If you’re a gamer who uses Discord to chat with friends while playing, the Discord overlay is an essential feature.
It allows you to see who’s talking, access chat, and control various Discord settings without leaving your game.
However, many users encounter the frustrating issue of the Discord overlay not working properly. When this happens, the overlay doesn’t appear in games, or it might only work intermittently.
In this guide, we’ll explain what the Discord overlay not working error means, explore its common causes, and provide step-by-step methods to fix the issue easily so you can get back to gaming.
What Does the Discord Overlay Not Working Error Mean?
The Discord overlay not working error occurs when the in-game overlay feature, which shows voice chat activity, notifications, and other Discord features, fails to appear or function during gameplay.
This can prevent users from seeing who is speaking, sending messages, or adjusting voice settings without minimizing the game.
The issue typically occurs when the overlay is not enabled properly, there are compatibility problems with the game, or other software is interfering with Discord’s functionality.
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Common Causes of Discord Overlay Not Working
Several factors can trigger the Discord overlay not working error, including:
- Overlay Not Enabled: The overlay feature must be enabled for each game individually in Discord’s settings.
- Compatibility Issues with Certain Games: Not all games support Discord’s overlay feature. Some games may block it or conflict with Discord’s overlay.
- Hardware Acceleration Interference: Discord’s hardware acceleration setting can sometimes interfere with the overlay, causing it not to work.
- Antivirus or Firewall Blocking: Some antivirus or firewall software may block Discord’s overlay feature, preventing it from functioning properly.
- Outdated or Corrupt Discord Installation: A corrupted Discord installation or an outdated version can cause issues with the overlay.
- Administrator Privileges: If Discord or the game isn’t running with administrator permissions, the overlay may not work correctly.
- Display Scaling Issues: Display scaling settings on high-resolution monitors can sometimes interfere with the overlay’s visibility.
Step-by-Step Methods to Fix Discord Overlay Not Working
Here are several solutions you can use to fix the Discord overlay not working error:
Solution 1 – Reboot The System
Though it is the most basic thing that one does, the amazing fact is that this simple action has worked a lot of times irrespective of the issue is minor or major.
Close all the opened apps, games or the discord software and shut down your PC. Open it again within a gap of 2 or 3 minutes. See if the issue is fixed or not. If it is then congratulations but if not then don’t worry, try the next method.
Solution 2 – Check If The Option Is Enabled
A hitch that a lot of games face is that they haven’t enabled this feature. So the very first thing you need to do is check whether this option is enabled or not. To do so:
Step 1: Open the Discord app. You can do it either by using the shortcut on the desktop or by browsing the start icon and the starting the discord app.
Step 2: While the discord windows are displayed on the screen, click on the user settings option available on the bottom left side of the desktop screen.
Step 3: From the left navigation pane, choose the Overlay option and ensure that the ‘ENABLE IN-GAME OVERLAY’ option is selected.
Step 4: After saving the settings, reopen the game. Try running it to know if the issue is fixed or not. If not then, try another method.
Solution 3 – Enable Or Change The Hotkey
A hotkey is a key or a combination of keys which helps in providing quick access to a particular function within a computer program.
Now that we know what a hotkey means then it is possible that one of the reasons of Discord overlay not working might be that the overlay that enables hotkey has not been ordained or maybe clashing with some other hotkey.
Step 1: Select the start menu and open the Discord app. If you are unable to find it, then open the C Drive, Program files and then find the file.
SEPT 2: On the bottom left side of the screen and right side of your username, you’ll find ‘user settings’ option. Click on it.
Step 3: Further, go to the overlay submenu. The hotkey option is found just alongside the enable in-game overlay option in the rolled out pane.
Step 4: Save the settings and then reopen the game to see whether the assigned hotkey works to fix this issue or not. If not then don’t be disheartened, we have other methods as well.
Solution 4 – Change The Overlay Position
One of the things that might go wrong can be the position of your overlay. To reset overlay to default:
Step 1: Double click the icon on the desktop or click the start menu or open the App folder in system drive’s programs files folder to open the Discord app.
