Adjust Shadow Quality and Distance

Access Shader Settings

Open your shader options menu while in-game. On OptiFine, press Esc → Options → Shader Options. On Iris, press Esc → Shader Options.

Configure Shadow Parameters

Look for shadow-related sliders such as Shadow Distance, Shadow Quality, or Shadow Map Resolution. Increasing these values produces sharper, more detailed shadows that extend further across your terrain, but will reduce frame rate. Decreasing them creates softer shadows closer to your character and improves performance.

Balance Performance

If you experience frame drops, reduce shadow distance first—this has the biggest impact on FPS. If shadows look too blocky or pixelated, increase shadow quality instead. Start with medium settings and adjust based on your hardware. Test changes by moving through different lighting conditions: caves with torchlight, open areas at sunset, and underground lava pools.

Apply and Test

Click Done to save your changes. Walk through various biomes to confirm shadows behave as expected. Soft shadows should shift naturally with sun and moon position throughout the day-night cycle.