When something stops working, the cause is usually recent and boring. The checks for how to fix broken eyeshadow below run from most to least likely, so stop as soon as one helps.
The community figured most of this out through repetition, and the pattern has held up well. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. Small details matter more than they should here, so read the order of steps carefully.
The short answer
Verify the files, restart fully, and only then start changing settings — reversing that order is what turns ten minutes into an evening.
Fixes that require more patience
Nothing below requires mods, paid tools or an account on some sketchy site. Driver updates fix this often enough to be worth trying, and break it often enough to be worth noting first. It helps to know why a step exists, because then you can adapt it when your situation differs slightly. There is a fast way and a safe way, and they are not the same thing.
If you are short on time, the first section alone is usually enough. Anything marked optional really is optional, so skip it without guilt. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update.
Check these first
If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. Driver updates fix this often enough to be worth trying, and break it often enough to be worth noting first.
- Update graphics drivers, then restart again.
- Check the version you are running before following any step-by-step advice.
- Back up your save if the game gives you the option.
- Write down what you changed, so you can undo it if the result gets worse.
- Restart fully after a change rather than trusting a quick reload.
If it is still broken
Give the first attempt an honest try before deciding the method does not work. Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. It helps to know why a step exists, because then you can adapt it when your situation differs slightly. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update.
A full restart is not the same as closing the window, and the difference matters here. Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. Start with the simplest option before touching anything that is hard to reverse.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Following a guide written for an older version and assuming nothing moved.
- Changing several settings at once, then having no idea which one helped.
- Skipping the preparation step because it looks boring, then repeating the hard part four times.
- Trusting a video thumbnail over the actual patch notes.
Frequently asked questions
Could a mod be causing this?
Very likely, if you have any installed. Disable all of them, confirm the problem is gone, then re-enable in batches.
Will reinstalling fix it?
Sometimes, but it is slow and it hides the cause. Work through the checks above first; reinstalling is worth trying only after they fail.
Does this still work after the latest update?
It did at the time of writing. If a step no longer matches, the underlying idea normally still applies even when a menu has moved.
If you take one thing away about how to fix broken eyeshadow, make it the preparation step; everything after it becomes much easier.