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This article will show you how to Turn Off Discord Overlay. With the cool Discord overlay feature, you can use Discord without having to switch tabs. But while this feature can be helpful, it can also be distracting, especially if you play games like Valorant where you need to concentrate. But thankfully, you can turn it off in the app. Not only that, but if you want to keep the feature, you can just turn it off for some games if you want to keep it. Discord is a great app for staying in touch with friends, family, and fans.
It gives its users a lot of options, and setting overlay is one of them. When the Discord overlay is turned on, the user can make voice and video calls, respond to text messages, join groups, and change the look of their gaming interface in many ways. Discord users turn on overlay while chatting during a gameplay session, and it can be turned off when you want to continue using Discord with the normal settings. So let’s look at how to Turn Off Discord Overlay or turn it off for certain games in this guide.
What is Discord overlay?
The “overlay” feature of Discord lets you send messages and chat without having to switch to a different tab. When enabled, it also displays a small box of names in one of the corners that show the names of everyone in your current voice channel. It works a lot like Steam’s overlay and is very useful because it shows up on top of your game so you don’t have to switch tabs. You can focus on your game and use the hotkey to quickly switch to Discord to chat without having to do much.
Also, the overlay feature lets you stream to your friends on the server and control the stream while you’re still in the game. It also shows who is talking and can be set up so that it only shows up when people talk. It also doesn’t use up that much extra power, which makes it even better because it won’t change your game much. But your results may be different depending on how powerful your PC is, so make sure to test it out before using it in a ranked match.
Why might you want to turn off Discord overlay?
- Performance: Discord overlay can sometimes consume system resources and affect the performance of the game. Turning it off may improve the game’s performance by reducing the workload on the computer’s resources.
- Compatibility: In some cases, the Discord overlay may not work well with certain games or applications, leading to graphical glitches or compatibility issues. Disabling the overlay can help resolve such problems.
- Screen Clutter: The overlay feature displays Discord chat and voice channels on top of the game screen, which can be distracting or obstructive for some players. Turning off the overlay allows for a cleaner and less cluttered gaming experience.
- Privacy: Some users may prefer to disable the Discord overlay to maintain their privacy. The overlay can potentially expose sensitive information or conversations to others who might be viewing the screen.
- Preventing Conflicts: Discord overlay may conflict with other overlay features provided by game launchers or third-party software. Disabling the Discord overlay ensures that there are no conflicts and all overlays work smoothly.
How to Turn Off Discord Overlay

- Start by opening up your Discord app.
- Once the app is open, click the gear icon next to your user name. This will take you to the User Settings page.
- Now select Overlay from the menu located on the left under the App Settings section.
- Now, turn off the option to Enable in-game overlay.
How to Disable Discord Overlay From a Specific Game
- Start by opening up your Discord app.
- Once the app is open, click the gear icon next to your user name. This will take you to the User Settings page.
- Now select Overlay from the menu located on the left under the App Settings section.
- Now, turn ON the option to Enable in-game overlay.
- Then click on the tab that says Games.
- Pick the game for which you want to turn off the in-game overlay.
- Turn Off Overlay.
What are the benefits of turning off Discord overlay?
While still in-game, you can use the Discord overlay to make voice calls, respond to text chat notifications, and interact with the Discord interface in more ways than you normally could.
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Improves performance | Turning off Discord overlay can free up system resources, which can improve your game’s performance. This is especially beneficial for gamers with low-end or mid-range computers. |
| Reduces distractions | The Discord overlay can be a distraction, especially if you’re playing a competitive game. Turning it off can help you focus on the game and avoid being interrupted by Discord notifications. |
| Improves visuals | The Discord overlay can take up a significant amount of screen space. Turning it off can give you a cleaner, more immersive gaming experience. |
| Prevents crashes | In some cases, the Discord overlay can cause games to crash. Turning it off can help you avoid these crashes and keep your gaming sessions running smoothly. |
| Website | Official Website |
Conclusion
The Discord overlay is a useful feature, especially when playing online games with other people where you need to talk quickly. Most gamers, though, don’t need that feature in every game. So, in this guide, we’ll show you how to turn it off for multiplayer games where you don’t need it and how to turn it off for all games.
Questions and Answers
Once you’ve set up your own keybinding, make sure the game overlay is on and open a game of your choice. 2. Press the key combination you chose (the default is SHIFT+’), and Discord will open.
All overlays can change your FPS, but it depends on how fast your CPU is. Whether or not you record or stream your game will also have an effect. Between 0 and 5 fps can be taken away by overlays, and recording/streaming can use 10% to 15% of your total frames. Discord was made to have as little effect as possible on performance.
Discord’s in-game overlay allows you to use Discord’s features while playing a game, overlaying a chat window and server browser on your screen on top of the full-screen application you are running at the time.
To enable the overlay, open Discord and click the gear icon in the bottom left corner (next to your username). Scroll down the list of options and click Game Overlay. Turn on the Enable in-game overlay option. Once you have done so, click Activity Status in the left sidebar.