Frequently Asked Questions

What is GPU Selector?

GPU Selector is a game launcher for Windows (and Linux via Wine) that lets you choose which GPU to use for each game. It's designed for desktop systems with multiple GPUs (integrated + dedicated, or multiple dedicated cards).

Is GPU Selector free?

Yes. GPU Selector is free software for personal, non-commercial use.

What version of Windows do I need?

Windows 10 or later (64-bit). The WebView2 runtime is required but comes pre-installed on most Windows 10/11 systems.

Does it work with laptops?

Yes, if your laptop has multiple GPUs (e.g., Intel integrated + NVIDIA dedicated). The Windows GPU Preference method works well on laptops with Optimus/hybrid graphics.

Which force method should I use?

For most modern games, use Win GPU Pref. For Vulkan games, use VK: Hide ICD. For everything else or when other methods fail, use Disable Device (requires admin). See the GPU Force Methods guide for details on all three methods.

My game still uses the wrong GPU. What do I do?

Try these steps in order:

1. Make sure you selected the correct GPU AND force method
2. Check the per-API compatibility warning. GPU Selector will suggest a better method if yours doesn't match the game's graphics API
3. For Vulkan games, try VK: Hide ICD
4. Try Disable Device method (requires admin). This is the most reliable method since it physically hides other GPUs

What happened to the vkconfig and Monitor Switch methods?

These were removed in v1.2.5 to simplify the force method options. Vulkan ICD driver selection is now handled automatically for all methods. Games that used the removed methods are automatically migrated to the best alternative.

My screen flickers when using Disable Device

This is normal. Disabling and re-enabling GPUs causes Windows to briefly reconfigure displays. You can adjust the GPU Re-enable Delay in Settings to control when the GPU is re-enabled after game exit.

Does GPU forcing work with all games?

Most games respond to at least one force method. Some games (particularly those with custom GPU detection) may be more stubborn. The Disable Device method works universally but requires admin rights.

My monitor shows the wrong refresh rate in GPU Selector

This was fixed in v1.2.0. VRR (FreeSync/G-Sync) monitors could previously show incorrect rates (e.g., 60 Hz on a 165 Hz display) because the Windows API reports the instantaneous desktop rate. GPU Selector now uses a "never downgrade" strategy that reads the maximum configured rate and only overrides it with a higher value.

Does GPU Selector detect HDR and VRR?

Yes. The GPUs tab now shows HDR capability and active status per monitor, connection type (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.), and system-wide VRR/tearing support. Monitor names use real EDID model names instead of generic labels.

Which stores does GPU Selector detect?

Steam, Epic Games, GOG Galaxy, EA App, Ubisoft Connect, Xbox, Battle.net, Amazon Games, itch.io, and Nexon Launcher. You can also add any game manually.

My game wasn't detected. How do I add it?

Click the + icon next to "Game Library" in the Games tab. Browse to the game's executable, give it a name, and click Add.

How do I see detailed game info?

Right-click any game card and select Game Info. You'll see the graphics API, engine, architecture, middleware, DRM, age ratings, Steam reviews, quick links (Nexus Mods, YouTube, Reddit, Metacritic), and recommended mods. Right-click any text field to copy it.

Can I sort my game library?

Yes. Each tab has sort dropdowns. Custom games and detected games can be sorted independently. Play counts and last played times are tracked automatically.

Can I use ReShade with anti-cheat games?

Yes, with the Standard build type. This build is designed to be compatible with EAC and other anti-cheat systems. For games that still block it, use Inject Mode (the syringe icon). Note that using ReShade in competitive multiplayer may violate game terms of service.

What's the difference between DXVK and dgVoodoo2?

DXVK translates DX8-11 to Vulkan for performance gains on modern hardware. dgVoodoo2 translates very old APIs (DX1-9, 3dfx Glide) to D3D11/12 for compatibility. Use DXVK for DX9-11 performance, use dgVoodoo2 for ancient games that won't run otherwise.

Can I stack multiple translation layers?

Yes, in some cases. For example, you can use dgVoodoo2 (old DX to DX11) + DXVK (DX11 to Vulkan) to run a very old game through Vulkan. Install dgVoodoo2 first, then DXVK.

How do I remove a mod from a game?

Click Manage on the tool's card in the Mods tab, select the game, and click Remove. For ReShade, you can also right-click the game in the Games tab and select Uninstall ReShade.

How do I change the ReShade overlay key?

In Inject Mode, a custom overlay key row appears on the ReShade card. Click Set Key and press your preferred key (with optional Ctrl/Shift/Alt modifiers). This is useful for 60% keyboards that lack a Home key. The setting persists between app restarts.

Can I use a controller to navigate the ReShade overlay?

Yes. When using Inject Mode, XInput gamepad navigation is automatically enabled. Press LB + RB + Start on an Xbox controller to open/close the ReShade overlay, then use D-Pad, face buttons, and sticks to navigate. PS4 and Switch controllers work through Steam Input or DS4Windows. Click the [?] button for the full controller mapping reference.

GPU Selector says it detected a global ReShade installation. What does that mean?

