How to Set PhysX Configuration in NVIDIA Control Panel on Windows 10

To set NVIDIA PhysX on Windows 10, open NVIDIA Control Panel and go to 3D Settings > Set PhysX configuration. Choose Auto-select (recommended) for the driver to choose a processor, or select a listed NVIDIA GPU to prefer GPU acceleration for supported PhysX work. Click Apply to commit the selection. NVIDIA recommends Auto-select for most systems.

This setting controls PhysX processing only. It does not make every game use the NVIDIA GPU for graphics rendering, and it cannot add PhysX effects to a game that does not support them. If you are trying to select the GPU for an entire game, use Windows Graphics settings instead.

What the PhysX processor choices mean

The selector may offer different choices depending on the graphics hardware and driver installed. NVIDIA describes the available options in its PhysX configuration reference.

Choosing the GPU does not guarantee a higher frame rate or better visuals. The result depends on the game, its PhysX implementation, and the rest of the system. Avoid changing the global option just because one game stutters; test one setting at a time and restore Auto-select if performance or stability gets worse.

Set PhysX in NVIDIA Control Panel

1. Open NVIDIA Control Panel. Select Start, type NVIDIA Control Panel, and open the app from the search results. If it appears in the desktop right-click menu, you can open it there too.

   

2. Open the PhysX page. In the left navigation pane, expand 3D Settings and select Set PhysX configuration. On some driver and multi-GPU setups, the page name may combine PhysX with SLI or multi-GPU settings; look for the PhysX processor selector.

   

3. Choose a processor. Under Select a PhysX processor, open the menu. Keep Auto-select (recommended) for normal use, or select the NVIDIA GPU listed in the menu if you are deliberately testing GPU PhysX. The GPU name shown on your computer will differ from the example.

   

4. Apply and review the diagram. Click Apply. NVIDIA notes that choices do not take effect until you apply them. The GPU configuration visualizer can show the detected GPUs, active displays, and the selected PhysX processor. On laptops and docked systems, the connector diagram may not match the physical display wiring exactly, so do not treat it as the only test of which GPU a game is using.

   

Use Windows settings to choose a game’s GPU

If your goal is to make one game or app use the NVIDIA GPU for rendering, changing PhysX is the wrong control. NVIDIA says that starting with Windows 10 version 20H1, Windows assigns the graphics processor for apps and can override the preferred-processor setting in NVIDIA Control Panel. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics settings, select or add the game’s executable, choose Options, and select High performance if Windows lists the NVIDIA GPU as that option. Save the choice and restart the game. Menu wording can vary slightly by Windows 10 build.

For the distinction, see NVIDIA’s preferred graphics processor guidance. The PhysX page remains useful for choosing a processor for PhysX tasks; Windows Graphics settings handle an app’s GPU preference.

If the PhysX option is missing or seems ineffective

• No PhysX page in the navigation pane: NVIDIA says the page appears when the system has at least one PhysX-capable GPU. Confirm that Windows detects the NVIDIA adapter and that its display driver is installed. The available menus can also differ by GPU and driver configuration.
• NVIDIA Control Panel is missing: Some NVIDIA DCH driver installations distribute the Control Panel through Microsoft Store. NVIDIA’s Control Panel app instructions explain this case; install the official NVIDIA Control Panel app from Microsoft Store when needed. Standard driver packages may include the panel differently.
• A game still appears to use the CPU: First confirm that the game supports GPU-accelerated PhysX. NVIDIA’s optional Show PhysX Visual Indicator can display PhysX>GPU or PhysX>CPU in a supported game; no indicator means the game is not currently using PhysX acceleration. Follow NVIDIA’s steps to verify PhysX acceleration.

For most Windows 10 PCs, the practical setup is simple: leave PhysX on Auto-select, use Apply after any change, and use Windows Graphics settings when you need to choose a game’s rendering GPU.