Best War Thunder Settings in 2026

Even though War Thunder is a reasonably optimized game that works ideally, some players have performance issues, even on weak devices.

Decided to prepare this guide on settings in War Thunder in 2026. Read on, and we will tell and explain everything.

System Requirements

War Thunder Graphics Settings in 2026

Below – are the optimal graphics settings in War Thunder, which will allow you to achieve not only adequate performance but also to maintain a good picture:

• Vertical Synchronization – Off, considerably worsens frame stability on monitors with high hertz;
• Display Mode – Full Screen;
• Screen resolution – 1920 x 1080 (but if you have a 2K, 4K, or even 8K monitor, set it accordingly);
• Anisotropic Filtering – 16X (does not affect FPS, but it smooths corners and improves the picture);
• SSAA – Off;
• Antialiasing – Off (but you can set TAA if your video card is at least 1070 GTX and above);
• Texture quality – It all depends on the amount of VRAM. If the video card has over 8 GB, safely put on “Ultra.” In other cases, it is better to do with medium or even low settings;
• Shadow quality – Shadows should be set to “Minimal”. Eat a lot of FPS and even worsen visibility;
• Render resolution – 100%;
• Number of minimum shadows – As with shadow quality, set to “Low”;
• Landscape Quality – Leave the setting between 20-30% because at 0%, there are visual bugs, and at 100% – the processor starts to load heavily;
• Tree Range – 0%. Will improve visibility and add frames;
• Particle Density – You can set it to 100% (it doesn’t affect FPS, but it does affect visibility);
• Grass Range – As with trees, set it to 0%;
• Quality of mirror reflections in the cockpit – 100%, has absolutely no effect on performance but improves the picture;
• Cloud quality – Both settings are at 50-100%. Effect on FPS – below average;
• SSAO – Performance killer. One of the most (if not the most) demanding settings. Turn it off for good;
• VR Mode – It’s simple: if you don’t play VR, turn it off;
• Shadows – Can be turned on, can be turned off (if you want better visibility);
• Lens Effect – On/Off, doesn’t affect performance, but can blind at inopportune moments;
• JPEG Screenshots – Does not affect performance, left to your discretion;
• High Dynamic Range (HDR) – On/Off, the setting affects performance; on some PCs, it doesn’t. You need to try it and see for yourself.

War Thunder Settings for Better Visibility

For maximum visibility, it is better to set textures to “High” or “Ultra.” Just remember to turn off the grass display. Also, it will not hurt to turn particles and shadows to a minimum.

Graphics Settings for Weak PCs

If your PC does not meet the minimum system requirements, it makes sense to turn all the settings to minimum and change the resolution from Full HD to 720p.

This will add about 20-30 frames.

Settings to Increase FPS

The more settings are set to “Minimum,” the more FPS. The greediest of them are described above.

Control Settings in War Thunder

Each vehicle in the game is configured separately. Below are a couple of tips on what to change and what to keep.

Tank Control

Most settings relate to tanks (and land vehicles)—pure taste. It would be best if you left the weapon firing untouched. Setting the night vision mode to Z and sniper mode to V is also desirable.

Airplane Control

First, set the shot from the primary weapon to the left mouse click and the shot from the additional weapon to the side mouse button (if you have it). This setup will take some time, but it’s worth it.

Set the weapon switches to 1 and 2.

You can safely get rid of the controls associated with radar. It is enough to keep the radio wheel.

Customizing the Mouse and Keyboard in War Thunder

Everything here depends on your preferences, from mouse sensitivity to keyboard binds. However, we advise you to turn off mouse acceleration in any case. You will immediately notice that you are hitting your opponents more often.

Joystick Customization

Joystick customization is the same as keyboard/mouse customization. Button assignments are strictly based on personal preferences and sensitivity levels.

Sound Setting

For an immersive experience, crank everything to the max. Also, turn on “realistic sound.”

If you are chasing frags, make everything as low as possible (except shots and alien engines). Also, turn off “realistic sound.”

How to Reset War Thunder Settings in 2026

Resetting the settings can be done literally in one click. Just click “Default” in the appropriate sections of the graphics/controls.