A section of Discord users has been complaining recently of a gray screen that shows up when you open the app.
From our research, the problem is prevalent among those who use the Windows operating system. So, why does this occur, and how can you eliminate a gray screen on Discord?
When you open Discord anytime, the operating system finds the files where the application stores its data on the hard disk. It also locates an unused section of the main memory that is large enough to open the application.
If the files have an issue or are corrupted, Discord fails to open and shows a blank or gray screen. You can fix a gray screen on Windows 11 by locating the Discord cache file and deleting it.
But many things can also cause the gray screen.
Why is my Discord all grayed out?
These are the most common reasons why Discord is grayed out on Windows OS:
- Outdated Discord software.
- Corrupted Discord cache files.
- Incorrect computer date and time.
- Outdated computer graphics driver.
- Incompatible operating system.
The Discord software can also fail to open because you have a VPN running on your machine.
How to fix a gray screen on Discord
Once you notice that Discord is stuck on a gray screen, you can take the following steps to fix it.
1. Restart your computer
Restarting your computer can fix many issues. Ideally, rebooting the device helps it run smoothly.
For example, it will clear the memory, stop tasks taking too much RAM, and fix other issues with installed programs.
Therefore, restart your computer and open Discord to try and fix the gray screen.
2. Run Discord in Compatibility Mode
Discord can fail to work if you recently updated your Windows operating system. In that case, you must run Discord in Compatibility Mode.
That way, the program will run using settings from an earlier version of Windows. Here is what to do:
- Type Discord in the search box on the taskbar.
- Right-click on it.
- Select Open file location.
- Right-click the program file.
- Select Properties
- Select the Compatibility tab.
- Enable the option titled Run this program in compatibility mode.
- Select an operating system from the dropdown window.
- If you are unsure what to select, choose Windows 7.
- Select Apply, then OK.
Go back to your desktop and double-click Discord to see if it has fixed the issue.
3. Delete Discord’s cache files
Discord stores cache files on the hard drive. The goal is to make it easier to access features. However, the files can get outdated or corrupted and cause the program to either fail to open or show a gray screen.
Here is how to delete it.
- Launch Run by pressing the Windows key + R.
- Type %appdata%.
- Press Enter.
- Locate a folder named Discord.
- Delete the folder.
- Alternatively, open the Discord folder and delete the Cache folder.
Go back to your desktop and open Discord.
4. Update Discord
An outdated Discord can cause many issues with the program. For example, you will notice Discord opens to a gray screen, the app fails to open, or it loads slowly.
Therefore, you can force a Discord update by doing the following:
- Open the Discord.
- While the application runs, press Ctrl + R or Command + R.
Next, install the latest Discord update to fix the gray screen.
5. Uninstall Discord
Consider uninstalling and reinstalling Discord to determine whether it can fix the issue. When you uninstall Discord, the app will delete all its files from your computer’s hard disk.
Therefore, any corrupt core files will go away. The idea is that it can be challenging to point out which files are causing problems. So, uninstalling the program is the only way to go.
After uninstalling Discord, go to the application’s official website to download it. Then, install the app and start fresh.
The app will come with new files that will fix the corrupted files you uninstalled. But the good news is that you will not lose your Discord data since you can access it by logging into the account.
6. Update your computer’s graphics card driver
The Graphics driver allows your computer’s OS and programs to use the graphics hardware. The program is also responsible for creating images on a screen and improving software performance.
Therefore, the gray screen you see when opening Discord could result from an outdated graphics card driver. You can update it as follows:
- Right-click on Start.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand Display Adapters.
- Right-click your computer’s graphics card.
- Select Update driver.
- Choose the option labeled Search automatically for drivers and let Windows find and install the drivers.
- If Windows gets the drivers, it will install them automatically.
- Restart your computer.
Go back to your desktop and open Discord to see whether it has fixed the issue.
7. Toggle Discord’s Hardware Acceleration feature
Discord has a hardware acceleration feature that uses GPU. Its function is to ensure the software runs smoothly on your computer. You can Enable or Disable hardware acceleration on Discord. Enabling it means the app will occupy more CPU and GPU.
That can cause the program to have rendering issues. Also, if you Disable the feature, other applications may slow down.
Enabling or disabling hardware acceleration is a step you take when you have opened Discord. It will allow you to avoid the gray screen in the future.
Here is what to do:
- Uninstall and reinstall Discord.
- Open the app and log in.
- Select User Settings (the gear icon).
- Select Advanced.
- Toggle the Hardware Acceleration feature by either enabling or disabling it.
- Select OK.
Close Discord and open again to continue using it.
Conclusion
Discord shows a gray screen or fails to open when it has corrupted cached files. Also, the program can fail to open if it is out-of-date, runs on an incompatible OS, or the graphics card driver is out-of-date.
You can fix this issue by deleting the Discord cache folder on your hard drive. Alternatively, consider updating Discord and graphics card driver, reinstalling the app, or running Discord in compatibility mode in Windows.