How to Enable Video Super Resolution in Microsoft Edge
Video Super Resolution (VSR) in Microsoft Edge is a built-in feature that uses AI to sharpen fuzzy, low-resolution videos as you watch them on sites like YouTube. It cleans up blurry online clips so they look clear on big, high-resolution screens.
You need a compatible graphics card, such as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series or newer, to run this feature. The full list of supported cards is in the requirements section below. Once you turn it on in your settings, it works automatically in the background. You don’t have to switch it on for each video.
Open Microsoft Edge, click the Settings and more button (three dots) in the top right, select Settings, then click System and performance in the left menu. Toggle on Enhance videos to enable Video Super Resolution for low-resolution videos below 720p.
Why use Video Super Resolution?
VSR relies on machine learning algorithms to reconstruct missing pixel data, turning blocky streams into crisp visuals. It cleans up fuzzy images, so low-quality videos look much better. Your computer’s graphics card does the work and improves the picture in real time while the video plays.
The processing happens on your PC, not on the website’s servers. The original file is not changed, and the enhancement only applies to what you see in the Edge window. Because the GPU does the work, the feature is tied to the graphics card in your machine.
What happens when you turn it on?
Enabling the feature allows your browser to automatically detect low-quality videos and upscale them. Viewers notice less blur and fewer blocky artifacts on screen while watching content.
The effect is most obvious on older uploads, small clips and low-bitrate streams that you watch full screen or in a large window. Videos that are already sharp get no benefit, and the feature skips them. Expect some extra GPU load while it runs, which is the reason Edge turns it off on battery by default (see the note on power later in this guide).
Hardware Requirements
Your computer needs an Nvidia RTX 20, 30, 40, or 50 series card, or an AMD RX 5700 through RX 8000 series card. Additionally, the video you are watching must have a resolution lower than 720p for the feature to turn on.
If your card is not supported, the toggle may not appear in Edge at all, or it may have no effect. Keeping Edge and your graphics driver up to date also helps, since support for newer cards arrives through updates.
These are the supported graphics cards:
- Nvidia RTX 20, 30, 40, or 50 series.
- AMD RX 5700 through RX 8000 series.
Microsoft maintains an updated compatibility list on its official site. Check it if your card is close to the edge of these ranges, or if a new GPU generation has come out since this guide was written.
Additionally, playback must meet these criteria:
- Playing at a resolution lower than 720p.
- Larger than 192 pixels in both height and width.
- Not protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM).
The DRM rule explains why VSR often does nothing on paid streaming services. Those sites usually protect their video, so Edge cannot process it. The resolution rule means a YouTube video set to 360p or 480p can be enhanced, but the same video at 720p or higher is left alone.
Enable or disable Video super resolution (VSR) in Edge
Video Super Resolution Edge can be turned on or off directly through your browser settings to improve the quality of low-resolution videos. You need to open Microsoft Edge, go to the settings menu, find the system and performance section, and use the ‘Enhance videos’ toggle to activate the feature. The steps below walk through it.
- Open the Microsoft Edge browser. A normal browser window opens.
- Click the Settings and more button (three horizontal dots) in the top right corner. A drop-down menu appears.
- Select Settings. The Settings page opens in a new tab.
- Click System and performance in the left menu. The system options appear on the right.
- Look for Enhance videos in Microsoft Edge. In some Edge versions the wording differs slightly, for example it may mention images as well as videos. If you can’t find it, scroll down the page, or use the search box at the top of Settings. If it is missing entirely, your graphics card may not be supported, or Edge may need an update.
- Toggle the switch to On to enable it or Off to disable it. The change is saved straight away, and there is no Save button.
To undo the change at any time, return to the same page and switch the toggle to Off. No restart of Windows is needed.
Note on Power: By default, VSR is often disabled when operating on battery power to save energy. To keep the feature active on battery power, change your preference in the same menu. On a laptop, this is a common reason for the feature seeming to do nothing. Plug in the charger and test the video again before you assume something is broken. Keep in mind that running VSR on battery uses more power and shortens your battery life.
How to verify it is working: While a video plays, click the “Media” icon in the Edge address bar (the URL bar). When active, the menu displays an “Enhance video” status indicator showing that the feature is working.
If you don't see that indicator, check the video against the criteria above. The most common causes are a video at 720p or higher, DRM-protected content, or a laptop running on battery. To test, open a YouTube video and lower its quality to 360p. Then check the Media menu again.
Modifications take effect immediately. You do not need to restart Edge or Windows. Refreshing the video page helps the effect start, particularly if the video was already playing when you flipped the switch.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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