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To enable NVIDIA game filters, open the NVIDIA app, turn on the NVIDIA overlay and Game Filters and Photo Mode, then launch a supported game and press Alt + F3. If the shortcut does not work, press Alt + Z and open Game Filter from the overlay.
These filters change the look of a game while you play. They can adjust color, contrast and sharpness, but support depends on the game, graphics card and filter. They do not work in every game.
What you need before turning on game filters
- A supported NVIDIA GeForce graphics card and a compatible Windows PC.
- The current NVIDIA app and a suitable GeForce driver.
- The NVIDIA overlay enabled in the app.
- Game Filters and Photo Mode enabled as a separate feature where shown.
- A game supported by the filter feature you want to use.
Older guides use GeForce Experience. The NVIDIA app is the current place to check these features; NVIDIA documents changes in its app release notes.
How to enable NVIDIA filters step by step
- Open the NVIDIA app. Update the app and driver through NVIDIA’s own tools if your installation is out of date.
- Open Settings > Features. Check the NVIDIA overlay option.
- Enable Game Filters and Photo Mode. Look in the Overlay section. This control can be off even when other overlay features are available.
- Launch a supported game. Wait until the game is running before opening the filter panel.
- Press Alt + F3. Alternatively, press Alt + Z and choose Game Filter.
- Choose an available style or profile and add a filter. Start with one filter, adjust its controls, and compare it with the unfiltered image.
- Check the result while playing. If the image is clearer but the game feels less smooth, reduce or remove the filter.
Menu names can change between app releases. If a shortcut has been reassigned, check the overlay’s shortcut settings instead of pressing it repeatedly.
What the different filters change
| Filter type | What it changes | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Color or vibrance | The strength and balance of colors | Too much saturation can hide subtle details. |
| Brightness and contrast | How light and dark parts of the image look | Over-adjusting can wash out highlights or crush dark areas. |
| Sharpening or detail | The apparent clarity of edges and textures | High settings can produce halos or a harsh image. |
| RTX Dynamic Vibrance | An RTX-specific color-enhancement effect | Requires supported RTX hardware and software. |
| RTX HDR | An HDR effect for supported SDR games | Requires a compatible RTX setup and an HDR display; check the current requirements. |
The exact list varies. NVIDIA’s app feature guide explains Freestyle filters, RTX effects and the supported-game links.
NVIDIA filters are missing or Alt + F3 does nothing
- Check both switches. Confirm that the overlay and Game Filters and Photo Mode are enabled.
- Try Alt + Z. If the overlay opens, use its Game Filter entry. If it does not open, investigate the overlay first.
- Check the game. A title can run on your graphics card without supporting NVIDIA game filters. Check NVIDIA’s supported-game information and the game’s own rules.
- Restart the game after a setting or driver change. Then try again.
- Check shortcut conflicts. Another app may use Alt + F3 or capture the same keys.
- Check the specific filter requirements. A missing RTX HDR option is a different issue from the entire overlay failing to open.
If a game or its anti-cheat system does not allow a filter, use the game’s own graphics settings. Renaming game files or trying to bypass a restriction is not a reliable setup method.
Do NVIDIA filters improve performance?
Game filters mainly change the image. They should not be treated as an FPS upgrade. Some effects add graphics work, so compare the same scene with the filter on and off.
For a useful comparison, keep the resolution and in-game settings the same and use the same route or camera view. If performance drops, remove the newest filter first. Use a mild setting rather than stacking several effects at once.
Game filters and browser video are separate features
NVIDIA’s tools also include features for video playback, but enabling a game filter does not automatically change a YouTube video or every browser tab. Our RTX Video guide for Firefox covers that separate use.
For background on the app that replaced the older tool, see our NVIDIA app introduction. For a quieter gaming session, our Windows notification guide explains Do Not Disturb.
Common questions
Can I use NVIDIA filters in any game?
No. Support differs between games and features. Check the supported list rather than assuming that every game with a GeForce driver can use filters.
Why does Photo Mode work but Game Filter does not?
These are related overlay features with different uses and compatibility. A screenshot mode working does not prove the same game supports every real-time filter.
Do I need to keep old GeForce Experience instructions?
Use instructions for the app you actually have. In the current NVIDIA app, check Settings and the overlay controls rather than looking for an old GeForce Experience menu.