Fix DLSS missing from MSFS 2020 by checking RTX support, drivers, GPU selection and graphics settings, with separate steps for Frame Generation.
DLSS is unavailable in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 when the simulator cannot detect a supported NVIDIA RTX GPU, the graphics driver or simulator is outdated, or the user is looking for Frame Generation under DX11. Update both, verify the active GPU, reset conflicting profiles, then select DLSS in the anti-aliasing setting.
Who can use DLSS in MSFS 2020?
DLSS Super Resolution is available only on the PC version of MSFS 2020 when it runs on a supported NVIDIA RTX GPU.
| Hardware or platform | DLSS availability |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA RTX GPU on PC | DLSS Super Resolution is supported with a compatible driver. |
| NVIDIA GTX GPU | Not supported; GTX branding does not indicate DLSS capability. |
| AMD or Intel GPU | NVIDIA DLSS is not supported. Use TAA or FSR 2 instead. |
| Xbox Series X or Series S | There is no user-selectable DLSS option. |
The letters RTX matter here. A powerful GTX card cannot expose DLSS through a driver setting or modified configuration file. Our comparison of AMD and NVIDIA features in Microsoft Flight Simulator explains which upscaling options belong to each GPU family.
How do I restore the missing DLSS option?
On an RTX-equipped PC, the usual fix is to update MSFS 2020 and its NVIDIA driver, ensure the simulator is using the RTX adapter, and select DLSS from the correct graphics tab.
- Identify which feature is missing. DLSS Super Resolution and Frame Generation are separate. If the anti-aliasing menu already offers NVIDIA DLSS but Frame Generation is absent, skip to the next section.
- Finish all mandatory simulator updates. Let the MSFS 2020 launcher complete its core update before checking the graphics menu. DLSS will not appear in a substantially outdated installation from before its simulator integration.
- Install a compatible NVIDIA graphics driver. Restart Windows after updating. If Device Manager shows a basic display adapter rather than the RTX card, repair the NVIDIA driver installation first.
- Make MSFS use the RTX GPU. This is especially important on laptops with integrated and discrete graphics. In Windows Graphics settings, assign Microsoft Flight Simulator to the high-performance GPU, then restart the simulator.
- Check the correct graphics tab. Open General Options, then Graphics, and find the anti-aliasing setting. Select NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution and choose a quality mode. PC and VR settings are separate, so changing one tab does not automatically change the other.
- Restore altered graphics profiles. Reset the MSFS profile in the NVIDIA app or NVIDIA Control Panel while diagnosing the fault. Driver-level scaling, sharpening and DLSS overrides do not add support to incompatible hardware and can complicate troubleshooting.
- Reset the in-simulator graphics preset. Apply a standard preset, restart MSFS, and check the anti-aliasing selector again. Community aircraft and scenery do not normally control DLSS, so emptying the Community folder is not a useful first step.
- Repair the core application last. If an RTX card is detected correctly but DLSS remains absent, use the owning platform's repair or file-verification function. Do not delete the Official or Packages folders; that can force a large content download without fixing a driver problem.
Standard DLSS Super Resolution can operate under DX11 or DX12. Switching renderers is therefore not the first fix when the entire DLSS anti-aliasing option is missing.
Why is DLSS visible but Frame Generation missing?
Frame Generation remains unavailable unless MSFS 2020 is using compatible RTX hardware, DX12 and Windows Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling.
- Switch the simulator from DX11 to DX12 and restart it.
- Enable Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling in Windows, then reboot the PC.
- Confirm that the GPU supports NVIDIA Frame Generation; RTX 20-series and 30-series cards support DLSS Super Resolution but not NVIDIA Frame Generation.
- Update the NVIDIA driver and remove experimental profile overrides while testing.
Our explanation of DX11 and DX12 behaviour in MSFS 2020 covers the renderer trade-offs. For newer GPU-specific overrides and Multi Frame Generation requirements, use our DLSS 4 compatibility and enablement guide.
What should I use if my hardware does not support DLSS?
Use TAA for maximum image stability, or FSR 2 when a non-RTX GPU needs extra performance through upscaling.
TAA is often the safer choice for crisp glass-cockpit text and distant detail when performance is already acceptable. Once DLSS is restored on an RTX system, our guide to choosing the right DLSS quality mode and anti-aliasing setting explains when to use Quality, Balanced, DLAA or TAA.