v6.1.0-vrr15: VRR tearing fixes and flexible latency (Beta)

VRR15 fixes presentation switching that could cause tearing and adds more control over the balance between input delay and smooth motion. Windows and Linux now use the same adaptive buffering policy, with three timing presets available throughout the VRR range.

This replaces the earlier experimental vrr15 release. Download and install the updated package even if you already have vrr15. The tearing fixes are part of normal VRR operation; no experimental launcher is needed. For portable installations, extract this release into a fresh folder and launch Moonlight.exe.

What's New

• VRR tearing fixes. Corrected Windows and Linux presentation switching so frames that need synchronization receive it, while frames with enough headroom can continue using adaptive presentation.
• Three latency choices. Choose Lowest latency, Balanced, or Smoothest under VRR timing. Lowest latency minimizes added delay but can show more stutter or skipped frames when delivery is uneven. Balanced keeps a small timing reserve and is the default for new users. Smoothest buffers more delivery variation at the cost of extra input delay.
• More flexible frame rates. Timing presets apply across the VRR range, including the display's full refresh rate. Lower VRR frame-rate options remain available for extra headroom or lower latency.
• Better control of buffering. Windows and Linux share frame-readiness prediction and bounded buffering. Preset limits keep the timing reserve proportional to the source frame rate, and stale frames can be replaced when newer frames are ready to avoid accumulating delay.
• Optional judder reduction. Reduce judder gently adjusts frame timing using the existing buffer to reduce uneven motion while keeping added latency low.

Existing users: After updating, confirm that V-Sync and VRR are enabled in Settings, then choose your preferred VRR timing preset. Reconnect the stream after changing the timing preset or Reduce judder. VRR automatically uses borderless fullscreen.

Downloads

Steam Deck Installation

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.

2. Download Moonlight-VRR-6.1.0-vrr15-linux-x86_64.flatpak from the assets below.

3. Open Konsole and change to the download folder:

   cd ~/Downloads

4. For a first installation, run:

   flatpak install --user ./Moonlight-VRR-6.1.0-vrr15-linux-x86_64.flatpak

   To update or replace an earlier VRR beta, run:

   flatpak install --user --reinstall ./Moonlight-VRR-6.1.0-vrr15-linux-x86_64.flatpak

5. Open Steam in Desktop Mode and add Moonlight as a non-Steam game. If an older Moonlight shortcut already exists, remove it and add Moonlight again so Steam selects the user-installed VRR15 Flatpak.

6. Return to Gaming Mode and launch Moonlight.

No sudo, Mesa downgrade, Flatpak mask, or compatibility installer script is required.

Other Linux Distributions

Install Flatpak through your distribution if it is not already available, download the .flatpak asset, then run from the directory containing the download:

flatpak install --user ./Moonlight-VRR-6.1.0-vrr15-linux-x86_64.flatpak

To replace an existing Moonlight VRR build:

flatpak install --user --reinstall ./Moonlight-VRR-6.1.0-vrr15-linux-x86_64.flatpak

Launch it from the desktop application menu or with:

flatpak run com.moonlight_stream.Moonlight

This bundle targets 64-bit x86 Linux and uses the same Flatpak application ID as standard Moonlight. If both a system-wide and user installation exist, your desktop shortcut may need to be recreated so it opens the user installation.

Windows Installation

Installer

1. Close Moonlight completely before installing the update.
2. Download MoonlightSetup-x64-6.1.0-vrr15.msi from the assets below.
3. Open the downloaded MSI and follow the installer prompts.
4. If Windows warns that the build is from an unknown publisher, confirm that you downloaded it from this release before continuing. This beta build is intentionally unsigned.
5. Launch Moonlight from the Start menu when installation finishes.

The installer can replace an earlier Moonlight VRR beta; uninstalling the previous beta first is not required.

Portable ZIP

1. Close any running copy of Moonlight.
2. Download MoonlightPortable-x64-6.1.0-vrr15.zip from the assets below.
3. Extract the entire ZIP to a new writable folder. Do not run Moonlight directly from inside the ZIP.
4. Run Moonlight.exe from the extracted folder.

Keep all extracted files together. If replacing an older portable beta, use a fresh folder or replace the complete extracted directory while Moonlight is closed.

AppImage Installation

Download Moonlight-6.1.0-vrr15-x86_64.AppImage, make it executable, and run it:

chmod +x Moonlight-6.1.0-vrr15-x86_64.AppImage
./Moonlight-6.1.0-vrr15-x86_64.AppImage

How to Use VRR

1. Enable V-Sync in Moonlight.
2. Enable VRR.
3. Make sure FreeSync, G-Sync, or Adaptive-Sync is enabled for the display.
4. In Moonlight's frame-rate setting, choose one of the entries marked VRR.
5. Choose Lowest latency, Balanced, or Smoothest under VRR timing. Start with Balanced, then adjust to your preference.
6. Select a stream frame rate the host can sustain within the display's VRR range. Full-refresh and lower-rate VRR options are both available.
7. Optionally enable Reduce judder, and reconnect after changing either timing setting.

SHA-256 Checksums

17b7cd4a8936b240ecd6233dd658f9952457b866024fdc43ae5be011eb731a62  Moonlight-6.1.0-vrr15-x86_64.AppImage
71ceb0aaaeafdeb3066082ce2582789fc2d1be06fa27eda6a93ca889a925b969  Moonlight-VRR-6.1.0-vrr15-linux-x86_64.flatpak
7eec38620fcbd154c05205f0d960b1dc90c02b9a7684e22d9b90809525a35bee  MoonlightPortable-x64-6.1.0-vrr15.zip
a9421e0a21602af9991108036ed45007a73ae84635859c1f7cc2a5b47c13a59e  MoonlightSetup-x64-6.1.0-vrr15.msi

Beta Notice

This remains a beta. Host or game stalls, network interruptions, and decoding delays can still cause visible stutter. When reporting a regression, include:

• the Moonlight session log;
• operating system and GPU;
• display model and refresh rate;
• selected stream resolution and FPS;
• whether VRR, HDR, and hardware decoding were enabled; and
• for Steam Deck, whether the issue occurred in Desktop Mode or Gaming Mode.