)

Default - Simple linear interpolation

Fast and efficient
Slight blur at higher resolutions
Best performance

AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution

Advanced upscaling algorithm
Sharpens image while scaling
Adjustable quality level (1-100)
Works on all GPUs (not AMD-exclusive)

"ScalingFilter": "Fsr",
"ScalingFilterLevel": 80

FSR Quality Levels

Adjust FSR sharpness with the filter level:

1-40 - Softer image, more blur reduction
40-60 - Balanced (default: 80)
60-100 - Maximum sharpness, may over-sharpen

Higher FSR levels increase sharpness but may introduce visual artifacts. 80 is the recommended default.

4. Anisotropic Filtering (AF)

Improve texture quality at oblique angles:

Auto
2x - 16x

Default - Let games decide

"MaxAnisotropy": -1.0

Uses game’s built-in anisotropic filtering settings.

Force anisotropic filtering level:

2x - Minimal improvement
4x - Noticeable quality increase
8x - High quality, slight performance cost
16x - Maximum quality, minimal performance impact on modern GPUs

"MaxAnisotropy": 16.0

Anisotropic filtering has minimal performance impact on modern GPUs. 16x is recommended for best texture quality.

5. Aspect Ratio Adjustment

Change the display aspect ratio:

Fixed 16:9

Default - Native Switch aspect ratioMaintains original 16:9 display.

Fixed 21:9

Ultrawide aspect ratioStretches image to fit ultrawide monitors. May cause distortion.

Fixed 16:10

16:10 aspect ratioFor 16:10 displays like some laptops.

Stretched

Fill entire windowStretches to window size, may distort image.

"AspectRatio": "Fixed16x9"

Changing aspect ratio from 16:9 may cause visual distortion or UI issues in some games.

6. Texture Recompression

Reduce VRAM usage by recompressing textures:

"EnableTextureRecompression": false

When to Enable

Enable if:

GPU has limited VRAM (4GB or less)
Experiencing out-of-memory errors
Game textures don’t fit in VRAM

Disable if:

GPU has ample VRAM (6GB+)
Want maximum texture quality
Experiencing texture quality issues

Texture recompression trades quality for VRAM savings. Only enable if necessary.

Advanced Graphics Settings

Backend Threading

Control GPU driver threading behavior:

Auto
On
Off

Recommended - Automatic threading decision

"BackendThreading": "Auto"

Ryujinx determines optimal threading based on your system.

Changing backend threading settings can affect stability. Only change from Auto if experiencing specific issues.

Macro HLE (High-Level Emulation)

Emulate GPU macros at high level:

"EnableMacroHLE": true

Enabled (default): Better performance, high compatibility
Disabled: Accurate macro emulation, slower

Macro HLE is recommended for all users. Disabling it only helps with very specific compatibility issues.

Color Space Passthrough

macOS only - Enable HDR color space passthrough:

"EnableColorSpacePassthrough": false

Requires macOS and compatible display.

VSync Configuration

Control frame pacing and screen tearing:

VSync Modes

Switch (60 FPS)
Unbounded (VSync Off)
Custom

Default - Match Switch’s 60 FPS

"VSyncMode": "Switch"

Locked to 60 FPS
Smooth, consistent frame pacing
Prevents screen tearing
Recommended for most games

No frame rate limit

"VSyncMode": "Unbounded"

Unlocked frame rate
May cause screen tearing
Lower input latency
Use with FreeSync/G-Sync displays

Custom frame rate target

"VSyncMode": "Custom",
"EnableCustomVSyncInterval": true,
"CustomVSyncInterval": 120

Set any FPS target (30-240)
Useful for high refresh rate displays
Game speed tied to frame rate

Custom VSync Interval

For high refresh rate displays:

Enable Custom VSync

Check Enable Custom VSync Interval

Set Frame Rate

Adjust the slider or enter a value:

30 FPS - Half speed (50% slider)
60 FPS - Normal speed (100% slider)
90 FPS - 1.5x speed (150% slider)
120 FPS - 2x speed (200% slider)
144 FPS - 2.4x speed (240% slider)

Custom VSync intervals higher than 60 FPS will speed up game logic. This can cause physics issues, timing problems, and game instability.

Shader Dump Path

For debugging or development, dump compiled shaders:

"GraphicsShadersDumpPath": ""

Leave empty unless specifically debugging shader issues.

