# HDRI doesn't light up environment

**URL:** <https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075>\
**Category:** Feedback & Requests\
**Tags:** hdri, unreal-engine, UE5-1, question\
**Created:** [November 16, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075 "2022-11-16T15:15:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 19

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CoolSmek](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/coolsmek/32/595647_2.png) [@CoolSmek](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/CoolSmek)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:29am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/19 "2022-12-01T04:29:38Z")

</div>

In UE5.1 I’m having the same problem with my project. Even in the material or mesh editor preview window, assets appear with no diffuse lighting at all, only reflections. I suspect it may have something to do with raytracing features being enabled.

Do you have these project settings enabled?

 ![ProjectSettings](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/a/4/7/a47b633f5f3ef966945f79f3d6c899444f5c18b6.jpeg)

If so, try disabling “Visible in Ray Tracing” on the HDRI Backdrop Geometry component in the details panel under the ‘Rendering \> Advanced’ tab. Worked for me.

 ![HDRI_Geo_Raytrace_Enabled](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/7/f/f/7ffe565e62d7bd8cb8a95ebd4a7e218ed2119ab4.jpeg)

 ![HDRI_Geo_Raytrace_Disabled](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/a/3/8/a3842c5648ff8df85cec79a7465c885a81bcd662.jpeg)

---

_[View the full topic](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075)._