Troubleshooting Guide: Fixing the Discord Overlay Not Working Issue

Step 1: Ensure the Discord Overlay is Enabled

Before attempting other fixes, confirm that the Discord Overlay is activated:

1. Open the Discord application.

2. Click on the gear ⚙ icon next to your username to navigate to settings.

3. Open the “ Game Overlay ” section in settings.

4. Toggle the “ Enable in-game overlay ” feature to the “ On ” position.

5. Adjust hotkeys by pressing the “⌨” button and inputting your preferred combination.

Pro Tip: Avoid common hotkeys like Ctrl + S to prevent conflicts.

Once done, launch a game to verify if the overlay is functioning.

Step 2: Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration can interfere with the Discord overlay:

1. Access User Settings by clicking ⚙.

2. Click on the “ Advanced ” tab.

3. Disable the “ Hardware Acceleration ” option if it’s enabled.

4. Confirm any prompt to restart Discord.

After the restart, test the overlay functionality in-game.

Step 3: Enable Overlay After Starting the Game

Sometimes, enabling the overlay post-game launch works better:

1. Completely close the Discord app.

2. Start your game of choice.

3. Open Discord and toggle the overlay using the default shortcut Win + '.

Check if the overlay appears on the game screen.

Step 4: Change the Overlay Location

The overlay might be misconfigured to a location out of view:

1. Launch Discord and go back to “ Game Overlay ” settings.

2. Scroll down to check the overlay positioning settings.

3. Adjust the overlay’s location by choosing a direction, then save changes.

Verify if you can now see the overlay during gameplay.

Step 5: Allow Overlay From Discord

Ensure the overlay is activated post-game launch:

1. Start the Discord app and then your game.

2. Return to Discord and check settings.

3. Go to “ Registered Games ” and ensure the overlay is turned on for your game.

Re-launch your game to test the overlay functionality.

Step 6: Run Discord as an Administrator

Running Discord with administrative privileges can alleviate issues:

1. Locate the Discord app in your search.

2. Right-click and select “ Run as administrator ”.

After starting Discord this way, attempt to use the overlay again in-game.

Step 7: Disable the Steam Overlay

Overlapping overlays can hinder functionality:

1. Open the Steam application.

2. Navigate to the “ Steam ” menu and click on “ Settings ”.

3. In the settings, select the “ In-game ” section.

4. Disable the “ Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game ” setting.

Now, return to your game and check if the Discord overlay works.

Step 8: Adjust Display Scaling

Improper display scaling can misplace overlay elements:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.

2. Select “ System ” then navigate to “ Display ”.

3. Open the “ Scale ” option.

4. Set scaling to “ 100% (recommended) ” and sign out to apply.

After logging back in, check the overlay again while gaming.

Step 9: Add Discord to the Exclusion List

Your antivirus may inadvertently block the overlay:

1. Open “ Windows Security ” from the Start menu.

2. Click on “ Virus & threat protection ”.

3. Select “ Manage settings ” to access the settings panel.

4. Locate the “ Exclusions ” and select “ Add or remove exclusions ”.

5. Choose “ Add an exclusion ” and select “ File ”.

6. Navigate to: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Discord and select Discord.exe.

With Discord added to the exclusion list, test if the overlay works properly in games.

What should I do if the overlay still doesn’t work?

Can I use Discord while using Steam?