How to Turn Off the Discord Overlay (Every Game or Just One)

The Discord overlay is brilliant until it pops a message over the middle of a boss fight, or until a game starts stuttering and you wonder what's different. If you stream, record or just like a clean screen, switching it off takes a minute.

I've worked from Discord's own Game Overlay articles and its known-issue note on the revamped overlay. Discord changes its menus now and then, so where the help pages don't spell out an exact click, I've said so rather than guess.

Checking whether the Discord overlay is even available to you

Discord's help page says the overlay is compatible with Windows 10 & 11 only, and that it doesn't function on Mac OS or Linux. So if you're on a Mac and something is floating over your game, it isn't the Discord overlay.

Discord describes the overlay as a built-in feature that lets you reach Discord's interface while you play, without switching windows. You can chat, join voice channels and manage notifications from it.

Turning the Discord overlay off for every game

1. Open Discord on your Windows computer.
2. Open User Settings with the cogwheel next to your username.
3. Open the Overlay tab (newer versions label it Game Overlay).
4. Switch off the toggle next to Enable Overlay.

Discord's article explains that a check mark means an option is on and an x means it's off, so look for the x after you've clicked. Because the wording on the toggle has shifted over time, that's the part to watch.

Turning off the Discord overlay for one game only

Discord's own advice is this: if you experience lag, game crashes or other problems while the overlay is enabled, disable the overlay for that specific game. That's better than switching it off everywhere if it only misbehaves in one title.

The help article doesn't give a click-by-click route for the per-game switch, and I'd rather not invent one. Open User Settings and look through the Overlay or Game Overlay area for a games list, since menus vary by app version. If you can't find it, the global toggle above always works.

Hiding Discord overlay messages without switching the whole overlay off

Sometimes you don't want the overlay gone, you just want fewer interruptions. Discord's article describes several controls that can help.

• Messages: in User Settings > Game Overlay you can enable or disable Messages. Once it's on, new messages from DMs, group messages or servers show over your gameplay.
• Muted servers and groups: Discord says messages won't display if the server, DM or group is muted.
• Streamer Mode: messages also won't display if Streamer Mode is on.
• Voice display: you can show users always or only while speaking, and set display names to always, only while speaking or never.
• Avatar size: pick Large or Small for the voice widget.

If your problem is general noise from Discord rather than the overlay, my guide to using the Discord soundboard is a good reminder of how sounds are played in voice channels.

Showing and hiding Discord overlay windows with the keybind

You can also tuck windows away while you play. Discord says that with a game running, you press your overlay keybind (the default is Shift + the backtick key), then tap the pin icon to show or hide a window in game. A blurple-coloured icon means the window is set to show.

That pin works for Notifications, Voice, Video, Activity and Streams, so you could hide the video window and keep the voice list, for example.

Why the Discord overlay might not show in fullscreen games

If you want the overlay and can't see it, rather than want it gone, this note explains a lot. Discord's known-issue article says the revamped Game Overlay is on by default for all games. It works in windowed fullscreen and borderless windowed fullscreen, but not in true fullscreen mode.

• Switch the game to borderless or windowed fullscreen.
• If you must run true fullscreen, Discord mentions a global Enable legacy overlay option in User Settings > Game Overlay, though it says that option may be removed in the future.
• The overlay is hidden when the game window isn't in focus.

Discord overlay and screen sharing or streaming

If you share your screen or stream, Discord says that sharing the game window itself won't capture the overlay, but sharing your full screen will. So if you don't want viewers seeing overlay pop-ups, share the game window, or turn the overlay off first.

Streamers who also go live elsewhere might like my guide to raiding on Twitch, which shows the steps for sending your audience to another channel.

If the Discord overlay is causing crashes or lag

1. Turn the overlay off for that game, or everywhere, using the steps above.
2. Change the game's display setting to windowed or borderless windowed, which Discord suggests when the overlay isn't working.
3. If the game crashes while the overlay is on, Discord asks you to grab the hook log from the Discord modules folder and send it to its Support team with the game name. The help page gives the folder path.
4. Update Windows graphics drivers and restart the game.

The last step is general good practice rather than something Discord's overlay article spells out, so treat it as a sensible extra.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off the Discord overlay?

Open User Settings, go to the Overlay tab (Game Overlay in newer versions) and switch off Enable Overlay. Menu names vary a little by version.

Can I turn off the Discord overlay for just one game?

Discord recommends disabling the overlay for the specific game that has lag or crashes. The help article doesn't spell out the exact clicks, so look in the Overlay settings for a games list.

Does the Discord overlay work on Mac?

No. Discord says the overlay is compatible with Windows 10 & 11 only and doesn't function on Mac OS or Linux.

Why can't I see the Discord overlay in my game?

Discord says the revamped overlay works in windowed fullscreen and borderless windowed modes but not true fullscreen.

Will the overlay show up when I share my screen?

Discord says sharing the game window won't capture the overlay, while sharing the full screen will.

How do I stop overlay messages popping up?

Disable Messages in the Game Overlay settings, mute the server or group, or turn on Streamer Mode. Discord says messages don't display in those cases.