Source Water Shaders FAQ
10 questions players actually ask, answered.
How do I enable the water shaders after installing?
Launch Minecraft with Iris loaded, go to Options > Video Settings > Shaders, and select Source Water Shaders from the list. The water in your world should update immediately once applied.
Why does my water still look flat and normal?
Make sure Iris is running (check the pause menu for a Shaders button), that Source Water Shaders is actually selected in the shader menu, and that you're looking at water blocks—the shader only affects water, not other liquids or the sky.
Can I use this with other shader packs?
No, only one shader pack can be active at a time in Iris. You'll need to choose between Source Water Shaders and any other pack you want to use.
Does this work with mods that add new water or liquids?
Source Water Shaders only affects standard Minecraft water blocks, so custom liquids from other mods will not receive the shader effects unless they use the same water block type.
How do I adjust how shiny or reflective the water looks?
Open the shader options menu (usually accessible from the Shaders screen) to find settings for wave intensity, reflection strength, and other visual parameters—refer to the Adjust Water Appearance and Quality Settings guide for specifics.
Is this shader pack heavy on performance?
Source Water Shaders is designed to be lightweight since it only modifies water rendering, but the impact depends on your hardware and how much water is visible on screen; see the performance optimization guide for tips on maintaining frame rate.
Why do I see flickering or weird artifacts on the water?
This usually happens when Iris isn't fully loaded, your graphics drivers are outdated, or there's a conflict with another mod—try restarting the game, updating drivers, and checking the troubleshooting guide.
Does this change how water physics or swimming works?
No, Source Water Shaders only changes the visual appearance of water; swimming, water flow, and all gameplay mechanics remain exactly the same.
Can I use this on a multiplayer server?
Yes, shader packs are client-side only, so you can use Source Water Shaders on any server without needing permission or affecting other players.
What if the water looks too different from vanilla and I want to tone it down?
Most shader packs have quality or intensity settings in the shader options menu—lower these values to make the effect more subtle while keeping the retro Source Engine aesthetic.