GeForce NOW FAQs

General Questions

Memberships

  •

    What membership options are available for GeForce NOW?

    GeForce NOW offers three membership plans: Free, Performance, and Ultimate. You can sign up here. Day passes are also available for those looking to experience premium benefits, without a monthly commitment. 

  •

    What happened to Priority memberships?

    The Priority membership has been converted to Performance. Members keep the same great benefits of a priority membership at the same price and with the enhanced benefit of 1440p streaming resolution.

    Performance members also have persistent in-game graphics settings and can use mods in select games, such as CurseForge Addons in World of Warcraft.

  •

    What are premium memberships?

    Premium memberships refer to all GeForce NOW paid memberships, specifically monthly and 6-month Performance and Ultimate memberships. Offerings may vary by region. premium memberships also provide members a streaming experience with higher resolutions and frame rates powered by NVIDIA technology including NVIDIA DLSS and Reflex, as well as faster queue access over free users.

  •

    Which setting can be saved when I am on a premium membership?

    Members are able to adjust their in-game graphics settings to their liking and save them across sessions by turning on the option to save settings in the GeForce NOW app settings menu. When the option is toggled off, NVIDIA recommended graphics settings will be used.

  •

    Are GeForce NOW mods available to all members?

    Gamers must have a Performance or Ultimate membership to use the top 25+ World of Warcraft Addons powered by CurseForge, as well as Creation Club mods for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, Starfield and Fallout 4 on GeForce NOW.

  •

    Why are you adding a monthly playtime limit?

    To ensure customers continue to receive low to no queue times and a high-quality experience every session, we have added a high monthly playtime max of 100 hours. This change will impact less than 6% of users and existing GeForce NOW paid members, as of December 31, 2024, will continue to enjoy unlimited playtime until their first billing cycle on or after January 1, 2026, as long as your premium membership remains uninterrupted and in good standing. 6-month members will reset on the same day each month as their billing date, (e.g. February 4 billing date will reset on March 4, April 4 and so on). 

  •

    How much monthly playtime do I get per month?

    Performance and Ultimate members get 100 hours of monthly playtime. Up to 15 hours of unused playtime can be rolled over to the next month.

  •

    What happens if I run out of monthly playtime?

    If you reach your max playtime during a billing month, you can purchase additional playtime hours or continue playing as a free user with access to basic rigs until your playtime is reset.

    Members can purchase additional hours of monthly playtime in 15-hour increments in the Account Portal.

  •

    Will Founders members have a monthly playtime cap?

    No, Founders memberships will still have unlimited playtime hours for life, as long as there is no lapse in their membership.   

    If a Founder upgrades to an Ultimate membership with the 10% discount, then that membership is subject to the current Ultimate terms, which after January 1, 2026 will include the 100 hour max playtime.  Founders can upgrade to Ultimate and return to their prior Founders benefits at any time without penalty, as long as there is no lapse in their payments. 

  • Why do some games run at less than 30 FPS?

    GeForce NOW provides members access to a virtual gaming PC. Just like a traditional PC, some games may require a higher level of performance to run. Members can purchase a Day Pass to experience how games perform on higher memberships. Learn more about virtual gaming PCs here.

  •

    Do I need a credit card or PayPal to sign-up for the GeForce NOW free membership?

    No, you do not need a payment method on file to register for a free membership.

  •

    What payment methods can I use to sign up for GeForce NOW?

    GeForce NOW memberships can be paid for with a credit card, PayPal, SEPA Direct debit (in select countries), Google Pay, or with a GeForce NOW membership gift card. For more information on SEPA and Google Pay limitations, please see this knowledgebase article. Membership gift cards can be purchased with prepaid credit cards and can only be applied toward GeForce NOW membership tiers. We continue to explore accepting alternative payment options. Please send us feedback in the app to let us know what methods you would like to use.

  •

    I can't access my membership benefits immediately after subscribing with Sepa.

    SEPA Direct Debit payments do not immediately debit your bank account. It may take up to five business days to settle, and your membership benefits will be enabled at that time. You will receive the full month of benefits from the date your account was debited. For more information about SEPA limitations, please see this knowledgebase article.

  •

    I have questions about using Google Pay or Sepa.

    For more information about using Google Pay and SEPA, please see this knowledgebase article.

  •

    Where can I see my current GeForce NOW membership plan price?

    You can view your membership from the app under Settings, under the GeForce NOW membership section. You can change your membership by clicking the manage button and then selecting membership plans on our website.

  •

    How do I delete a payment method on file in my account?

    Log into your account and visit the GeForce NOW membership section. Under Payment Methods, click Update to view payment methods on file.

  •

    I am a premium member on a promotional membership. Am I eligible to redeem a GeForce NOW gift card?

    Yes, the membership gift card is additive. You will be asked to choose your preferred membership tier when you redeem. Once applied, the term will add on to the remaining duration of your promotional membership. After the completion of the membership gift card duration, you will resume your Performance membership for the duration of the promotional period. For additional information, please visit our GeForce NOW membership FAQs page.

