Chrome uses your computer's graphics hardware to speed up visuals, video, and page rendering. When that creates flickering, crashes, black screens, or display glitches, turning it off gives Chrome desktop a clean path.
The current setting is called Use graphics acceleration when available. Many people still search for hardware acceleration, but the Chrome desktop switch now lives under Settings and System on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Use Chrome Settings first
Open Chrome and select More, the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. Then choose Settings.
Open System. Turn off Use graphics acceleration when available. Select Relaunch to restart Chrome and apply the change.
Open the setting directly
This fixes the same setting without digging through Chrome menus. Click Chrome's address bar. Enter chrome://settings/system.
Turn off Use graphics acceleration when available. Select Relaunch so Chrome restarts with graphics acceleration disabled.
Find the renamed option
The most common cause is older instructions using Use hardware acceleration when available while current Chrome uses Use graphics acceleration when available. Open Chrome and select More. Choose Settings.
Use the Search settings box and search for graphics acceleration. Search for hardware acceleration when the first search does not surface the setting, then open the System result.
Turn off Use graphics acceleration when available. Select Relaunch.
Launch Chrome with acceleration off temporarily
Enter chrome://quit in Chrome's address bar to quit Chrome cleanly. On Windows, right-click the Chrome shortcut. Open Properties. Select Shortcut.
In Target, add --disable-gpu after chrome.exe. Launch Chrome from that shortcut.
On Mac, open Terminal and run /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --disable-gpu. On Linux, open a terminal and run google-chrome --disable-gpu. Use this switch for temporary troubleshooting; use the regular Settings toggle for the normal consumer fix.
Use desktop Chrome only
Chrome's graphics acceleration switch is a desktop Chrome setting for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is not available in Chrome for Android or iOS.
That means there is no current Chrome app setting that disables graphics acceleration on a phone or tablet. Use Settings, System, and Use graphics acceleration when available on a computer when the display problem happens in desktop Chrome.
Handle a managed browser
The most common cause is a Chrome policy that locks the setting or applies it again after Chrome restarts. On managed Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, an administrator disables graphics acceleration through Chrome policy. The policy name is HardwareAccelerationModeEnabled.
Setting HardwareAccelerationModeEnabled to disabled turns off graphics acceleration. Restart Chrome after the policy changes because this setting is not dynamically refreshed. For a work or school device, ask your administrator to disable Use graphics acceleration when available for Chrome.
Avoid outdated Chrome paths
Older tutorials tell you to open Settings, then Advanced, then System, and turn off Use hardware acceleration when available. In current Chrome desktop, use Settings, then System, and turn off Use graphics acceleration when available.
Older troubleshooting posts also mention feature-specific switches such as --disable-accelerated-layers, --disable-accelerated-compositing, --disable-accelerated-2d-canvas, and --blacklist-webgl. For current consumer use, stick with the Settings toggle, or use --disable-gpu only as a temporary launch switch.
If those old paths or switches do not match your Chrome version, go back to chrome://settings/system and use Use graphics acceleration when available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hardware acceleration called in current Chrome?
Current Chrome desktop uses the label “Use graphics acceleration when available.” It is the setting older guides call hardware acceleration.
Do I need to restart Chrome after turning it off?
Yes. Select “Relaunch” after turning off “Use graphics acceleration when available” so the change takes effect.
Can I disable hardware acceleration in Chrome on Android or iPhone?
No. The Chrome setting applies to desktop Chrome on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is not available in Chrome for Android or iOS.
Why can’t I change the setting on my work computer?
Chrome is controlled by a work or school policy. Ask your administrator to disable “Use graphics acceleration when available” or set “HardwareAccelerationModeEnabled” to disabled.