If ray tracing is missing, disabled, or crashing, first update the correct graphics driver and confirm that your active GPU and the game support the feature. A driver update can fix installation faults and some compatibility problems, but it cannot add ray-tracing hardware or API support that a GPU does not have.
How do I update my GPU drivers?
Start by identifying the graphics card and Windows version. On a laptop or prebuilt PC, check the computer maker’s support page first: its driver may include system-specific customizations that a generic vendor package does not. Use the GPU vendor’s official updater or download page rather than a third-party driver-updater utility.
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Intel graphics
- Use Intel Driver & Support Assistant for automatic detection, or open the Intel Download Center to find a driver manually.
- For a manual download, identify the relevant Intel product, select its driver, download the installer, run it, and follow the prompts. Check the PC maker’s site first if this is an OEM system.
- After installation, open Device Manager > Display adapters > your Intel device > Properties > Driver and confirm the Driver Version. Intel outlines these options and verification steps in its graphics driver installation guide.
AMD Radeon graphics
AMD offers automatic detection based on the Radeon product and Windows version, as well as manual selection through its Product Selector. Choose the route on the AMD Drivers and Support page. Once installed, verify the driver version in AMD Software or Windows Device Manager. If Windows Update later replaces the version, check the installed version rather than assuming the earlier installer did not run; AMD notes this can happen in a documented installer-error scenario.
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Use NVIDIA’s official driver download or NVIDIA App to obtain a driver for the exact GPU. If the NVIDIA App reports a display-driver installation failure, NVIDIA’s recovery steps are to close other applications, make sure Windows Update is not actively installing updates, run the downloaded Game Ready driver installer as administrator, choose Custom (Advanced), select Perform a clean installation, complete setup, and restart. This is a recovery procedure for installation failure, not a general fix for every ray-tracing problem. See NVIDIA’s installation-failure guidance.
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When should you use a clean driver installation?
A clean install is worth trying when an ordinary update fails, the driver appears corrupted, or a vendor installer recommends it. It removes existing driver components or settings, so save work and expect a restart. It is not a guaranteed remedy for a game bug or unsupported hardware.
- Intel: Intel’s clean-install procedure removes old drivers, resets Intel settings, and clears the shader cache. Intel recommends checking the computer manufacturer first for compatibility concerns. If the installer does not offer its clean-install option, Intel documents removal through Device Manager and suggests DDU if the ordinary clean method does not resolve the issue. Follow Intel’s clean-install instructions.
- AMD: The installer’s Clean Install option attempts to remove detected Radeon Software and AMD driver versions before installing the selected components. It restarts the PC, so save open work first. AMD says this can help with some corrupted-installation problems; it does not establish a fix for every game fault. See AMD’s clean-install steps.
- NVIDIA: For the NVIDIA App display-driver installation failure described above, select Custom (Advanced) > Perform a clean installation in the driver installer, then reboot.
Why is ray tracing not working in my game?
Separate a driver problem from a hardware, API, or game-requirement limitation. Check the title’s own requirements and make sure the game is using the GPU you intend, especially on a laptop with integrated and discrete graphics. A successful driver update does not by itself prove that the GPU supports the ray-tracing mode the game requires.
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Check the GPU and DirectX feature information
In Windows, press Windows key + R, enter dxdiag, and press Enter. Open the Display tab for the adapter connected to the display; if multiple adapters appear, inspect the tab for the discrete GPU as well. Review Feature Levels. NVIDIA explains that available levels vary by GPU series in its DirectX feature-level guidance. These levels are useful capability clues, but they are not a substitute for the game’s stated requirements or a direct confirmation that a particular ray-tracing option is supported.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor Direct3D 12, Microsoft defines a ray-tracing tier named D3D12_RAYTRACING_TIER_NOT_SUPPORTED. Applications can query the tier through ID3D12Device::CheckFeatureSupport, using D3D12_FEATURE_DATA_D3D12_OPTIONS5 and its RaytracingTier field. This is developer-facing API documentation, not a consumer diagnostic tool. See Microsoft’s pages on ray-tracing tiers and feature support.
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Do I need to reinstall DirectX?
Usually, no separate GPU-vendor DirectX download is needed. Intel says DirectX is included with Windows or can be installed through Windows Update, and recommends keeping the graphics driver current for full API support. Install Windows updates and the correct GPU driver first. If a game still reports a missing API, the issue may be specific to the game’s package or requirements; contact the game publisher if its support guidance does not resolve it. See Intel’s DirectX support guidance.
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What to try if the game still crashes
- Confirm the game is using the intended GPU and that its listed GPU and API requirements are met.
- Verify the installed driver version after the update; do not assume the first installer’s version remains in place if Windows Update has intervened.
- Use the GPU maker’s clean-install procedure if the driver installation itself failed or seems corrupted.
- For an Intel Arc A770 DirectX or out-of-memory crash, Intel’s model-specific guidance lists enabling Resizable BAR in BIOS, updating BIOS according to the system maker’s instructions, trying Arc driver 31.0.101.4900 or newer, and reinstalling with DDU or a clean install. That article was reviewed 2024-07-01; treat its steps as specific to that A770 scenario, not universal advice for other GPUs or games. See Intel’s Arc A770 crash guidance.
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