If you are playing Borderlands 4 on PC, you have probably noticed the long wait during shader compilation. Sometimes it takes 10–15 minutes, and it happens every time you change graphics settings. Here is what shader compilation is and how to reduce stutter while playing.
What Is Shader Compilation in Borderlands 4?
Shaders are GPU instructions for lighting, textures, and effects. The game compiles them up-front after you first load it, to prevent stuttering mid-combat.
Why It Is Linked to Stuttering
- If shaders are not compiled in advance, the game has to compile them on the fly while you play.
- This causes your CPU and GPU to pause for a moment, creating those annoying micro-freezes known as shader stutter.
- Precompiling is slower at startup, but it prevents stutter in combat and exploration.
Why Borderlands 4 Shader Compilation Takes So Long
Depending on your CPU/GPU, the process can take 5-15 minutes. It happens after every update or big graphics changes, such as switching resolution or presets.
Can You Skip Shader Compilation?
Unfortunately, the short answer is: No, you cannot skip it. However, once the shaders are cached & compiled, you will not need to redo it every time, unless you change major settings.
Waiting minutes before you are able to play the game can be quite frustrating, but loading shaders before you jump into the action helps prevent so-called ‘shader stutter’ during gameplay.
Tips to Speed Up Shader Compilation
- Close background apps to free up CPU usage.
- Keep GPU drivers updated; both NVIDIA and AMD improve shader performance.
- Avoid frequent graphics changes so the game does not recompile unnecessarily.
Extra Tip: Increase Shader Cache Size (NVIDIA Only)
Some players have reported reduced stuttering by manually increasing the shader cache size in the NVIDIA Control Panel. Setting it as high as 100 GB allows the game to store more compiled shaders, which can smooth out gameplay.
- Open NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings → Global Settings.
- Find Shader Cache Size and set it to 100 GB (if available).
- Relaunch the game and let shaders compile.
- Keep in mind this uses a lot of disk space and may not help on all setups, but it is worth trying if you are still experiencing shader stutter.
Shader compilation in Borderlands 4 is annoying, but it is the tradeoff for smooth gameplay. Let it run once, and you will get fewer FPS drops and shader stutter later!
For more news and guides on the game, head back to our Borderlands 4 main hub.