What is ‘Discord Overlay’ How to Fix If It is Not Working

Discord app is a Voice over Internet protocol application that provides convenient communication services for pro gamers.

The Discord Overlay feature allows you to talk to other users or reach out to other people while playing the game on the full screen. It also helps you in sharing screenshot sending messages and voice chat.

Moreover, many of the users are facing the problem that Discord Overlay Not Working while playing the game. Some of them say it occurs with the specific game while others say it occurs with every game they play.

How to Fix Discord Overlay Not Working Error

So if you are dealing with this problem does follow the methods mention below to solve Discord Overlay Not Working problem.

Method 1: Restart your PC/Computer

To fix the problem, you need to reboot the computer system and then reopen the Discord app. However, it will help you in getting rid of the glitch problem, which stops overlay from working or show up in-game. This method is beneficial. It is very helpful in solving the problem.

Method 2: Check If The Option is Enabled.

To use the Discord Overlay, we have to enable the option for the game; otherwise, it won’t be working correctly. Here are the following steps to allow the option to:

Step 1: Firstly open the Discord app via the desktop shortcut or Start menu.

Step 2: Then click on the user settings, which is the cogwheel icon present at the bottom of the page located on the right side of the Avatar.

Step 3: After that, click on the Overlay present in the left pane.

Step 4: Now click on the toggle to enable the option which says “Enable in-game overlay” present on the right-hand side of the page.

Step 5: Then click on the Game Activity by going back to the left pane, which would be displayed under App Settings.

Step 6: Lastly locate the game in which you were playing in the right pane, ensuring that the overlay is turned on for it. If the Overlay is not enabled to click on the monitor button to turn it on.

If you are unable to find the game then by clicking on the “Add it” link, you can add it. After that from the drop-down that appears select the game and clicks on the “Add game”.

However, if the Overlay is already enabled, enabled it again after turning it off.

Step 7: Now re-launch the game after saving the settings.

Method 3: Enable or Change the Hotkey

Before following this method, check whether you have assigned the hotkey for enabling overlay. If you have assigned it then ensure that they do not conflict with some other hotkey in the game or the discord App. And if not enabled, here are the following steps to enable or activate a new hotkey:

Step 1: Firstly, open Discord.

Step 2: Then click on user settings which are the gear icon present in the right side of the Avatar in the bottom left corner of the Discord window.

Step 3: After that, click on the Overlay present in the left pane under the App Settings.

Step 4: Then, you will find the current hotkey present besides the ‘Enable in-game overlay’ option.

Step 5: Now assign a new hotkey.

Then to call up Discord overlay use the new hotkey after you reopen your game.

More Discord Guides:

Method 4: Change the overlay position

Since different games have different resolutions so Overlay can mistakenly drag to the off-screen. An overlay cannot be located even if it’s working fine for that you need to reset the position. Here are the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly close the game and Discord.

Step 2: Then press the Ctrl+ Shift + l key combination on your computer after opening the Discord app.

Step 3: Now click on the doubled-up horizontal arrow (>>) present in the menu at the top of the console.

Step 4: Then, from the drop-down list, click on the Application.

Step 5: After that, click on the local storage present in the left panel of the page that opens.

Step 6: Then select the “https://discordapp.com/’ entry under it.

Step 7: Now locate the Overlay Store (or Overlay Store V2) present in the right pane under the key column and right-click on it.

Step 8: Then, from the context menu, select the delete option.

Step 9: Now run the game after restarting the game.

After following these steps, Overlay will not be hidden, and it should be surely set back to its original position.

Method 5: Run the Discord App as an Administrator

The Discord overlay problem can be solved if the Discord has admin rights or run as administrator. To do that, here are the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly click on the Discord present in the Start menu or on the executable file of the Discord which is located in the Program Files folder of the hard drive.

Step 2: After that, click on Run as administrator present in the context menu that opens.

Step 3: Then click on the Yes button, which is presented with the UAC (User Account Control) prompt.

Step 4: Now see if the problem is resolved by launching your game.

Therefore you need to perform the step mention above every time you want to open Discord. So to grant them admin privileges once and for all here are the following steps you need to be performing:

Step 1: Firstly, right-click on Discord shortcut in your desktop.

Step 2: Then click on properties which are the last option present at the bottom of the context menu.

Step 3: After that in the pop-up window that opens go to the Compatibility tab.

Step 4: Now mark the checkbox for ‘Run this program as an administrator’ under the settings category.

Step 5: Then, to save the changes. Click on the OK button.

Step 6: Now double click on Discord desktop shortcut to open it.

Step 7: Then run your game and see if you can now access the overlay.

Method 6: Disable Firewall or Antivirus If It Is Blocking the Overlay

Discord Overlay is often flag by the most third party Antivirus programs and Windows Firewall which deny it the required privileges and preventing it from running or working properly. However, the developers of the Discord make sure that the program is no threat to the operating system.

Meanwhile, check the Discord related entry in the list of blocked applications or services after opening the antivirus software. If it’s there unblock it and add it as a trusted program. Temporarily, disable the Antivirus program and Windows Firewall while playing the game. This will help to know the difference.

Here are the following steps to disable Windows Firewall:

Step 1: Firstly go to the start menu.

Step 2: Then, type ‘Firewall’ in the search bar.

Step 3: After that from the search results, click on Windows Firewall.

Step 4: Then go to the left panel in the windows that open and click on the option that says “Turn Windows Firewall on or off.”

Step 5: Now select “Turn off Windows Firewall.”

Step 6: Lastly, save the changes and click on the OK button.

Method 7: Reinstall or Update the Discord App

If still, the Discord Overlay is not working, then ensure that the app you are using is an updated version. On the contrary, it’s possible that the old version of the app is not working correctly with the game you are playing.

You might face this issue while updating Discord. However, the introduced updates resolve the bugs regularly. So, there is only one option. That is, updating or reinstalling the app.

Meanwhile, some files also might have gone corrupted or missing when the app was being installed or afterwards. Uninstall the Discord app to solve this problem. So here are the following steps to uninstall Discord:

Step 1: Firstly go to the Start menu.

Step 2: Then type “Run” in the search bar. After that, click on the option from the search results. An alternate step is to press the Windows logo+ R combination on the keyboard to invoke the Run box.

Step 3: Now type ‘ Control Panel’ in the text field.

Step 4: Then click OK or press the Enter key.

Step 5: Now, select the category under the ‘View by‘ drop-down present in the top right corner of the screen.

Step 6: Then click on uninstall a program — it under Programs option.

Step 7: After that, locate Discord. It is available with the list of installed applications.

Step 8: Then right-click on it.

Step 9: Now, from the context menu, select the Uninstall option.

Step 10: To open the Program file folder press the Windows logo key+ E to open the file explorer.

Step 11: Now go to local disc (C:) in order to open the program file and folder.

Step 12: Then delete it by locating the Discord directory. It will help you achieve clean installation by removing any leftover files.

Step 13: Lastly restart your PC.

Afterwards to install the Discord app go to the official website of Discord to download.

Here are the steps to download the app:

Step 1: Firstly reboot your PC once again.

Step 2: Now add your game by opening Discord and make sure to enable the in-game Overlay option and also note the associated hotkey.

Step 3: After that, launch the game and see if the issue has been resolved. Then to bring up, the Overlay use the Hotkey noted above, located in the top left corner of the game window.

Then there were the steps to reinstall the app.

More Discord Guides:

Conclusion

So, that’s it about Discord and these were the methods mention above to solve the Discord Overlay not working error. These methods are effective. Mostly users, use this to solve the problem. Hence by following these methods, the issue will be resolved, and you are ready to use your app again.