Drilling fluids tend to be used for the drilling of deep wells to clean and transport the rock cuttings, maintain the hole integrity, lubricate and cool the drill bit, and control the formation pressures. The present work aims at improving the water-based drilling fluid properties by using the TiO2/polyacrylamide (PAM) nanocomposite additive. This additive was obtained through the polymerization of acrylamide monomer in the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles using the solution polymerization method. The TiO2/PAM nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The rheological and filtration properties of the nano-enhanced water-based drilling fluid (NWBF) were investigated using the rotational viscometer and low temperature and pressure filter press apparatus. The results indicated that the additive contributes to an increase in the viscosity and a decrease in the fluid loss and filter cake thickness. Display omitted •TiO2/PAM nanocomposite synthesis as additive to modify the conventional drilling fluid.•Viscosity of drilling fluid increased with increasing nanocomposite content.•Fluid loss and filter cake thickness decreased with increasing nanocomposite content.•Stability of drilling fluid in different nanocomposite concentrations was investigated.