Troubleshoot Flickering or Unstable Shadows

Identify the Problem

Shadows flickering, banding, or changing erratically usually stem from shadow map resolution being too low or shadow distance settings conflicting with your render distance.

Adjust Shadow Stability Settings

In shader options:

• Increase Shadow Resolution: Higher resolution reduces banding and flickering artifacts.
• Reduce Shadow Distance: Shadows that extend too far can become unstable. Try lowering this value.
• Check Shadow Bias: Some shaders have a bias setting that prevents shadow acne (dark spots). Adjust slightly if shadows appear broken near blocks.

Verify Compatibility

Ensure your render distance isn't set extremely high relative to shadow distance—this mismatch causes visible shadow cutoffs and flickering at chunk boundaries.

Test and Refine

Stand in an open area with clear sun/moon shadows. Walk around and observe shadow behavior from multiple angles and distances. If flickering persists after adjustments, try lowering overall shadow quality incrementally. Document which settings eliminate the problem so you know your system's limits.