How To Fix ‘Discord Overlay Not Working’ Issue

In case you are a hardcore game lover and love playing games while being connected with your friends online, then you must have surely heard of the app called Discord.

This app enables you to communicate with your friends, organize your chats, voice connections, and many other features that, too, in a running game session.

Unfortunately, while playing some games, Windows 10 users encounter the error “Discord Overlay not working.” This error prevents gamers from effectively communicating during their gaming session.

Discord Overlay Not Working

What Causes Discord Overlay not to Show Up?

1. Game overlay option

It is a common mistake that people tend to forget that they have to manually turn on the overlay settings and thus face this issue.

2. Antivirus

Active Antivirus in your device might restrict the Discord overlay activities, and you should try disabling it temporarily.

3. Scaled Display

If your scale settings are more than 100, then there is a possibility that the overlay is thrown out of the screen, and thus it doesn’t show up to you.

4. Overlay location

Most of the users mistakenly misplace the overlay or drag it out of the main screen boundaries, thus restricting you from accessing it.

5. Hardware acceleration

Hardware acceleration might hamper the effectiveness of the Discord overlay, and disabling it can work.

Every catch has a fix, and thus this error has number solutions that help to shoot and enjoy proper gaming with proper communication.

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Here are 10 Solutions to fix This Problem

We have provided you with some of the best and effective solutions to fix Discord overlay not working issue. So let’s get started to fix them.

Method 1: Reboot your System

Restarting your PC is the common, silliest, and most effective fix to any system-related glitch. The only procedure you need to carry out is closing all the running applications and restart your PC.

One the PC is set active, check whether the problem is solved. It is excellent if it is fixed in this manner and if not, then there is no need to worry. You can carry out the following solutions mentioned in the article.

Method 2: Check if the Option is Enabled

To use the Discord Overlay in any game, you have to enable it in the Discord app settings. For this follow the steps below –

Step 1: Open Discard and click on the Settings icon.

Step 2: Click on Overlay located at the left-hand side panel.

Make sure that you turn on the toggle next to Enable in-game overlay.

Step 1: After this, click on games located in the left-hand side panel.

Step 2: Then, under the GAME ACTIVITY, and see whether you have turned the in-game OVERLAY feature on for the game you want to enjoy.

Step 3: Save the settings and reopen the game.

Method 3: Enable or Change the Hotkey

If the Hotkey has not been assigned or may be conflicting with some other Hotkey in the app or game, then this error is likely to occur. Alongside the Enable in-game overlay option in the user settings of the Discord app and Overlay submenu, you can get to know the hotkey that is assigned to the game.

Usually, the default hotkey is ‘Shift +.’ If you encounter the error Discord Overlay not Working, then you can try changing the hotkey. You can enable it if it is not assigned earlier.

Step 1: Navigate to the Start menu of the desktop and click on the Discord app.

Step 2: If you cannot find the app icon there then launch the app icon by

This PC > C drive > program files > Discord. Then find the executable file and run it.

Step 3: Click on the gear-like symbol next to your user name on the bottom left-hand side of the Discord app’s main page. It will direct you to the user settings.

Step 4: Click on the overlay submenu. You will find the hotkey along the enable in-game overlay function in the Window that pops up.

Step 5: Here, assign a new hotkey that you wish to enable the in-game screen overlay.

Step 6: Save these settings and relaunch your game.

Step 7: Use the newly assigned hotkey to check whether you find the Discard overlay while playing the game.

Method 4: Change the Overlay Position

There is a chance that the overlay is misplaced or mistakenly dragged out of the gaming Window, which you might not be able to see. Thus, even after executing the above steps, you are unable to find it. Thereby, you can change the overlay position or set it to default by following the steps given below.

Step 1: Open the Discord app as mentioned in 3.i / 3.ii .

Step 2: Now click on Ctrl + Shift + I simultaneously on the keyboard.

Step 3: This will open a new Window alongside the Discord app window.

Step 4: In this Window, click on > button on the right corner of the Window.

Step 5: Select Applications in the dropdown list that expands.

Step 6: A JavaScript window will appear; here expand the Window Local storage.

Step 7: In this dropdown list, look for the OverlayStore or something similar on the right half of the dropdown window.

