Some users are facing Discord Overlay Not Working issue where the overlay is not showing up during play. Most of the users are facing the problem with a particular game, whereas many users are getting the point in every game. Some games do not support Discord overlay. So, in that case, we cannot say that Discord overlay is not working. The problem is game supports it, and still, Discord overlay is not working.
How to Fix Discord Overlay Not Working Error
The main task is to identify the exact reason for the problem. As every system is different, troubleshooting may be a complicated task. Here we will discuss some of the fixes to solve Discord Overlay Not Working the problem. These methods are given below:
1. Run the Discord as Administrator
Sometimes users can’t open Discord Overlay due to the application permission. Many times administrator privileges are required to run the Discord app. You can fix this issue by following the given steps:
Step 1: On your Desktop, right-click the shortcut icon of Discord and select Properties option. You can also find Discord option from the Start menu.
Step 2: A window will be displayed. Navigate through the Compatibility tab. Check the option Run this program as an administrator.
Step 3: Now click on the Apply and OK button to save the changes.
Step 4: Rerun to your game.
See if Discord Overlay Not Working issue resolves. So if the error is due to permission settings, then you can apply these steps.
2. Check the Firewall or Antivirus is Blocking the Overlay
Most of the time, Firewall and Antivirus recognise Overlay as a disturbing process. So every time Overlay is launched, it is blocked or killed by them. So it is essential to unblock Overlay from the list.
For this, simply open firewall and antivirus settings. See if there is any program related to Overlay in their block list. If it exists, then unblock it. If still the issue exists, later try to turn off and disable antivirus temporarily. It may solve the problem. For security reasons, turning off the firewall and antivirus is not recommended.
3. Enable In-game Overlay Option
Disabling an in-game overlay option may also result in this problem. So carefully examine it. Following are the ways to check it:
Step 1: Click on the Start menu and open the Discord app. We can also open the app by double-clicking on the app icon on the Desktop.
Step 2: Click the gear button to open User Settings. This button is present on the bottom left corner of the Discord window.
Step 3: Click the Overlay option from the left navigation pane. Make sure that Enable in-game overlay option is turned on.
Step 4: From the left pane, click on Games. Turn on the in-game overlay feature for the game you are playing. If your game is not present here, then add it. For adding, run your game and then click Add it. In this way, your game adds up in Discord.
4. Enable or Change the Hotkey
This may also be the reason behind the Discord overlay problem. Sometimes, the hotkey is not assigned to the Discord overlay. Also, the hotkey which is assigned can interfere with other hotkeys in the app. So we might think of changing it. Also, we can assign it if it is not assigned already. The steps for doing the same are:
Step 1: Click on the Start menu and open the Discord app. If the app is not displayed under the Start menu, then open C drive. In C drive, under Program Files select Discord. Find the executable file under it and run it.
Step 2: Click on the gear-like symbol on the Discord app window. It opens up the User Settings menu.
Step 3: From the left pane, select the Overlay option. In the right pane, you will find the assigned hotkey. Assign a new hotkey according to your wish.
Step 4: Save the new settings and now open your game.
Step 5: You can open your game by using the newly assigned hotkey.
5. Make a Change in Overlay Position
Sometimes your Overlay position may be wrong. As we know that we can move the Overlay around. It is possible that you have accidentally moved Overlay off the screen. So as Overlay will not be at its exact position, error may come. Apply the following steps to change the Overlay position:
Step 1: Close the game that you are playing. Open Discord App from Start menu.
Step 2: Press Ctrl + Shift + I key combination. A new JavaScript console window is displayed.
Step 3: Click on the icon on the JavaScript console window.
Step 4: Choose the Application option from the list.
Step 5: Double click Local Storage option from the left pane. Various options will be displayed.
Step 6: Right-click on OverlayStore or OverlayStoreV2 and select Delete option.
Step 7: Close the game and application. Start them once again. This procedure will set the Overlay position to default.
6. Reinstall or Update the Discord App
A possibility may be that the Discord app you are using is not working correctly. Sometimes corrupt or missing configuration files also create trouble. Also, new updates of the app may be needed sometime.
So it is better to install the app again. To do this, first, uninstall the old app. Steps for uninstalling and reinstalling the Discord app are:
(a) Uninstalling the App
Step 1: From the keyboard, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type Control and press Enter key.
Step 2: The Control Panel will be opened. View Control Panel by Category. Click on Uninstall a program.
Step 3: Double click on Discord to uninstall it.
Step 4: Restart your system.
(b) Reinstalling the App
Once the old app is uninstalled, you need to install it again. The procedure for installing the Discord app is given as follow:
Step 1: Download the latest Discord app from the official website.
Step 2: Install it through a download installer.
Step 3: Reboot the system again.
See if the Discord Overlay Not Working error is fixed, then you have solved the issue.
Conclusion
In the end, we can conclude that Discord Overlay is a way to communicate while you are playing games. Users feel really annoyed if they are unable to access it. Many factors may be there behind this problem. Game Overlay feature, antivirus, and misplacement of Overlay are some of the common reasons. If you encounter such a problem, try to apply the above solutions. These methods work most of the time for resolving the Discord Overlay Not Working issue.