You probably didn’t guess it, but the popular game Minecraft has received a realism upgrade for 2021. It’s called ray tracing, and it was invented by the well-known chipmaker Nvidia. Ray tracing will be available for Xbox Series X as part of the new Minecraft RTX, despite being originally intended for PC gamers.
Continue reading to learn how to enable ray tracing in Minecraft.

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What Exactly Is Ray Tracing?
To understand how to enable ray tracing in Minecraft, first understand what ray tracing is.
Yes, it is a relatively obscure term that not every gamer is familiar with, but it has an impact on your gaming life unless you prefer Solitaire.
The representation of light and shadows in video games has always been somewhat problematic, as have digital sound effects (SFX.) The most difficult aspect of achieving top-tier realism appears to be within this department. Until recently, a game had to “guess” in order to accurately depict lighting.
Nvidia recently unveiled a new ray tracing technology based on its cutting-edge RTX chipsets. Ray tracing transforms lighting in games, regardless of genre. So Minecraft fans have something to look forward to.
Minecraft Ray Tracing Minimum Requirements
If you want to run Minecraft RTX, you should consider your graphics card. Ray tracing is a resource-intensive feature; Nvidia recommends using the GeForce RTX 2060 or newer if you want things to run smoothly. With this information in mind, here is a list of RTX-compatible graphics cards.
- GeForce RTX 2060
- GeForce RTX 2060 Super
- GeForce RTX 2070
- GeForce RTX 2070 Super
- GeForce RTX 2080
- GeForce RTX 2080 Super
- GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
- Titan RTX
Having one of the above, however, does not guarantee that things will go smoothly. The game’s behavior will be influenced by your system specifications. So, here’s what you can call the bare minimum.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5 10400
- 16GB or 32GB Corsair DDR4 RAM
- Samsung 860 EVO 250GB or Samsung 970 EVO 250GB SSD
In addition to a supported GPU and Windows 10 Home 64-bit, the above configuration should be considered the bare minimum for running Minecraft RTX properly. Any lower, and you run the risk of frame drops.
Configuring Your Computer for Minecraft RTX
You should double-check that everything is properly set up for ray tracing. After all, it is a sophisticated and demanding feature. So, after installing and activating Minecraft RTX, the first thing you should do is update your Nvidia GPU drivers. This is how you do it.
- Go to Nvidia’s official website and download and install the Google GeForce Experience for Windows 10.
- Open the GeForce Experience application.
- Navigate to the Drivers tab.
- The app suggests that you install the most recent drivers automatically. If it does not, check for updates by pressing the appropriate button in the app’s upper-right corner.
You’re ready to play Minecraft RTX once your graphics drivers are up to date!
Minecraft RTX
Enabling ray tracing in Minecraft does not necessitate tinkering with hardware or software—it is as simple as installing the appropriate version of the game. In particular, Minecraft RTX. Yes, you can enable ray tracing in Minecraft by downloading, installing, and running the latest version.
How to Enable Ray Tracing in Minecraft on a PC Running Windows 10
As previously stated, enabling ray tracing in Minecraft necessitates the installation of Minecraft RTX. In terms of compatibility, however, Minecraft RTX is the only option. You will require Windows 10, which is currently the only option.
To activate Minecraft RTX, you must first install Minecraft for Windows 10, the most recent PC client for the game. Here’s how to set up Minecraft on Windows 10.
- Select the Start menu or the Search bar.
- Next, enter Microsoft Store and click on it.
- The Microsoft Store app will launch; type Minecraft into the app’s search bar.
- Purchase the game and install it just like any other app. You can also take advantage of the free trial.
Even after installing the latest version, Minecraft for Windows 10 does not automatically enable ray tracing. To enable RTX functionality, you must first install the Xbox Insider Hub. In the Microsoft Store, look for and install the app. Here’s how to enable ray tracing after you’ve installed the app.
- Launch the Xbox Insider Hub application.
- Select Insider content from the menu (hamburger icon) on the left side of the screen.
- Select Minecraft for Windows 10 from the Games menu.
- Click Join to participate in the Windows 10 Beta experience.
- Select Minecraft for Windows 10 RTX Beta from the list of options that appears, then click Done.
Now, RTX Beta should be installed and applied to your Minecraft for Windows 10 version automatically. Yes, you can use ray tracing with this procedure.
Nota bene: Changing to Minecraft RTX erased all Minecraft worlds. So, make sure you’ve completed your backups first.
On an Xbox One, how do you enable Ray Tracing in Minecraft?
Unfortunately, Minecraft RTX is only available for Windows 10 users who own Nvidia RTX graphics cards. Mojang has become interested in silence, particularly in light of the difficulties in bringing ray tracing to the XBOX ONE S/X consoles equipped with AMD RDNA 2 GPUs.
Regardless of the current state of ray tracing on Minecraft XBOX One S/X, the technology may succeed in the future. After all, AMD is also working on ray tracing.
On an Android or iPhone, how do you enable Ray Tracing in Minecraft?
More complex video games on smartphones were not expected a decade ago. That has changed, of course, because we now have much more complex games on our pocket computers than Minecraft. So, is Minecraft RTX available for iOS or Android? No, not for the time being. Ray tracing necessitates the use of modern graphics behemoths, and smartphone and tablet technology are still years away.
Activating or deactivating Ray Tracing
If you have done everything correctly and your computer is powerful enough, you can turn this feature on and off whenever you want.
- Navigate to the Settings menu in Minecraft.
- Next, choose Advanced Video.
- Select DirectX Ray Tracing from the drop-down menu.
- Turn it on.
Alternatively, use the semicolon (;) key on your keyboard to toggle ray tracing on and off on the fly.
For the time being, only RTX-enabled Minecraft worlds support ray tracing. The Minecraft Marketplace offers a variety of options. You can also use your ray tracing-enabled resource pack.
Is it worthwhile?
If you’re a big Minecraft fan, you might find the whole thing strange. After all, Minecraft is all about the gameplay, not the graphics. However, once you try Minecraft RTX, you will undoubtedly fall in love. Even this simple-looking game is stunning thanks to Ray Tracing technology. The lighting, the shadows, everything is perfect.
You don’t have to buy the game if you have the right build. Try the free trial and then decide whether you want to spend $30.
However, if you do not have the proper setup, you may be hesitant to upgrade. Ray tracing, on the other hand, will be used in new game releases and is expected to become the industry standard. As a result, you might want to think about upgrading.
You can enable ray tracing in Minecraft if you have the necessary hardware and are willing to spend $30. It’s also not overly complicated. It’s as simple as downloading and installing two Microsoft Store apps and making some changes to them.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
Ray tracing in Minecraft is the same as ray tracing in any other game. The technology is used to generate graphics that reflect light off in-game objects. Unlike previous guesswork technology, ray tracing works independently, performing all lighting functions in real-time. This is, of course, very hardware-demanding, which is why a completely new Minecraft – Minecraft RTX – was released.
Yes, ray tracing is extremely important to the future of PC and console gaming. This technology is expected to become the norm in all upcoming major game titles. Currently, only a few GPUs can support the technology. Ray tracing technology has a long way to go before it can be used effectively in games and consoles.
Taking Minecraft to New Heights
You’re in luck if you have a computer with an Nvidia graphics card because you can play Minecraft with ray tracing. If you want to give it a shot, you can download the trial version and decide for yourself whether you like it.
Have you successfully enabled ray tracing in Minecraft on your computer? How are you finding it so far? Please share your ray tracing experiences in the comments section below.