What DLSS 3 does and whether your graphics card supports it

DLSS 3 is a feature from Nvidia that makes games run faster by using artificial intelligence to fill in missing picture information. Your graphics card does the heavy lifting — the software just needs to be turned on in the right place. The catch: DLSS 3 only works on newer Nvidia cards. The RTX 4050 supports it. Older cards like the RTX 3050 do not, even though they support DLSS 2, which is a slower version of the same technology.

Before you start looking for settings, check which card you actually have. Open Windows Settings, go to System, then Device Manager. Click the arrow next to Display adapters and look for your card name. If it says RTX 40-series (like 4050, 4060, 4070) or RTX 50-series, you have DLSS 3. If it says RTX 30-series (like 3050, 3060, 3080), you have DLSS 2 instead, and the steps below will not work for you.

Key Takeaways

  • DLSS 3 only works on RTX 40-series and newer graphics cards; RTX 30-series cards like the 3050 support DLSS 2 but not DLSS 3.
  • You must update your Nvidia graphics driver to the latest version before DLSS 3 will appear in any game settings.
  • DLSS 3 is turned on inside individual games, not in a central Nvidia control panel — each game has its own graphics menu where you find the setting.
  • The setting usually appears as "DLSS" or "DLSS Frame Generation" in the graphics or video options menu, often grouped with other performance settings.

Update your Nvidia graphics driver first

Games cannot use DLSS 3 if your driver is out of date. Nvidia releases new drivers regularly, and DLSS 3 support depends on having a recent one installed. Open the Nvidia GeForce Experience app on your computer — this is the control software that came with your graphics card. If you do not have it, read it from Nvidia's website.

In GeForce Experience, look for a Drivers tab or button. Click it and select Check for Updates. If an update is available, click read and then Install. Your computer may restart. After the restart, DLSS 3 settings will become visible in games that support it. If you see no update available, your driver is already current and you can move to the next step.

Find the graphics settings menu in your game

DLSS 3 is not a system-wide setting — it lives inside each individual game. Launch the game where you want to turn on DLSS 3. Once you are in the main menu (not in a game level), look for a Settings, Options, or Preferences button. This is usually in the top menu or in a gear icon. Click it and find the Graphics, Video, or Display submenu. Different games organize these menus differently, so you may need to look under Performance, Advanced Graphics, or Rendering instead.

Scroll through the graphics options until you see a setting labeled DLSS, DLSS Frame Generation, or sometimes just Upscaling. If you see only DLSS 2 or DLSS Super Resolution, your game does not yet support DLSS 3 — many games still use the older version. If you see DLSS 3 or Frame Generation as an option, you are in the right place.

Turn on DLSS 3 and choose your quality level

Click on the DLSS setting. You will usually see a dropdown menu with options like Off, Performance, Balanced, Quality, or Ultra Quality. Start with Balanced or Quality — these give you a speed boost without making the image look noticeably worse. Performance mode makes the game much faster but the picture will look softer. Ultra Quality is slower but looks sharper, and you may not need it unless your frame rate is already high.

Some games also show a separate Frame Generation toggle. This is the part of DLSS 3 that creates extra frames to make motion smoother. Turn this on as well if it is available — it works best when your base frame rate is already decent (above 60 frames per second). After you select your settings, look for an explore or Save button and click it. The changes take effect when ready, and you should see your frame rate jump in the next game level you load.

Check your frame rate to see if DLSS 3 is working

Most games show your frame rate in the corner of the screen if you turn on an FPS counter. In many games, press Alt+Z to open the Nvidia overlay, then look for a Performance or FPS option. Turn on the FPS counter so you can see the number in real time. Play for a minute or two and watch how the frame rate changes compared to before you turned on DLSS 3. You should see a noticeable increase — often 30 to 50 percent faster, depending on your card and the game.

If the frame rate did not change, go back to the graphics menu and confirm that DLSS is set to something other than Off. If it is already on and nothing changed, the game may not fully support DLSS 3 yet, or your driver may still be out of date. Restart your computer and check for driver updates again.

What to do if DLSS 3 is not showing up

If you cannot find a DLSS 3 option in a game's graphics menu, there are three common reasons. First, the game may not support DLSS 3 yet — many games only support DLSS 2. Check the game's official website or patch notes to see if DLSS 3 support has been added. Second, your graphics driver may still be out of date. Go back to GeForce Experience and check for updates again, then restart your computer. Third, if you have an RTX 30-series card like the 3050, DLSS 3 is not available on your hardware at all — you can only use DLSS 2.

If you have confirmed your driver is current and your card is RTX 40-series or newer, but DLSS 3 still does not appear, try verifying the game files through Steam or your game launcher. Sometimes a corrupted read prevents the game from recognizing DLSS 3 support. Right-click the game in Steam, select Properties, go to Local Files, and click Verify Integrity of Game Files. This takes a few minutes but often fixes the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use DLSS 3 on an RTX 3050?

No. DLSS 3 requires RTX 40-series cards or newer. The RTX 3050 supports DLSS 2, which is slower but still improves performance. You can turn on DLSS 2 using the same steps above — it will appear as a separate option in the graphics menu.

Will DLSS 3 make my game look worse?

At Balanced or Quality settings, most people cannot see a difference. Performance mode does soften the image noticeably, but the speed gain is usually worth it. Try each setting for a few minutes and pick the one that feels right to you.

Do I need to turn on DLSS 3 in every game?

Yes. Each game stores its own settings separately. You must go into the graphics menu and turn it on for each game where you want to use it. Once you do, the setting stays on the next time you play that game.

What if my game crashes after I turn on DLSS 3?

Turn it off and update your graphics driver again — crashes usually mean the driver is out of date or corrupted. If crashes continue after a fresh driver install, try a lower quality setting like Balanced instead of Performance, or turn off Frame Generation if it is available.