NPC Shaders FAQ

10 questions players actually ask, answered.

How do I turn on NPC Shaders after installing it?

Open your Options menu in-game, go to Video Settings, then Shaders, and select NPC Shaders from the list. The shader will activate immediately.

Why do my shadows look weird or disappear?

Check your shadow distance setting in the shader options—if it's set too low, shadows won't render far from your character. Increasing this value will make shadows visible across a wider area, though it may impact performance.

Can I use NPC Shaders with mods that add custom blocks?

Yes, NPC Shaders works with most block mods, though custom blocks may not always receive the same lighting and glow effects as vanilla blocks. If a block looks wrong, check if there's a shader settings option to adjust how it's lit.

My water looks flat and doesn't reflect anything—how do I fix this?

Water reflections are disabled by default in some performance profiles. Go to your shader settings, find the water reflection option, and enable it; you may need to adjust the reflection quality based on your PC's power.

Is NPC Shaders compatible with OptiFine and Iris at the same time?

No—use either OptiFine or Iris, not both. NPC Shaders works with both separately, so choose whichever you prefer and disable the other.

Why is my game lagging when I use NPC Shaders?

Open the shader settings and switch to a lower performance profile, or manually disable features like water reflections, bloom intensity, or shadow distance. Start with the lowest settings and gradually increase them until you find a balance.

How do I make glowing blocks brighter or dimmer?

In the shader settings, look for the bloom or glow intensity option and adjust the slider to your preference—higher values make light sources glow more intensely.

Does NPC Shaders work on servers or only single-player?

Shaders only affect your client-side rendering, so they work on both single-player and multiplayer servers without any issues or conflicts.

Why do some blocks look too bright or too dark compared to vanilla?

NPC Shaders changes how light bounces and reflects across blocks as part of its fantasy lighting style. If you want vanilla-like brightness, look for a 'brightness' or 'exposure' slider in the shader settings to tone it down.

Can I use NPC Shaders on a low-end PC without it being unplayable?

Yes—the mod is designed for low-end machines. Start with the 'Low' or 'Potato' performance profile in the settings, and the shader should run smoothly without heavy frame drops.