A system-wide Vulkan ReShade installation can conflict with GPU Selector's managed ReShade. When detected, a warning banner appears with options to fully uninstall or re-enable the global installation so the managed layer takes priority.

Do my per-game settings persist between restarts?

Yes. Skip Launcher, Direct Launch, and Force Method settings are saved per-game and persist between app restarts.

How do I change a game's icon?

Click directly on the game's icon in the game card. A menu appears with options to re-extract from the EXE, browse for a different EXE to pull an icon from, or reset to default.

Can I change how all icons look?

Yes. Go to Settings → Game Icon Style. You can choose between Auto (tries EXE, then online, then fallback), Forced (EXE only), or Emoji mode. Pick a fallback style (Flat, Emoji, Mono, Letter, Controller) and optional color tinting.

How do I change the app's theme?

Settings → App Theme & Icon. Choose from eight themes (Auto, Purple, Teal, Orange, Pink, NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) or enable Chameleon Mode to sync with your Windows accent color.

How do I make a game borderless fullscreen?

Right-click the Apps tab and switch to Running mode. Find your game in the list and click Make Borderless. The window will become a borderless fullscreen window.

What does the Running mode in the Apps tab do?

It shows all currently running windows and lets you apply borderless gaming features: make any window borderless fullscreen, pin windows on top, move between monitors, and save window position/size profiles that auto-apply.

Can I save window settings so they auto-apply?

Yes. Save a window profile in Running mode, then enable Auto-apply saved profiles in Settings → Running Windows. Your saved settings will be restored automatically when the app opens.

What is Chameleon Mode?

Chameleon Mode syncs the app's accent colors with your Windows system accent color and light/dark theme. Enable it in Settings under App Theme & Icon.

Is there a dyslexia-friendly mode?

Yes. Enable it in Settings → Dyslexia-Friendly Mode. It switches to the OpenDyslexic font, increases text size and spacing, and applies a warm background tint for better readability.

What about color blind support?

Settings → Color Blind Mode offers Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia filter options that adjust the app's color palette.

Where is my data stored?

Go to Settings and scroll to Storage Location to see and open the data folders. All data (settings, icon cache, mod downloads, logs) is stored locally in your user AppData folder.

Which emulators are supported?

GPU Selector can manage any emulator. It auto-detects common emulators and you can add any emulator manually by providing the path to the executable and your ROM folder.

How do I add ROMs?

When adding an emulator (click the + button in the Emulators tab), set the ROM/ISO folder path. GPU Selector scans that folder and lists all compatible files. Select a ROM and click Launch to play.

Can I download emulators through the app?

Yes. Click Download Emulators at the bottom of the Emulators tab. You'll find direct download links for 30+ emulators organized by platform (Nintendo, Sony, Sega, Xbox, Arcade/PC). After installing one, click Scan to detect it.

Does GPU Selector work on Linux?

Yes. GPU Selector runs under Wine with automatic detection and adaptation. A yellow "Wine" indicator badge appears in the title bar. Windows-only features like GPU forcing and DPI scaling are automatically hidden. As of v1.2.9, all PowerShell and curl.exe dependencies have been removed, so the app is fully functional under Wine without extra Windows components.

How do I install on Linux?

The installer (GPUSelectorSetup.exe) is a polyglot PE+ZIP file. Rename it to .zip or extract with 7z, then run the included install.bat under Wine. The batch installer supports custom paths, shortcuts, registry entries, and uninstaller creation.

Can I use ReShade on Linux/Wine?

Yes. The default method is Launcher Injection Mode, which generates a launcher.bat to run alongside the game. Proxy DLL mode is also available and can be toggled freely. For shader compatibility, d3dcompiler_47=native is auto-set in the Wine registry, with a download button in the Settings card. For Vulkan, GPU Selector uses the implicit layer system and auto-sets WINEDLLOVERRIDES=vulkan-1=n. VulkanRT 1.4.335+ is required for Vulkan ReShade.

What is Launcher Injection Mode?

An injection method by tjandra that generates a launcher.bat to run inject64.exe alongside the game. It's the default on Wine/Linux and opt-in on Windows via the Settings card. It also supports protocol-based games (Steam, Epic, etc.).

Why are GPU forcing options hidden on Wine?

The Win GPU Pref and Disable Device force methods rely on Windows-specific APIs that don't work under Wine. GPU Selector hides these to avoid confusion.

How does DX8 work on Wine?

GPU Selector auto-sets WINEDLLOVERRIDES=d3d8=n,b so Wine loads the d3d8to9 shim instead of Wine's built-in d3d8 implementation.

The app won't start

Make sure you have the WebView2 runtime installed. Download it from Microsoft's WebView2 page if needed.

Games aren't scanning

Press R to rescan, or click the Rescan button. Make sure your game stores (Steam, Epic, etc.) are installed in their default locations. For non-standard installs, add games manually.

I need help but I'm stuck

It looks like you need some help. Have you tried typing that into the Settings search bar? You might find an old friend ready to assist...

How do I request a new feature?

Visit the Feature Requests page or open an issue on GitHub.

How do I reset everything?

Go to Settings → Clear Application Data → Clear ALL Application Data. This requires typing "YES" to confirm.