  •

    I am a premium member on a discounted membership (from a membership sale). Am I eligible to redeem a GeForce NOW gift card?

    Yes, though you should be aware that redeeming a gift card during a discounted membership period can change your billing date, and may cause you to lose your discounted pricing. For example, if you have two months remaining in a 6-month discounted membership, and you redeem a 3-month gift card, the remaining two months of discounted pricing would not carry over after completion of the gift card duration.

  •

    Why are ads appearing on the GFN free service?

    The GeForce NOW free membership provides unparalleled gaming value by allowing users to game on a GeForce PC at no cost. To help provide ongoing support for the free service, starting March 5, 2024, users will experience up to two minutes of video sponsorship messages before each free gaming session while in queue. We anticipate that this change will reduce average wait times for free members over time.

  •

    When will ads run?

    Free users will see video ads after selecting a game and before starting at the beginning of each gaming session. The rollout of GFN free session ads starts March 5, 2024.

  •

    How long will the ads be?

    Each free session will have a maximum of two minutes of video ads before gameplay begins.

  •

    Will ads interrupt gameplay?

    No, ads will only appear before the start of a gaming session while a server is being located and ensures an uninterrupted experience once the game starts. Ads will only run for up to two minutes, regardless of queue time.

  •

    Will the ads be age-appropriate?

    Absolutely. We ensure that all ads on GFN are curated to be suitable for all members.

  • What information is shared with advertisers?

    Ad serving technologies are used to deliver relevant advertising and to measure the performance of advertising campaigns. These technologies collect and use information for the purpose of serving appropriate/relevant advertising, and to measure its effectiveness and distribution. Identifiers and information we collect and share may include:

    • Details of ad views (e.g., type, duration, screen orientation, location)
    • Domain type, IP address (hashed)
    • Platform type
    • Approximate geolocation data (derived from IP)
    • Browser information, including browser type and language preference

    Members can opt in or opt out of interest-based advertising in the NVIDIA Privacy Center. Opting out means members will see non-interest-based ads instead. Members under 16 cannot opt-in to personalized ads. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

  •

    What if I don’t like the ads?

    Members are always welcome to upgrade to a premium tier without ads at any time.

  •

    Will there still be wait times after watching ads?

    Depending on server traffic, free members may still encounter queues before the session starts. We anticipate that average wait times for free members will reduce over time.

Ultimate Memberships

Founders Memberships

  •

    I am a Founder member. What happens to my “Founders for Life” benefits if I upgrade to a GeForce NOW Ultimate membership?

    Founders members can upgrade to the new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership at no risk! You’ll keep your Founders for Life benefits as long as you remain in good standing on any paid membership plan.

  •

    What is the “Founders for Life” benefit?

    The “Founders for Life” benefit provides GeForce NOW users who started a paid Founders membership on or before March 17, 2021 the opportunity to continue to use their Founders membership at its introductory price and plan features without a set end date, so long as NVIDIA offers the GeForce NOW service in your country.

    Founders members can upgrade to the new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership with no risk! Enjoy up to a 10% discount on the regular price of the Ultimate membership. You can return to the Founders level and its lifetime price at any time, as long as you maintain continuous paid membership.

  •

    What is the Founders special discount for the GeForce NOW Ultimate membership?

    To thank Founders, we are offering a special Founders-only discount rate when they upgrade to the new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership. This discount rate is 10% and reflected in the price shown in your account. This offer may not be combined with other promos or discounts.

  •

    What happens if I downgrade, change or cancel my Founders account? Will I lose the “Founders for Life” benefit?

    To keep the “Founders for Life” benefit, you must maintain an ongoing paid Founders membership without interruption. This requirement includes, for example, that you keep your payment information current and make timely payments, and that you use the service in accordance with the terms of use.

    If for any reason your paid Founders membership ends, you make a membership plan modification, downgrade, or if there is a termination, the benefit is forfeited and cannot be restarted. This benefit is only available to NVIDIA GeForce NOW users who are billed by NVIDIA’s designated merchant of record in the US, Canada, UK, and members of the European Union. This benefit is not transferable, and cannot be replaced for cash or credit.

  •

    What happens if I upgrade from Founders to GeForce NOW Ultimate and then later downgrade? What happens to my “Founders for Life” benefit?

    Your membership will revert back to Founders as long as you keep your account active with a valid payment method on file.

  •

    What if something goes wrong with my payment information and I’m accidentally downgraded?

    We have put in place a variety of email communications to help alert Founders to a billing failure in advance of their account being downgraded.  The purpose of providing this benefit is to keep our Founders on the service, so we will do everything on our end to support them with keeping their account in good standing.

  •

    My Founders membership is pending downgrade, but I’ve changed my mind and want the "Founders for Life" benefit. What should I do?

    When a member downgrades their membership, they may still have an active period before their account is transitioned to Free status, depending on their billing date. You’ll see if you’re in this downgrade window by viewing your information in the GeForce NOW account portal. If you are still within your billing cycle, you can reinstate your Founders membership and retain the Founders For Life benefit.

