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# How to Turn Off Hardware Acceleration in Google Chrome on Mac
- URL: https://macfixly.com/turn-off-hardware-acceleration-chrome-mac/
- Published: 2026-10-12T08:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-12T08:20:00.000Z
- Description: Step-by-step guide to turning off hardware acceleration in Google Chrome on Mac to resolve glitches and improve video playback.
- Author: Macuser
- Tags: Google Chrome, Mac, Browser Settings, Troubleshooting

You might have noticed that Google Chrome on your Mac sometimes slows down, glitches, or displays visual errors during video playback or browsing. These issues can be frustrating, especially when you rely on smooth performance for work or entertainment. One common suggestion is to disable hardware acceleration, but deciding when and how to do this properly can be confusing.

This article explains how to turn off hardware acceleration in Google Chrome on Mac step by step. You’ll learn not only how to change this setting but also when it can help improve your browser experience and when it might cause more problems. By the end, you’ll be able to make an informed choice and follow the right process without trial and error.

## Key takeaways

- Hardware acceleration lets Chrome use your Mac’s GPU to improve performance but can cause issues on some systems.
- Disabling hardware acceleration is done via Chrome’s Settings under System > Use hardware acceleration when available.
- You must restart Chrome after changing this setting for it to take effect.
- Turning off hardware acceleration can fix display glitches and video playback problems but might reduce performance on graphics-heavy sites.
- If problems persist after disabling, further troubleshooting or re-enabling hardware acceleration may be needed.

## Before You Start: What You Need to Know

Hardware acceleration is a feature in Google Chrome that allows the browser to offload certain tasks, like video decoding and graphic rendering, to your Mac's GPU (graphics processing unit) instead of relying solely on the CPU. This often improves performance, making videos play smoothly and animations render efficiently, which is why it is enabled by default.

However, on some Macs, hardware acceleration can cause issues such as screen flickering, slow or choppy video playback, unexpected crashes, or other display glitches. These problems usually arise due to driver conflicts or compatibility quirks with specific Mac models or macOS versions.

Disabling hardware acceleration can help resolve these issues, but it might also reduce browser performance in graphics-intensive tasks. Before you change this setting, make sure Google Chrome is updated to the latest version and that you have recently restarted your Mac to clear temporary system states. Be aware that turning off hardware acceleration can lead to higher CPU usage and potentially slower video playback.

Overall, user experience varies: some find better stability without hardware acceleration, while others notice slower rendering. Understanding these trade-offs will help you decide if disabling this feature is right for your situation.

## Open Google Chrome Settings to Access Advanced Options

Start by launching Google Chrome on your Mac. You can do this by clicking the Chrome icon in your Dock or by opening it from the Applications folder. Once Chrome is open, look to the top-right corner of the browser window for the three vertical dots—this is the Chrome menu button.

1. Click the three vertical dots to open the menu. A dropdown list will appear.
2. From the dropdown, select **Settings**. This opens a new tab displaying Chrome’s settings page.
3. On the Settings page, scroll down to the bottom and click **Advanced** to expand the advanced options. This section contains more detailed configuration settings.
4. Within the expanded Advanced section, look for the **System** heading. Here you will find options related to Chrome’s interaction with your Mac’s hardware.
5. Under the System section, locate the setting labeled **Use hardware acceleration when available**. This is the toggle switch you will adjust to turn off hardware acceleration.

If you follow these steps correctly, you will be at the exact place in Chrome’s settings where you can disable hardware acceleration. The toggle switch should be visible and ready to adjust.

## Turn Off Hardware Acceleration in Chrome

1. Open the Chrome settings page where the hardware acceleration option is located. You should see the option labeled **Use hardware acceleration when available** under the System section.
2. Click the toggle switch next to **Use hardware acceleration when available** to turn it off. The switch will move to the left and change color to indicate it is disabled.
3. After toggling the setting off, Chrome does not save changes immediately. Look for a prompt or button to *Relaunch* Chrome, usually appearing near the toggle or at the top of the settings page.
4. Click *Relaunch* to close and reopen Chrome. This restart is necessary for the hardware acceleration setting to take effect.
5. When Chrome restarts, return to the same settings page to confirm the toggle remains off, ensuring hardware acceleration is disabled.

Disabling hardware acceleration can resolve specific graphics or playback issues, but remember that Chrome must restart to apply this change fully. Missing the relaunch step means the setting stays unchanged despite toggling it off.

![Turn Off Hardware Acceleration in Chrome – how to turn off hardware acceleration in Google Chrome on Mac](https://macfixly.com/content/images/2026/10/turn-off-hardware-acceleration-chrome-mac-2.webp)

## Restart Chrome and Verify the Change

Once you have toggled off hardware acceleration, it's essential to properly restart Google Chrome to ensure the change takes effect. Simply closing the browser window may not fully quit the application on your Mac. To avoid this, use the menu bar: click **Chrome** in the top-left corner of your screen and select **Quit Google Chrome**. Wait a moment to confirm the program has closed completely before reopening it.

1. Quit Google Chrome using the menu bar (*Chrome > Quit Google Chrome*), ensuring all windows close.
2. Reopen Chrome from your Dock or Applications folder.
3. Go to *Chrome > Settings > Advanced > System* and verify that **Use hardware acceleration when available** remains toggled off.
4. Observe your browser’s performance and display behavior. Pages should load normally without the GPU-related glitches you were experiencing.
5. If you find the setting has reverted or was not saved, check if Chrome is syncing settings with your Google account. Temporarily sign out in *Settings > You and Google* and try toggling the setting off again.