Step 2: Now press and hold the keys Ctrl + Shift + I while being in the Discord app. This will open another window alongside the Discord app i.e. a Javascript Console.
Step 3: In this window i.e. the javascript console, click on the >> icon available on the top right corner of the window. In the dropdown list, select Application.
Step 4: Extend the option of ‘Local Storage’ either by double-clicking the option from left pane or clicking the arrow beside the option.
Step 5: On the right half of the window there appears a list. Look for the overlay store option or something of that sort. Select the option and delete it by pressing the delete key.
Step 6: Further, close all the apps as well as the game. Reboot them and the overlay should set to default.
If this still doesn’t work, then try the next method.
Solution 5 – Run The Discord App As An Administrator
Another issue that can be the reason for overlay not working properly may be that the Discord app and the game playing might not be running as an administrator.
Step 1: Click the Discord app icon or the start menu to open the context menu or you can find the app in C Drive.
Step 2: Click on the ‘Run as Administrator’ option in the context menu. Check the box next to it and click yes.
Step 3: The system can make the app run every time by changing the properties by going to the properties section. You can do so by right-clicking on the discord icon which will further open the context menu wherein you can find properties section. In the displayed window, under the Compatibility tab, check the box for ‘Run this program as an administrator’ option. Then apply and close the window.
Step 4: Now reopen the discord app and the game and then also open the hotkey while playing the game to check whether this method worked or not.
Solution 6 – Check If Firewall Or Antivirus Is Blocking The Overlay
An issue that causes this inconvenience is that many anti-viruses and firewalls consider this app as harmful and they deny to grant it access and privileges or they just kill the process every time the user tries.
If you think that this is the issue then open your antivirus or firewall settings and look for anything related to Discord app in blocked apps or services list.
If you find anything unblock it and then add it to the ‘exceptions’. Or you can also try disabling the antivirus program and firewall temporarily and checking whether the issue is solved or not.
Solution 7 – Reinstall Or Update The Discord App
If you have reached this far and still the issue isn’t resolved then the last option left is uninstalling and then reinstalling the Discord Overlay Software which is yet another common solution, along with restarting your PC.
While reinstalling make sure to download the latest version of the software.
Step 1: Look for the control panel on your PC. Open it and navigate to apps and features. Select it.
Step 2: Check the installed apps’ list and find Discord. Click on it after which the uninstall option will appear. Further, click on it and complete the uninstallation process.
Step 3: Then go to C drive and look for the Discord app folder. Delete it permanently. Permanently deleting it will help delete all the leftover files and settings so that there can be a clean install the next time.
Step 4: Now browse the official Discord site on Google or Bing or any other search engine. Download the latest version of a verified installer which will be suitable for your PC.
Step 5: Then reboot your system and install the Discord.
Step 6: After the installation finishes, reboot the whole system once again, open discord and check whether the overlay option is enabled or not.
Step 7: Check the hotkey for enabling the in-game overlay.
Step 8: Now, start the game and hotkey as well. Use it while playing the game and see whether you can get an overlay or not.
Step 9: Also, turn off any antivirus or firewall programs before installing a copy of any software that requires special permissions.
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Conclusion
Hope one of the above-mentioned methods of solution solved your problem of Discord Overlay not working.
We understand how frustrating it gets when you are unable to talk to your friends while gaming.
The solutions mentioned above are a way to help you people with providing a trouble-free gaming service. Till then, Happy Gaming!
FAQs About the Discord Overlay Not Working Error
The Discord overlay not working error is a common issue that many gamers encounter when trying to use Discord’s in-game overlay feature.
This feature allows users to access Discord chat, voice channels, and notifications while playing games, but sometimes it fails to function properly.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you better understand and fix the Discord overlay not working error.
1. What is the Discord overlay?
The Discord overlay is an in-game feature that lets you see and interact with Discord chat, voice channels, and notifications while you’re playing a game. It appears as a semi-transparent interface over the game screen, allowing you to access Discord without having to switch out of the game.
