Discord has proven itself to be an invaluable tool for gamers worldwide, providing a platform for both voice and text communication. A key feature loved by many is its ability to stream or screen share games in real-time, letting friends and communities engage in shared experiences. However, this beloved feature isn’t immune to glitches and interruptions. Many users have encountered disruptive issues, such as the Discord stream freezes when tabbing into a game, the stream freezing every few seconds, or even causing the entire computer to freeze.
These interruptions can be particularly frustrating, hampering not only the shared viewing experience but potentially disrupting gameplay as well. In this guide, we’ll delve into the root causes of these problems and offer a variety of potential solutions to resolve the stream freezing issue in Discord.
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Understanding the issue
The Discord stream freezing problem usually presents itself in one of three common ways:
- Discord stream freezes when you tab into a game: This issue can be disruptive, especially for streamers, as every time you switch tabs to the game you’re streaming, the stream freezes. This persistent problem requires frequent stream restarts, interrupting the flow of gameplay and viewer engagement.
- Discord stream freezes every few seconds: Here, the stream keeps intermittently stopping and starting. This creates a choppy viewing experience that can detract from the enjoyment of the game for both the streamer and viewers.
- The stream freezes the entire computer: This is a more severe issue where not only does the stream freeze, but it also causes the whole computer to freeze up. This necessitates a complete system restart, which can disrupt gameplay and viewer experience significantly.
Also see: Discord Stream (Screen Share) Lag, Low Quality or FPS Drop
How to fix Discord stream freezing
Disabling Hardware Acceleration in Discord
Our first solution involves disabling hardware acceleration in Discord’s settings, if you have not already tried so.
Hardware acceleration allows Discord to use your GPU to make the app function more efficiently. However, in some cases, this may conflict with your game or other software, causing your stream to freeze or even your entire computer. Disabling this feature might improve your stream’s stability.
Here are the steps to disable hardware acceleration:
- Open Discord and navigate to “User Settings” by clicking the gear icon next to your username in the bottom-left corner.
- Scroll down the sidebar menu and select the “Advanced” tab.
- In the Appearance settings, find “Hardware Acceleration” and toggle the switch off.
Recommended resource: How to Share Screen on Windows 11 (3 Methods)
Adjusting the video codec settings in Discord
Another solution to consider involves tweaking the video codec settings within Discord itself. Some users have reported success after going to Discord’s Voice & Video settings and disabling the “OpenH264 Video Codec” option.
The OpenH264 Video Codec provided by Cisco Systems, Inc., is a codec used for video compression. It is possible that conflicts between this codec and the game or streaming software could cause freezing issues. By disabling it, you might be able to alleviate the problem.
To adjust the video codec settings, follow these steps:
- Open Discord and navigate to “User Settings“.
- In the sidebar menu, click on “Voice & Video“.
- Scroll down to find the “Video Codec” section.
- In the Video Codec settings, uncheck the “OpenH264 Video Codec provided by Cisco Systems, Inc.” option.
Linked issue: Discord Won’t Connect to Voice Channel (Fix)
Switching the audio subsystem to legacy mode in Discord
Another in-app adjustment you could make is to switch your audio subsystem from Standard to Legacy within Discord’s settings.
The Standard mode uses a more modern system for handling audio, but it might not be fully compatible with all hardware configurations. The Legacy mode, on the other hand, uses an older, more universally compatible system, which could reduce issues with stream freezing.
To switch the audio subsystem to legacy mode:
- Open Discord and navigate to “User Settings“.
- Click on “Voice & Video“.
- Scroll down to the “Audio Subsystem” section and switch it to “Legacy“.
Enabling Quality of Service (QoS) on your router
The next suggested solution is to enable the Quality of Service (QoS) feature on your router. QoS is a feature on routers that prioritizes certain types of data over others. By enabling QoS and making your computer the highest priority, you could potentially improve the stability and quality of your Discord streams.
You can enable QoS by accessing your router’s settings, typically through a web interface. The method to access these settings varies between router models, so refer to your router’s user manual or online resources for specific instructions. For instance, if you’re a Netgear user, their official website provides a useful guide on how to enable QoS.
Remember that this solution might not completely eradicate the issue, but many users have reported a significant improvement in their streaming experience after implementing it.
Disabling Nvidia Instant Replay
For users with an Nvidia graphics card, disabling the Instant Replay feature may help resolve the freezing issue.
Nvidia Share’s Instant Replay feature continuously records your gameplay, allowing you to save the last few minutes of gameplay at the press of a key. However, this continuous recording could potentially interfere with your Discord stream, causing it to freeze. Disabling this feature could allow your Discord streams to run more smoothly.
Here’s how to disable Nvidia Share’s Instant Replay:
- Right-click on the Nvidia icon in your system tray and open the “Nvidia GeForce Experience“.
- Click on the “In-Game Overlay” icon on the top-right (it looks like a triangle inside a square).
- In the overlay, click on “Instant Replay“.
- In the Instant Replay settings, switch the toggle to “Off“.
Summary
These six potential solutions could significantly reduce issues with Discord stream freezing when tabbing into games, freezing every few seconds, or even freezing the entire computer. It’s crucial to remember that not every solution will work for everyone, so it’s best to try them out and see what works best for your specific situation. With any luck, one of these solutions will resolve your issue and improve your Discord streaming experience.
