How to fix green screen videos on Chrome

If you're getting a green screen playing videos in Chrome, use these troubleshooting steps on Windows 10.

Fixing Chrome green screen for video playback
Fixing Chrome green screen for video playback

On Windows 10, if you’re using Chrome, and you can hear the video audio, but the video shows a green screen, it’s likely that the browser is having problems with hardware acceleration or the graphics driver.

If this is happening on your computer, you can troubleshoot and fix this problem in at least three different ways, including disabling hardware acceleration, changing graphics settings on Windows 10, or updating the graphics driver.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to stop green screen while watching videos using Google Chrome on Windows 10.

Fix green screen videos using Chrome

Here are three ways to fix green screen in videos using Chrome:

Disable hardware acceleration

If you can hear the video audio, but the video player shows a green screen, one way to troubleshoot this issue is to disable hardware acceleration in Google Chrome using these steps:

  1. Open Google Chrome’s main menu.

  2. Click on Settings.

  3. Click the hamburger button in the top-left corner.

  4. Click on Advanced.

  5. Click on System.

    Google Chrome settings menu
    Google Chrome settings menu
  6. Under “System,” turn off the Use hardware acceleration when available toggle switch.

    Google Chrome disable hardware acceleration
    Google Chrome disable hardware acceleration

After you complete the steps, restart Chrome, and green screen in videos should no longer be a problem.

Disable graphics performance

Windows 10 includes a feature that allows you to specify which GPU an app you should use. If you added Google Chrome to the list, chances are that you’ll see a green screen as you try to watch YouTube and videos from other sources.

The solution to this problem is to remove Chrome from the Graphics performance preference settings page using these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click on Display.

  4. Under “Multiple displays,” click the Graphics settings link.

    Windows 10 display settings
    Windows 10 display settings
  5. Select Google Chrome from the list.

  6. Click the Remove button.

    Windows 10 Graphics settings
    Windows 10 Graphics settings

Once you complete the steps, restart the browser, and the green screen while trying to watch a video should no longer be a problem in Chrome.

Update graphics driver

If you must update your graphics driver, it’s recommended to check your manufacturer support website to download the latest version available, and use their instructions to update your system.

To download and install the latest graphics drivers from Windows Update, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Update & Security.

  3. Click on Windows Update.

  4. Click the View optional updates option.

    Windows Update optional updates option
    Windows Update optional updates link
    Quick note: If the “optional updates” link is missing, then it means that there’s not an update available for the GPU and the device is using the latest available version.
  5. Click the Driver updates option.

  6. Select the graphics driver from the list.

    Windows Update graphics driver update
    Windows Update graphics driver update
  7. Click the Download and install button.

After you complete the steps, restart your computer, and you should now be able to play videos in Google Chrome without a green screen.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].