Short answer: the NVIDIA app’s DLSS override lets you apply newer DLSS features to a game without waiting for the developer to patch it. You find it under Graphics, then Driver Settings, for a single game or for all of them. It only works if the game already has the matching DLSS feature switched on, and it only works in titles NVIDIA has added to its override list.
The tool has grown a lot since it launched in January 2025. It now covers upscaling models, Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation. This guide explains where each setting lives, what it changes, and where it can backfire.
What the DLSS Override Actually Does
A game ships with a fixed version of DLSS. Without an override, you get whatever model the developer built in. The override swaps in a newer one from NVIDIA’s driver.
NVIDIA introduced the feature on January 30, 2025. It says overrides let you enable a newer model, Multi Frame Generation, or the DLAA and Ultra Performance modes without a game update. One rule applies to every override. The matching DLSS feature must be on inside the game. If you switch Super Resolution off in the game menu, the override does nothing.
How to Turn On a DLSS Override
NVIDIA’s steps are short. Here is the order, based on its January 2025 guide and its January 2026 DLSS 4.5 notes:
- Open the NVIDIA app. If the options do not load, click the three-dot menu and press Refresh.
- Go to the Graphics tab.
- Click a detected game. You can also click Global Settings to change every game at once.
- Scroll to the Driver Settings section and find the DLSS Override menus.
- Pick your setting, then click Apply.
- Reopen the game and make sure the matching DLSS feature is on.
NVIDIA also says to exit the game to the desktop before you change an override, then reopen it. To undo any change, choose “Use the 3D application setting.” That returns the game to its own settings.
HotHardware reported that the in-game overlay, opened with Alt+Z, shows which DLSS overrides are active. That helps when you cannot tell whether a setting took effect.
What You Can Change
Super Resolution models
This is the override most people use. In “DLSS Override – Model Presets,” NVIDIA’s January 2026 notes say the Recommended option replaced the old “Latest” label. Recommended picks a model for each mode:
- Preset M for DLSS Performance
- Preset L for Ultra Performance
- Preset K for the other modes
To choose models yourself, pick Custom and set each dropdown. NVIDIA says the transformer model upgrade works on all GeForce RTX GPUs. That January 2026 update needed Game Ready Driver 591.74 and app version 11.0.6.
Custom input resolution
NVIDIA’s later app update added a custom Super Resolution scale. You can set the internal resolution anywhere from 33% to 100%. NVIDIA’s example is 40%, which sits between Performance at 50% and Ultra Performance at 33%. That trades some speed for a sharper image. The feature needs driver 572.83 or newer.
DLAA and Ultra Performance
The override can add DLAA and Ultra Performance modes to games that do not offer them. NVIDIA says it only applies to titles without native support, and only when Super Resolution is on in-game.
Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation
Frame Generation overrides work differently by GPU. NVIDIA says Multi Frame Generation is an RTX 50 Series feature. The Frame Generation model upgrade works on RTX 40 and RTX 50.
NVIDIA’s March 2026 notice added more options, all under “DLSS Override – Frame Generation Mode”:
- Fixed: You pick a multiplier. For 2X, choose “Use 3D app setting” and turn Frame Generation on in the game. NVIDIA says Fixed reaches 4X in all compatible games.
- Dynamic: The app changes the multiplier for you. You can aim at your display’s maximum refresh rate or enter a custom target.
- 6X: This needs a newer Frame Generation file and works in select titles only.
- Enhanced FG model: Set the Frame Generation dropdown under Model Presets to “Preset B.” It works on RTX 40 and RTX 50 in select titles. NVIDIA listed 21 at launch.
Dynamic mode needs Game Ready Driver 595.97 or newer. NVIDIA says it does not work with frame rate limiters or V-Sync. You must also choose either Dynamic or Fixed, not both.
If you are weighing these modes, our guide to Frame Generation vs Multi Frame Generation covers the trade-offs. Our piece on whether Frame Generation is worth it goes deeper on latency.
Which Games Support the Override?
You cannot override every game. NVIDIA tracks support on its RTX Games and Apps list. The table has columns for Multi Frame Generation, Frame Generation, Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction and DLAA. Codes inside the cells show how a feature is reached. For example, [NV, 4X] means support up to 4X, natively or through an override. The table says it was last updated on October 28, 2026.
New titles arrive often. Mixed News reported on November 6–7, 2026 that app version 11.0.9.585 lists overrides for 19 games. They include The Witcher 3, PUBG: Battlegrounds and Dragon’s Dogma 2. The same report adds three cautions:
- Some titles appeared in earlier override lists, so not all 19 are new.
- A listed profile does not mean every DLSS feature works on every GPU.
- The update does not raise frame rates in every game on its own.
I could not load a second source for that update, so treat the game count as one outlet’s reading of NVIDIA’s release notes.
Should You Use “Recommended” on an Older GPU?
Not always. NVIDIA warns that RTX 20 and RTX 30 cards lack native FP8 support. As a result, the newer Models M and L cost more performance on those cards. NVIDIA says those owners may prefer Model K, the DLSS 4 model, for a better balance.
Independent testing points the same way. HotHardware tested Cyberpunk 2077 and found up to a 15% drop on an RTX 4060 Ti when moving from Preset K to Preset L. It still ran at 59.5 FPS. On an RTX 3080, the gap was “very large,” though the article gave no exact numbers. The RTX 4080 barely changed. HotHardware did not test RTX 20 cards.
Its advice is simple. RTX 20 and RTX 30 owners should avoid the Latest setting. They can choose Custom, then Preset K. RTX 40 and RTX 50 owners can use the newest model. Test each game before you commit. For help with Frame Generation on a 40 series card, see our guide to DLSS Frame Generation on RTX 40.
Limits to Know Before You Change Anything
It does not guarantee more FPS
NVIDIA says the Frame Generation model upgrade “can” increase frame rates. The wording is not a promise. Compare image quality and responsiveness, not just the counter.
Multi Frame Generation adds latency
Extra generated frames do not respond to your mouse. Our native FPS comparison shows why a high number can still feel slower. If your monitor is a 144 Hz model, read our notes on Frame Generation for 144 Hz monitors first.
There is no in-game quick switch
XDA Developers noted in January 2026 that the NVIDIA app has no hotkey for swapping DLSS models while you play. The workarounds it describes change system or game files, and the author advises against one of them in online multiplayer games. Skip both in competitive games.
Online play is a question mark
NVIDIA’s override announcement does not address multiplayer or anti-cheat. Neither does the November report. I cannot say how a given game’s anti-cheat treats an override, so check the game’s own rules before you use one online.
FAQs
What is the NVIDIA app DLSS override?
It is a setting in the NVIDIA app that applies newer DLSS models and features to games that have not been updated. You find it under Graphics, then Driver Settings.
Do I need an RTX 50 card to use it?
No. NVIDIA says the Super Resolution transformer upgrade works on all GeForce RTX GPUs. Multi Frame Generation and Dynamic mode are RTX 50 features.
Why does my override not work?
Check that the matching DLSS feature is on in the game. NVIDIA says overrides only apply when it is. Also confirm the game appears on NVIDIA’s override list.
What does “Recommended” do?
It replaced “Latest” in January 2026. It uses Preset M for Performance, Preset L for Ultra Performance and Preset K for the other modes.
Should I use the newest model on an RTX 30 card?
Test it first. NVIDIA warns that Models M and L cost more on RTX 20 and 30, and HotHardware advises Preset K for those cards.
How do I undo an override?
Choose “Use the 3D application setting” in the same menu.