Minecraft Bedrock Edition on Windows doesn’t support Java-style shader packs like OptiFine or Iris. The official way to get shader-like graphics is Vibrant Visuals, a built-in graphics mode with dynamic lighting, shadows, reflections, and volumetric fog. Open Settings > Video and set Graphics Mode to Vibrant Visuals. On PCs with an NVIDIA RTX or other ray-tracing-capable graphics card, you can also use RTX (ray tracing) with compatible resource packs from the Marketplace.
Here’s how to turn on each option, what your PC needs, and what to know about third-party “shaders” for Bedrock.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Look | Requirements | Official? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibrant Visuals | Realistic lighting, shadows, water, and fog | A supported, reasonably modern graphics card | Yes, built in |
| Ray tracing (RTX) | Path-traced lighting and reflections | Ray-tracing GPU and an RTX-enabled world or pack | Yes |
| Resource packs | New textures and some visual effects | Any PC | Yes |
| Third-party shader injectors | Varies | Varies | No, unsupported |
How to turn on Vibrant Visuals
- Update Minecraft to the latest version through the Microsoft Store or Xbox app. Vibrant Visuals arrived in 2025.
- Open Minecraft and click Settings.
- Click Video.
- Set Graphics Mode to Vibrant Visuals.
- Load a world. Adjust options like shadow quality, reflections, and Upscaling in Video settings if performance drops.
If Vibrant Visuals isn’t listed, your graphics hardware may not support it yet, or your drivers need updating. Some Realms and servers may also turn it off.
How to use ray tracing (RTX)
- Make sure your PC has a ray-tracing-capable graphics card and the latest drivers.
- In Minecraft, open the Marketplace and search for RTX to find compatible worlds and resource packs. Many are free.
- Apply an RTX resource pack to a world, or open an RTX world.
- Go to Settings > Video and set Graphics Mode to Ray Tracing (or turn on Ray Tracing, depending on your version).
Ray tracing is demanding. Turn on Upscaling (DLSS) for better frame rates on supported NVIDIA cards.
What about third-party Bedrock shaders?
You’ll find downloads that claim to add shaders to Bedrock on Windows. Many require modifying game files or running injector tools. These aren’t supported by Mojang, can break after updates, may get you kicked from servers, and some downloads contain malware. We recommend sticking with Vibrant Visuals, RTX, and Marketplace or trusted resource packs.
Improve performance
- Lower Render Distance to 12–16 chunks.
- Turn on Upscaling if available.
- Update your graphics driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
- Close background apps and set Minecraft to High performance in Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use OptiFine or Iris shaders on Bedrock?
No. They only work with Minecraft: Java Edition. If you own Java Edition (it’s included with Bedrock in the Java & Bedrock Edition bundle), you can install shaders there.
Does Vibrant Visuals work on Windows 10?
Yes, on supported hardware. It’s the same Minecraft for Windows app on Windows 10 and 11.
Where do I put resource packs for Bedrock?
Double-click a .mcpack file to import it, or see how to add resource packs to Minecraft Bedrock and how to find the Minecraft folder.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.