Discord is a special app made for gamers. It has amazing features that make for easy communication and other services. One example of such an amazing feature is the Discord Overlay. This feature allows a user to keep communicating with friends while still playing a game. Now, this is fascinating and every gamer will certainly enjoy it. But imagine the heartbreak when you suddenly notice the Discord Overlay not working sign.
Note that Discord Overlay does not work with all games, there are some games you just can’t play with Discord Overlay. But as a gamer, you should know which games are popular with Discord Overlay. However, when you notice that this app is no longer showing up, then there is every possibility that the Discord Overlay is no longer Working.
As frustrating as this can be, there are ways to easily fix it. Just try any of the methods listed below and you will be good to go.
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What Causes It To Stop Working
Before discussing how to fix this problem, you need to first know what causes it, because knowing the cause of a problem is the first step to solving it.
Game Overlay Feature: Most users are ignorant of how to use this feature. When the settings are not done properly, it could trigger this problem. Most users forget to even turn on the overlay feature, while some are not even aware that you will have to first add the game on the list.
Misplacement Of The Overlay: This happens most times because the Discord overlay can be moved around, and some users accidentally shift it away from the screen.
Antivirus: The Discord might see an Antivirus as a threat, thereby flagging it, and subsequently block it from operating.
Hardware Acceleration: This is a situation whereby tasks are been sent directly to computer hardware. Preferably, tasks are sent first to the CPU before sending to the hardware that specializes in the task. When the former is the case, it could cause the Discord Overlay to stop working. However, most times users accelerate hardware for some reasons.
How To Fix Discord Overlay Not Working
Method 1: Run a System Reboot
Before going into more advanced ways of fixing this issue, you might want to just try restarting your system. This is known to have fixed many computers issues, and might aswell fix yours.
All you need to do is just to close all the applications including the discord app and games and then shut down your system and then turn it on again. You might just be lucky.
Method 2: Check If The Discord Overlay is Enabled
The Discord overlay has to be enabled for you to be able to use it. First, check if it is enabled, if it is not, follow the steps below to enable it.
Step 1: Open Discord app
Step 2: Navigate to the User Setting and click on it. You will find it at the bottom left on the Discord windows.
Step 3: Click on Overlay. It is located on the left pane
Step 4: Switch on Enable in-game overlay
Step 5: From the left pane, click on Game Activity. If for any reason your game is not listed, you can include it in the Game Discord. To add your game, first, click on Add it, select your game’s name from the drop-down menu, click on the game after you’ve selected it.
Step 6: Now start your game again and see if the Discord overlay is working
Method 3: Run Discord as an administrator
This problem can also be because you are not running the Discord as an administrator. When you are not running it as an admin, there is every possibility that the operating system will not be allocating sufficient privileges to the Discord app to create and display an in-game overlay. If that is the case, you can quickly fix this issue by running Discord as an administrator. Follow the steps below to do it
Step 1: Right-click on the Discord shortcut and select properties
Step 2: In the Discord properties box, click on Compatibility
Step 3: Check the Run this program as an administrator box, and click ok
Step 4: Go to your desktop and double-click on the Discord shortcut
Step 5: Re-run your game
Check if the issue has been resolved
Method 4: Verify if the Antivirus or Firewall is obstructing the Overlay
Most times the Antivirus or Firewall perceives the Discord in-game overlay as a threat and they obstruct it each time you try to enable it. If that is the case, all you need to do is to go into your antivirus program or firewall settings and check if you can see anything related to Discord that has been blocked and unblock it. Or you can temporarily disenable your antivirus and firewall and see if that solves the problem.
See Also: How To Solve Err_Cache_Miss Error In Google Chrome
Method 5: Update the Discord App
If you’ve all the above methods but the problem still persists, then it might be that the version of the Discord app you are using is not compatible with the game, or that some files may have been corrupted. If that is the case, then you will have to a fresh and up-to-date Discord App. But first, make sure you uninstall the old version. Below is a step by step guide on how to uninstall the old App and install a new and updated one.
Step 1: Got to control panel and open it
Step 2: Search for the Programs and Features and click on it
Step 3: The list of the already installed apps will show, look for Discord and click on it
Step 4: An Uninstall button will appear. Click on the Uninstall button
Step 5: Go to the C drive’s program files folder and delete the Discord app directory permanently. This will totally wipe out every other file that is leftover.
Step 6: Download the latest version of Discord and install it on your computer. You can get that from the official discord website.
Step 7: Now open Discord. Run your game and add it to your Discord
Step 8: Activate the in-game overlay feature
Verify if the issue has been resolved.