Performance Optimization Tips

Start with Recommended Settings

Backend: Vulkan
Resolution Scale: 2x
Anti-Aliasing: None or SMAA
Scaling Filter: FSR (level 80)
Anisotropic Filtering: 16x
Shader Cache: Enabled
VSync: Switch (60 FPS)

Adjust Based on Performance

If experiencing low FPS:

Reduce resolution scale to 1x
Disable anti-aliasing
Use bilinear scaling filter
Reduce anisotropic filtering

If experiencing stuttering:

Ensure shader cache is enabled
Let shaders build on first playthrough
Check if PPTC is enabled in System settings

Monitor GPU Usage

Use GPU monitoring tools to identify bottlenecks:

MSI Afterburner (Windows)
GPU-Z (Windows)
System Monitor (Linux)
Activity Monitor (macOS)

Graphics Debug Levels

For troubleshooting graphics issues:

"LoggingGraphicsDebugLevel": "None"

Levels:

None (default) - No debug output
Error - Only errors
Warning - Warnings and errors
All - Verbose logging (performance impact)

Graphics debug logging is for advanced troubleshooting only. Keep at “None” for normal use.

Troubleshooting Graphics Issues

Black screen or no graphics

Solutions:

Switch graphics backend (Vulkan ↔ OpenGL)
Update GPU drivers to latest version
Verify GPU supports minimum requirements:
- OpenGL 4.5+ or Vulkan 1.2+
Check if GPU is selected correctly (multi-GPU systems)
Disable any overlays (Discord, MSI Afterburner, etc.)

Low FPS or stuttering

Performance optimization:

Reduce resolution scale to 1x or 2x
Disable anti-aliasing
Ensure shader cache is enabled
Enable PPTC in System settings
Close background applications
Use Vulkan backend if available
Lower graphics settings in-game

Graphics glitches or artifacts

Common causes:

Outdated GPU drivers
Incompatible backend threading
GPU overheating or instability

Solutions:

Update GPU drivers
Set backend threading to Auto
Try different graphics backend
Reduce GPU overclock if applicable
Check GPU temperatures
Enable/disable Macro HLE

Screen tearing

Solutions:

Ensure VSync is set to “Switch”
Enable VSync in GPU driver settings
Use windowed mode instead of fullscreen
Enable FreeSync/G-Sync on compatible displays

Shader compilation stuttering

Expected behavior:

First time playing a game will stutter as shaders compile
Shaders are cached after compilation
Subsequent runs will be smooth

To minimize:

Keep shader cache enabled
Play through stuttering areas once to build cache
Consider downloading pre-compiled shader caches (user-shared)

Next Steps

Audio Settings

Configure audio backend and volume settings

Configuration

Adjust system and emulator settings

Input Configuration

Set up controllers and keyboard input

Troubleshooting

Diagnose and fix common issues

Getting Started

User Guide

Features

​Graphics Backend Selection

​Changing Graphics Backend

​Resolution Scaling

​Resolution Scale Options

Native (1x)

2x

3x

4x

​Custom Resolution Scale

​Visual Enhancements

​1. Disk Shader Caching

​2. Anti-Aliasing (AA)

​3. Scaling Filters

​4. Anisotropic Filtering (AF)

​5. Aspect Ratio Adjustment

Fixed 16:9

Fixed 21:9

Fixed 16:10

Stretched

​6. Texture Recompression

​Advanced Graphics Settings

​Backend Threading

​Macro HLE (High-Level Emulation)

​Color Space Passthrough

​VSync Configuration

​VSync Modes

​Custom VSync Interval

​Shader Dump Path

​Performance Optimization Tips

​Graphics Debug Levels

​Troubleshooting Graphics Issues

​Next Steps

Audio Settings

Configuration

Input Configuration

Troubleshooting

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Graphics Backend Selection

Changing Graphics Backend

Resolution Scaling

Resolution Scale Options

Custom Resolution Scale

Visual Enhancements

1. Disk Shader Caching

2. Anti-Aliasing (AA)

3. Scaling Filters

4. Anisotropic Filtering (AF)

5. Aspect Ratio Adjustment

6. Texture Recompression

Advanced Graphics Settings

Backend Threading

Macro HLE (High-Level Emulation)

Color Space Passthrough

VSync Configuration

VSync Modes

Custom VSync Interval

Shader Dump Path

Performance Optimization Tips

Graphics Debug Levels

Troubleshooting Graphics Issues

Next Steps