2. Why is the Discord overlay not working in my game?
There are several reasons why the Discord overlay may not be working, including:
- The overlay feature is not enabled in Discord settings.
- Compatibility issues with certain games that don’t support the overlay.
- Hardware acceleration settings in Discord interfering with the overlay.
- Discord not running with administrator privileges.
- Interference from antivirus or firewall software.
- Outdated or corrupted Discord installation.
3. How do I enable the Discord overlay for my game?
To enable the Discord overlay:
- Open Discord and click the gear icon (User Settings) at the bottom-left corner.
- Go to Overlay under App Settings.
- Toggle the switch for Enable in-game overlay.
- Go to the Game Activity tab and ensure the overlay is enabled for the game you’re playing by toggling it on.
4. Why is the Discord overlay not appearing in my game, even when it’s enabled?
If the overlay is enabled but not appearing, the issue could be caused by:
- Discord or the game not running as an administrator.
- Full-screen mode in the game (try switching to windowed or borderless window mode).
- Hardware acceleration interfering with the overlay.
- Antivirus or firewall software blocking Discord’s overlay.
5. How do I run Discord as an administrator to fix the overlay issue?
To run Discord as an administrator:
- Right-click the Discord shortcut on your desktop.
- Select Run as administrator.
- You can also permanently set Discord to run as administrator by right-clicking the shortcut, selecting Properties, and checking Run this program as an administrator under the Compatibility tab.
6. How do I disable hardware acceleration in Discord?
Disabling hardware acceleration can fix overlay issues:
- Open Discord and go to User Settings.
- Scroll down to Advanced settings.
- Toggle off Hardware Acceleration.
- Click OK to restart Discord.
7. Can antivirus or firewall software block the Discord overlay?
Yes, some antivirus or firewall software may block Discord’s overlay feature. You can resolve this by adding Discord.exe to the exception list in your antivirus or firewall settings. Check your software’s documentation for specific steps on how to do this.
8. Why does the Discord overlay work for some games but not others?
Not all games are fully compatible with Discord’s overlay feature. Some games, especially older titles or those running in full-screen mode, may not support the overlay. Switching the game to windowed or borderless windowed mode may help.
9. How do I switch a game to windowed mode to fix the overlay issue?
To switch a game to windowed or borderless window mode:
- Open the game and go to Graphics or Display settings.
- Look for the display mode option and change it to Windowed or Borderless Window.
- Restart the game and check if the overlay appears.
10. How do I check for Discord updates to fix the overlay issue?
To check for Discord updates:
- Open Discord.
- Press Ctrl + R to refresh the app. This forces Discord to check for updates.
- If an update is available, Discord will automatically download and install it.
11. Why does the overlay appear but I can’t interact with it?
If the overlay appears but you can’t interact with it, the issue may be related to:
- Display scaling settings on high-resolution monitors, which can interfere with the overlay’s placement.
- Overlay keybindings that might conflict with the game controls. You can adjust the overlay keybindings in Discord > Overlay > Keybind Settings.
12. How do I reinstall Discord to fix the overlay issue?
To reinstall Discord:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to Apps and find Discord in the list.
- Select Uninstall.
- Visit the Discord website to download the latest version and reinstall Discord.
13. Why is Discord’s overlay not working with certain mods or custom game settings?
Some mods or custom settings in games may conflict with Discord’s overlay feature, causing it not to work. Try disabling mods or resetting the game’s settings to default to see if this resolves the issue.
14. Can using multiple monitors affect the Discord overlay?
Yes, using multiple monitors with different resolutions or display settings can sometimes cause issues with the Discord overlay. Ensure that the primary monitor is set correctly, and check if display scaling is causing the problem.
15. Is Discord’s overlay supported on mobile devices?
No, Discord’s in-game overlay feature is only available on desktop for Windows and macOS. It is not supported on mobile devices or tablets.