  •

    Is the "Founders for Life" benefit available for members accessing GeForce NOW through a partner?

    Free Founders memberships and Founders memberships billed by a GeForce NOW partner do not qualify for this benefit.

  •

    What is the VIP Founders Member badge I now see in my account?

    To say thank you to the first to join and support GeForce NOW, Founders members will receive a special VIP Founders member badge in their account and in-app. GeForce NOW would not be what it is without our Founders members, and this is one way we’re saying thank you. If you decide to downgrade, change your account or there is a termination, the VIP Founders badge will be removed from your account and in-app.  

    The “Founders for Life” benefit provides GeForce NOW users who started a paid Founders membership on or before March 17, 2021 the opportunity to continue to use their Founders membership at its introductory price and plan features without a set end date so long as NVIDIA offers the GeForce NOW service in your country.  

    To keep this benefit, you must maintain an on-going paid Founders membership without interruption and that requires, as examples, that you keep your payment information current and make timely payments, and that you use the service in accordance with the terms of use.  

    If for any reason your paid Founders membership ends, you make a membership plan modification, downgrade or if there is a termination, the benefit is forfeited and cannot be restarted. This benefit is only available to NVIDIA GeForce NOW users who are billed by NVIDIA’s designated merchant of record in the US, Canada, UK and members of the European Union, is not transferable, and cannot be replaced for cash or credit.

    The “Founders for Life” benefit provides GeForce NOW users who started a paid Founders membership on or before March 17, 2021 the opportunity to continue to use their Founders membership at its introductory price and plan features without a set end date so long as NVIDIA offers the GeForce NOW service in your country.

    To keep this benefit, you must maintain an on-going paid Founders membership without interruption and that requires, as examples, that you keep your payment information current and make timely payments, and that you use the service in accordance with the terms of use.  

    If for any reason your paid Founders membership ends, you make a membership plan modification, downgrade or if there is a termination, the benefit is forfeited and cannot be restarted. This benefit is only available to NVIDIA GeForce NOW users who are billed by NVIDIA’s designated merchant of record in the US, Canada, UK and members of the European Union, is not transferable, and cannot be replaced for cash or credit.

  •

    Where can I confirm that my Founders membership is still valid and my rate is locked in?

    You can view your membership from the app under Settings, under the GeForce NOW membership section. Here you can confirm if your account qualifies for the "Founders for Life"program.

Day Passes

PC/MAC

NVIDIA Shield

  •

    How do I launch and play a game?

    On the first click of a game tile, you will be taken to the digital store’s game page. Your ownership is verified when you log in, and then the game is launched. For games that require you to log in to your account to begin play, you will need to hold the START button on the gamepad to bring up the virtual mouse and keyboard. If you do not own the game, you can purchase it from the digital store. 

    To launch a game, click on its icon in the NVIDIA Games app. Look for the game with a GEFORCE NOW label. It will look and feel like you are launching the game on your device, when, in fact, GeForce NOW is launching it remotely and streaming it back to your SHIELD.

    See our How to Play page for more information.

  •

    Can I use a gamepad with GeForce NOW?

    Yes, you can use the SHIELD controller to play games on GeForce NOW. Please check our system requirements for a complete list of supported peripherals.

  •

    Can I use a keyboard and mouse with GeForce NOW?

    Yes, you can connect a USB or Bluetooth keyboard or mouse to a SHIELD to play games on GeForce NOW.

  •

    I am using a non US-English keyboard, and when I use it with GeForce NOW I do not see the characters or letters on screen that I press.

    We do see this issue with non-US Keyboards and are trying to find a way to improve it. In the meantime, we recommend using US English keyboards, or the NVIDIA on-screen control (OSC) keyboard, or Steam Big Picture keyboard to type in characters such as @.  However, if you have a Uplay account with non ASCII characters, you cannot use the NVIDIA OSC keyboard or a US English keyboard. You may need to change your password to log in to Uplay on GeForce NOW.

Android

  •

    What Android phones are compatible?

    We support Android phones with 1GB or more of memory and Android 5.0 (L) or later.  Please be aware streaming games on your phone’s mobile data plan you may use up data quickly.  We recommend connected to a 5GHz WiFi network for the best experience.

  •

    If I use GeForce NOW on my PC, Mac, or SHIELD, can I also play on my Android phone?

    Yes, your single GeForce NOW account works across your many devices, now including Android phones.

  •

    How do I get started?

    Once you’ve logged in to your GeForce NOW account on your phone, jump into your library of recently played games and continue playing where you left off. A Bluetooth gamepad is strongly recommended, including: the NVIDIA SHIELD controller, Razer Kishi V2, Steelseries Stratus Duo, or Backbone One. Note: Some games may require a connected gamepad controller or wireless keyboard/mouse. Check out these gamepads and more here.

  •

    Why are you asking me about my audio?

    This is Android's way of indicating that the GeForce NOW app wants access to your phone’s microphone. From here, it enables your in-game voice chat. We do not record this audio.

Chrome Browser / Chromebook

iPhone and iPad

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