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Fix Graphics Performance: WebGPU and Dedicated GPU

Get Snaptrude running smoothly: check WebGPU, turn on hardware acceleration, force the dedicated GPU and respond to GPU warnings.

Snaptrude draws your model in the browser using your computer's graphics card. It uses WebGPU for rendering and falls back to the older WebGL pipeline when WebGPU isn't available. If a project lags, freezes or orbits slowly, or Snaptrude shows a GPU or WebGPU warning, work through this guide to make sure your browser is using WebGPU and your best graphics card.

Quick checklist

  • You're using Google Chrome.

  • Hardware acceleration is turned on in Chrome.

  • On a Windows laptop with two graphics cards, Chrome is set to High performance so it uses the dedicated GPU.

  • Your graphics drivers, Chrome and operating system are up to date.

Understand the warnings Snaptrude shows

Snaptrude checks your graphics setup and tells you when something is limiting performance:

  • Browser banner: Appears when you open Snaptrude in a browser other than Chrome, such as Safari, Edge, Firefox, Opera or Brave. Chrome is the only browser Snaptrude validates, so switch to Chrome for the most reliable experience.

  • WebGPU banner: Appears at the top of the screen when your browser has fallen back to WebGL. Snaptrude still works, but large or complex projects may be slower. Follow the steps below, and contact support if the banner stays.

  • GPU access modal: Appears when your browser isn't using the dedicated GPU, or when hardware acceleration or WebGL isn't available. It can also appear when performance drops while you open a project or work on the dashboard. Follow the steps in this guide to fix the cause. If you dismiss the modal without changing your setup, performance problems are likely to continue.

Check whether Chrome is using WebGPU

  1. In Chrome, open a new tab.

  2. Type chrome://gpu in the address bar and press Enter.

  3. Find the Graphics Feature Status section.

  4. Check the WebGPU line. It should read Hardware accelerated.

A healthy setup also shows Hardware accelerated for Canvas, Compositing, Rasterization and WebGL. If WebGPU shows Disabled or Software only, continue with the next sections.

Tip: On a computer with two graphics cards, scroll down on the same page to see which GPU is listed as active. If it's the integrated (for example, Intel) GPU rather than your NVIDIA or AMD card, set Chrome to use the dedicated GPU as described below.

Turn on hardware acceleration in Chrome

  1. In Chrome, go to chrome://settings/?search=acceleration.

  2. Turn on Use graphics acceleration when available.

  3. Click Relaunch.

  4. Open chrome://gpu again and check that WebGPU shows Hardware accelerated.

Make Chrome use the dedicated GPU on Windows 11

Windows sets the GPU preference for each app separately, so you need to add Chrome and choose the high-performance GPU for it.

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.

  2. Go to System > Display.

  3. Scroll down and click Graphics.

  4. Under Custom settings for applications, click Add desktop app.

  5. Click Browse and select chrome.exe. It's usually at C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe.

  6. Click the Google Chrome entry, then click Options.

  7. Select High performance.

  8. Click Save.

  9. Close every Chrome window, then reopen Chrome.

  10. Check chrome://gpu. If WebGPU still isn't hardware accelerated, restart your computer.

Note: Let Windows decide and Power saving can put Chrome on the integrated GPU, which is slower. Choose High performance for Snaptrude.

Make Chrome use the dedicated GPU on Windows 10

  1. Open the Start menu and go to Settings.

  2. Go to System > Display.

  3. Scroll down and click Graphics settings.

  4. Under Choose an app to set preference, make sure Desktop app is selected.

  5. Click Browse and select chrome.exe (usually C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe).

  6. Click the added Chrome entry, then click Options.

  7. Select High performance and click Save.

  8. Close every Chrome window, then reopen Chrome.

Optional: Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling

This Windows-wide setting can improve performance on some systems. It's separate from the per-app setting above.

  1. On the same Graphics settings page, click Change default graphics settings.

  2. Turn on Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.

  3. Restart your computer. This setting only takes effect after a full restart.

Set the GPU in NVIDIA Control Panel

On NVIDIA laptops, you can also set the preference in NVIDIA's own settings. Windows Graphics settings take priority, but setting both helps on some systems.

  1. Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.

  2. Go to Manage 3D settings > Program Settings.

  3. Click Add and select Google Chrome, or browse to chrome.exe.

  4. Under Select the preferred graphics processor, choose High-performance NVIDIA processor.

  5. Click Apply and restart Chrome.

Laptops with a MUX switch

Some gaming laptops route graphics through a MUX switch. If your dedicated GPU still isn't used, restart into the BIOS (often F2, Del or F12 during startup), look for a Graphics Mode, GPU Mode or MUX Switch setting, and change it from hybrid (MSHybrid or Optimus) to discrete GPU. Save and exit. The exact names depend on your laptop maker, so check their documentation if you're unsure.

Update your graphics drivers

Outdated drivers can stop Chrome from using WebGPU. Install the latest driver from your GPU maker:

Notes for Mac

  • Start with Chrome: make sure hardware acceleration is on and Chrome is up to date, then check chrome://gpu.

  • Use Chrome rather than Safari. Snaptrude shows a browser banner in Safari, and WebGPU support in Safari is more limited, particularly on Intel-based Macs.

  • Keep macOS up to date, since graphics drivers ship with system updates.

  • If Snaptrude reports that WebGL or GPU access isn't available on your Mac after these checks, contact support with the details listed below.

Large models

Snaptrude includes rendering optimizations for large projects: it skips drawing objects hidden behind others (occlusion culling), manages graphics memory to avoid running out of video memory, and loads the scene progressively as a project opens. These work automatically. If a large project is still slow after you've confirmed WebGPU and the dedicated GPU, close other graphics-heavy tabs and apps, and contact support.

Troubleshooting

If performance problems or the WebGPU banner continue after these steps, contact support and include:

  • A screenshot of your chrome://gpu page, including the Graphics Feature Status section.

  • Your Chrome version (from chrome://settings/help).

  • Your operating system and version.

  • Your computer model and GPU model.

Related articles

  • System requirements and supported browsers

  • Speed up large projects

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