Step 8: Select such an option and click on the delete key.

Step 9: Close the app as well as the game. Wait for some time and open both of the applications, and you will find the overlay position set to default.

Method 5: Run the Discord app as an Administrator

If your operating system doesn’t provide enough privileges to the Discord app, then it might show the error Discord overlay not working. Follow the given steps to either temporarily or permanently fix the error.

Step 1: Right-click on the Discord app icon wherever you will find, as stated in 3.i and 3.ii.

Step 2: Click on the Run as administrator in the context menu. A dialogue box will pop-up asking for your permission to allow Discord app to make changes to your device.

Step 3: Click on the Yes button.

Step 4: You can also change the properties of the executables to make the app run as an administrator as and when you open it.

Step 5: Right-click on the app icon and go to the properties in the context menu.

Step 6: Under the compatibility tab, tick the box for Run this program as an Administrator option. Now press apply key and shut the Window.

Step 7: Reopen the discord app along with the game and use the hotkey in the gaming session to check whether you have fixed the issue.

Method 6: Check if the Firewall or the Antivirus is Blocking the Overlay.

Many firewall or Antivirus applications treat the Discord in-game overlay as malware and hence restricts its activity completely. It will block all the required privileges allotted to the overlay, and thus you will be unable to access it.

Therefore, open your Firewall or Antivirus settings and cross-check whether you find something related to Discord overlay in the blocked applications or services, and if you find it, try unblocking it or adding it to the exceptions. You can also try temporarily disable the Antivirus or Firewall settings.

Method 7: Reinstall or Update the Discord app

It might be possible that the Discord version that you are using can have an issue like the misplacement of some files or the corruption of files after installation.

Step 1: Navigate and open the control panel and click on apps and features.

Step 2: Click on the installed apps and click on Discord. You will see a pop-up dialogue box along with the uninstall button.

Step 3: Click on it and request full uninstallation and wait for the process to complete.

Step 4: In the C drive program files delete the Discord app directory. This will delete all the remaining files and settings and thus enabling us to freshly install all the files.

Step 5: Visit the official website of Discord and install the latest version of Discord and wait patiently until it finishes the installation.

Step 6: Reboot the system and open Discord. Check the enable in-game overlay option, whether it is checked or not.

Step 7: Check the hotkey for enabling the in-game overlay and open the game and while the gaming session is on-going. Press the hotkey, and the issue is sorted now.

Step 8: In the latest version, the overlay by default will be on the top left portion of the gaming window.

It is better if you turn off the firewall settings while installing any such software requiring special permission.

Method 8: Close conflicting Applications

Since there are multiple applications running in your PC along with Discord, some applications might interfere and can cause trouble in running the Discord overlay smoothly. You need to close all the applications that have overlay option to avoid overlapping.

Also, restrict applications from accessing your microphone. To stop the apps running in the background, click on Ctrl + Alt + delete simultaneously on your keyboard and select task manager.

In the context window that opens, under the processes tab, check each of the apps in the list and click the end task button. That is, you have to simply close all applications except Discord.

Method 9: Adjust your Display Scale

since the overlay is located on the top left portion of the screen, if your display screen is more excellent than 100%, then it is possible that you might not find the Discord overlay. In order to reduce the percentage, follow the given steps.

Step 1: Click the Windows+ I key simultaneously on the keyboard to open settings.

Step 2: Click on the system and select Display.

Step 3: On the right-hand side, expand the dropdown under the scale and layout category.

Step 4: Select 100% and run the game again. You should now be able to access the overlay.

Method 10: Disable hardware acceleration

Hardware acceleration uses your GPU to make Discord run more effectively. Moreover, it may lead to misbehavior of the overlay. Follow the given steps to disable hardware acceleration.

Step 1: Open discord application and click on user settings.

Step 2: Click on Appearance in the left-hand pane.

Step 3: Scroll down to Hardware acceleration in the right -hand pane and turn off the toggle.

Step 4: Click OK in the confirmation prompt Window.

Step 5: Lastly, restart the Discord.

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Conclusion

These are the solutions for the “Discord overlay not working” error. Hopefully, these fixes work for you, and you have a happy gaming experience.