By carefully quitting and reopening Chrome, you help ensure your hardware acceleration preference sticks. If issues persist or the toggle resets, syncing conflicts or extensions may be involved, which you can troubleshoot separately.

## Troubleshoot Common Issues After Disabling Hardware Acceleration

After turning off hardware acceleration, you might notice Chrome running slower or videos stuttering more than before. This happens because Chrome is now relying solely on your Mac's CPU for tasks previously handled by the GPU. If you experience these symptoms, first try closing unnecessary tabs and background apps to free up system resources. If performance issues persist, consider resetting Chrome settings to their defaults, which can resolve conflicts caused by extensions or corrupted configurations.

1. Click the three-dot menu at the top-right corner of Chrome and select **Settings**. You should see the settings page open.
2. Scroll down and click **Reset settings** on the left sidebar, then choose **Restore settings to their original defaults**. A confirmation dialog appears.
3. Confirm the reset by clicking **Reset settings**. Chrome will revert to default settings, and you should notice improved stability.
4. If problems continue, check for updates by clicking the three-dot menu, selecting **Help**, then **About Google Chrome**. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
5. Similarly, update your MacOS via **System Preferences > Software Update** to ensure system compatibility and performance improvements.
6. If none of these steps help, you can re-enable hardware acceleration by going back to **Settings > Advanced > System** and toggling **Use hardware acceleration when available** back on, then relaunching Chrome.

Users who disabled hardware acceleration to fix specific display glitches but then see slower browsing or choppier videos often find re-enabling it restores smoother playback. Weighing symptoms before and after the change helps decide the best setting for your setup.

## Know When Not to Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration can significantly boost performance for graphics-intensive tasks such as video streaming, online gaming, and complex web applications. If you have a newer Mac with a modern GPU, disabling hardware acceleration is unlikely to improve your experience and may even degrade it. Official recommendations from Chrome and Apple support emphasize that hardware acceleration is designed to optimize resource use and deliver smoother visuals when functioning properly.

![Know When Not to Disable Hardware Acceleration – how to turn off hardware acceleration in Google Chrome on Mac](https://macfixly.com/content/images/2026/10/turn-off-hardware-acceleration-chrome-mac-3.webp)

Before deciding to keep hardware acceleration off, test your Chrome performance thoroughly. Use websites or workflows you frequently engage with and notice any slowdowns, stuttering, or visual glitches. If performance worsens or key features become unstable, it is advisable to re-enable hardware acceleration. Reverting is straightforward and can restore the intended benefits of GPU acceleration without risking downtime or reduced responsiveness.

In summary, disabling hardware acceleration should be a targeted troubleshooting step rather than a general fix. If you rely on graphics-heavy web content or your Mac is relatively current, keeping hardware acceleration enabled usually provides the best balance of speed and stability.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does hardware acceleration do in Google Chrome on Mac?

Hardware acceleration allows Google Chrome to offload certain tasks, like graphics rendering and video playback, from the CPU to the GPU. This helps improve performance and efficiency, especially when running resource-intensive content such as videos or complex web applications. On a Mac, this means smoother visuals and potentially faster loading times when hardware acceleration is enabled.

### Will turning off hardware acceleration fix all Chrome performance issues?

Turning off hardware acceleration can solve specific problems related to graphics glitches, screen flickering, or crashes, but it won't fix all performance issues. Many other factors, such as extensions, outdated software, or network problems, can impact Chrome’s speed and stability. Disabling hardware acceleration is a targeted step, best used when you suspect graphics-related issues.

### How do I know if hardware acceleration is causing my Chrome problems?

If you experience visual artifacts, flickering, or crashes while browsing, especially when playing videos or using web apps with heavy graphics, hardware acceleration might be the culprit. You can test this by temporarily disabling hardware acceleration and seeing if the issues persist. If problems improve after disabling it, hardware acceleration was likely causing the trouble.

### Can I turn hardware acceleration back on if disabling it doesn’t help?

Yes, you can easily re-enable hardware acceleration if turning it off doesn’t resolve your issues or causes other performance drops. Simply return to Chrome’s advanced settings and toggle the hardware acceleration option back on, then restart the browser. This flexibility lets you find the best balance for your Mac’s performance and stability.

## What This Advice Does Not Cover

Disabling hardware acceleration may reduce performance for graphics-intensive tasks such as video editing, gaming, or running complex web applications that rely on GPU processing. This guide focuses solely on Chrome settings and does not address potential issues related to your Mac's hardware, macOS configuration, or other software conflicts. If you continue to experience performance or display problems after disabling hardware acceleration, consider updating your Mac’s graphics drivers, checking for macOS updates, or consulting Apple Support or a professional technician.

Additionally, this method is not a universal fix for all Chrome-related issues on Mac. Some problems may stem from browser extensions, corrupted user profiles, or network settings that require different troubleshooting steps.

To move forward effectively, try disabling hardware acceleration first, then monitor Chrome’s behavior. If you notice slower graphics rendering or new glitches, re-enabling hardware acceleration might be preferable.

Your next best step is to keep Chrome updated regularly. Google frequently releases patches that improve performance and resolve bugs, so ensuring you are on the latest version helps maintain smooth browsing without unnecessary workarounds.

**See also:** [How to Fix Google Chrome High Memory Usage on Mac Step-by-Step](https://macfixly.com/fix-google-chrome-high-memory-usage-mac/) · [How to Clear Cache in Google Chrome on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://macfixly.com/clear-cache-google-chrome-mac/) · [Set Google Chrome as Your Default Browser on Mac: A Clear Step-by-Step Guide](https://macfixly.com/set-default-browser-google-chrome-mac/)