Hardware acceleration lets an application offload work such as video decoding, rendering, or interface composition to the GPU. Turning it off can fix display glitches or crashes, but it can also increase CPU use and reduce performance.
- In Google Chrome, open Settings, search for graphics acceleration, turn off the available hardware/graphics acceleration option, and relaunch Chrome.
- In Microsoft Edge, open Settings, search for graphics acceleration, disable it, and restart the browser.
- In apps such as Discord, Slack, Teams, or Spotify, search that application’s Settings for hardware acceleration; the location changes between versions.
- Test the original problem after restarting the affected application rather than changing every program at once.
Change one app at a time
If a browser flickers but other software is fine, disabling acceleration everywhere makes diagnosis harder. Test the application that actually shows the problem.
Drivers can be the underlying cause
GPU driver bugs can cause black screens, video artifacts, or crashes. Update the graphics driver from Windows Update or the GPU/computer manufacturer before permanently sacrificing acceleration.
Not every program exposes a switch
Some applications choose acceleration automatically or use different names for graphics settings. Do not use undocumented command-line flags unless the application’s current documentation recommends them.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.