If you need OpenGL 4.6 for coding (C/C++):
Here is the definitive way to get OpenGL 4.6 running on your system.
If you are a developer who needs to test the new features, do not rely on the system driver. Use a software renderer:
Note: This is not for gaming. It is for debugging. opengl 46 download new
If you’re a programmer looking to develop with OpenGL 4.6, you need:
No "SDK" download exists — just grab glcorearb.h and glext.h from the Khronos repo.
If you are a developer or power user, you might wonder whether OpenGL 4.6 is still relevant. If you need OpenGL 4
| Feature | OpenGL 4.6 | Vulkan | DirectX 12 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Platform | Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS*), iOS, Android | Cross-platform | Windows, Xbox | | Driver Overhead | Medium | Very Low | Low | | Learning Curve | Moderate | Steep | Steep | | Best For | Legacy apps, CAD, mobile games | High-performance engines (id Tech, Unreal) | Windows-exclusive AAA games | | Newest Version | 4.6 (2017) | 1.3 (2022) | 12 Ultimate (2020) |
*Apple deprecated OpenGL on macOS in 2018. macOS only supports OpenGL 4.1. For OpenGL 4.6 on Mac, you need to use Windows via Boot Camp or a VM with GPU passthrough.
Verdict: For new development, Vulkan or DirectX 12 are superior. However, thousands of existing applications require OpenGL 4.6, and it remains an excellent choice for simpler cross-platform tools. Here is the definitive way to get OpenGL 4
If you cannot "get" OpenGL 4.6 after following the above steps, your hardware may be too old. Here is the compatibility list:
| Vendor | Supports OpenGL 4.6? | Minimum Hardware | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | NVIDIA | Yes (Driver 390.77+) | GeForce 400 series (Fermi) or newer. | | AMD | Yes (Driver 18.4.1+) | Radeon HD 7000 series (GCN 1st gen) or newer. | | Intel | Yes (partial) / No | Iris Plus / UHD 600 series or newer. HD Graphics 4000/5000 do NOT support v4.6. |
Warning: If you have an Intel HD Graphics 4400 or 5500 (Haswell/Broadwell), you are permanently stuck at OpenGL 4.4. No driver download will change that. You need to upgrade your PC.