Discord is a prominent player in the gaming communication world. It offers top-notch text, audio, and video communication options through its PC app and also through the browser version. The Discord overlay not working error is a common issue faced by online gamers and Discord app users globally. In this article, we are discussing the common causes and solutions for the Discord overlay not working error. We will share the step-by-step instructions you need to follow to fix this annoying error and make your gaming communication a smooth experience.
Discord overlay not working
The Discord overlay is a convenient feature in the user-friendly interface of the Discord app. The overlay feature brings a semi-transparent window into your screen and this window combines your chats and voice messages with the gameplay. The Discord overlay is very popular among hardcore gamers because of the convenience and extra features offered by it and we strongly recommend this feature if you play multiplayer online games regularly. There are options to share screenshots, send messages, and voice chat even when you play a full screen game and it’s quite fast and impressive. The Discord overlay not working error brings serious issues for regular users because once you start using it, it is kind of addictive. Let’s check how we can fix this Discord overlay not working error in some simple steps.
This is something usual, as we always say reboot your system and the Discord app before attempting any troubleshooting step described below. Discord is a server-oriented communication app and usually, when you restart the app, the server communication will get refreshed and it will fix most of the issues. If the overlay feature is not working even after a system reboot you can dive deep into the troubleshooting steps.
Fix 1:
Enable Overlay in Discord settings
The Discord app settings need optimization for smooth performance. You should enable the in-game overlay feature of the Discord app to enjoy the overlay chatting option while playing full-screen games. A quick tweak in the settings will fix this error.
Step 1: Open the Discord settings menu. You can find the cogwheel icon on the left bottom side of the app screen.
Step 2: From the App settings options locate and click on Overlay.
Step 3: In the overlay settings page. Enable the in-game overlay option.
You can also add the game to the game activity list and enable overlay for each game manually if required.
Step 4: From the settings page, click on the Game activity option.
Step 5: Select the game you’re playing and enable the overlay option. If it is already enabled, you can turn it off and enable it again.
If you can’t find the game you’re playing in the game activity list, you can add it by clicking on the Add it option.
Once you have completed all the above steps, relaunch the game and check if the overlay feature is working fine or not. If not, we can move on to the next troubleshooting steps.
Fix 2:
Turn off the Discord hardware acceleration feature
The Discord hardware acceleration feature takes the help of system GPU to increase the performance of the app. Some users reported this issue as a cause of the Discord overlay not working error. Follow the below steps to fix this issue.
Step 1: Open the Discord settings menu. You can find the cogwheel icon on the left bottom side of the app screen.
Step 2: From the app settings menu, find the Appearance option and click on it.
Step 3: Scroll down to the Advanced settings option on the right-side screen. Turn off the Hardware acceleration option. These settings updates will relaunch the Discord app and most probably fix the Discord overlay not working error.
Fix 3:
Run the Discord app as an administrator
Allowing admin rights to the discord app will fix the Discord overlay not working error in some cases. In normal mode, the operating system tends to block some advanced features of the Discord app and the overlay function is one of them. Follow the below steps to run the Discord app as an administrator permanently.
Step 1: Select the desktop icon of the Discord app and right-click on it. Select the Properties option from the context menu.
Step 2: From the open window, navigate to the Compatibility option and click on it.
Step 3: Select the “Run this program as an administrator” option and turn it on by marking the checkbox.
Step 4: Apply the changes and click Ok.
Relaunch the app and check the status of the Discord overlay not working error.
Fix 4:
Change the display scale and layout settings of your PC
If the scale and layout size is selected above 100%, it can be a major cause for the Discord overlay not working error. You can change the scaling size by following the below steps.
Step 1: Open the Windows settings menu by pressing the Windows+I keys together.
Step 2: Select the System option.
Step 3: Locate the Scale and layout option and select the 100% option.
Relaunch the Discord app and see the error is fixed or not.
Fix 5:
Add the Discord app to the white list of your antivirus software
Many antivirus software flags the discord app as a suspicious program because of the complex network interactions made by the app. This will restrict many advanced features including the overlay feature. We recommend you to add the Discord app to the trusted programs list of your antivirus software for better performance.
Fix 6:
Update the Discord app to the latest version
The Discord app team is well known for rolling out frequent updates. You can check for the latest updates if you’re facing the Discord overlay not working error. The easiest method is to run the Discord app as an administrator and it will automatically update to the latest version. If you find any issues in updating the Discord app, check our detailed guide on how to update the Discord app here.
The above methods will certainly fix the Discord overlay not working error in your PC. Share your suggestions and feedback in the comment box.
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