---
name: "SDL_HINT_GPU_DRIVER"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libsdl3-doc"
version: "3.2.10+ds-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SDL_HINT_GPU_DRIVER"
---

# SDL\_HINT\_GPU\_DRIVER(3)

A variable that specifies a GPU backend to use.

## NAME

SDL\_HINT\_GPU\_DRIVER - A variable that specifies a GPU backend to use.

## HEADER FILE

Defined in SDL3/SDL\_hints.h

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include "SDL3/SDL.h"
```

**#define SDL\_HINT\_GPU\_DRIVER** *SDL\_GPU\_DRIVER"*

## DESCRIPTION

By default, SDL will try all available GPU backends in a reasonable order until it finds one that can work, but this hint allows the app or user to force a specific target, such as "direct3d11" if, say, your hardware supports D3D12 but want to try using D3D11 instead.

This hint should be set before any GPU functions are called.

## AVAILABILITY

This hint is available since SDL 3.2.0.