How to enable or disable hardware acceleration in a browser

Updated: 05/03/2022 by Reckoner Hope

Internet browsers

Hardware acceleration can exist useful for offloading tasks to dissimilar hardware devices that the CPU would otherwise handle, thus, improving operation. However, not all pages and sites are well optimized to support hardware acceleration, and using this feature may really ho-hum down your computer.

To learn how to enable or disable hardware acceleration in an Internet browser, make a option from the list below and follow the instructions.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome logo

Follow these steps to enable or disable hardware acceleration in Google Chrome.

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Click the Chrome menu icon icon in the upper-correct corner.
  3. Select Settings from the driblet-down card.

Chrome settings selector

  1. In the menu on the left side of the window, expand the Advanced button carte du jour.
  2. Click Arrangement.

System selector

  1. In the middle of the window, under Organisation, click the toggle switch next to Use hardware acceleration when bachelor to enable or disable hardware acceleration.

Hardware acceleration toggle switch in Chrome.

  1. Once y'all've made your change, click the Relaunch button in Chrome. button.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox logo

Follow these steps to enable or disable hardware acceleration in Firefox.

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Click the Firefox menu icon icon.
  3. Select Settings from the driblet-down carte du jour.
  4. On the left side of the window, make sure the General tab is selected.

General selector

  1. In the centre section of the window, scroll down to the Functioning section, and click the box next to Use recommended functioning settings so it's unchecked.

Use recommended performance settings checkbox.

  1. Afterward unchecking the box, boosted options are displayed. Click the bank check box next to Use hardware acceleration when available to toggle hardware acceleration on or off.

Checkbox to toggle hardware acceleration on and off.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge logo

Follow these steps to enable or disable hardware dispatch in Microsoft Border.

  1. Open Microsoft Border.
  2. In the upper-correct corner of the window, click the Microsoft Edge menu icon icon.
  3. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Settings selector in Edge

  1. On the left side of the window, nether the Settings section, click the System selector.
  1. Under System, click the toggle switch adjacent to Employ hardware acceleration when available to enable or disable hardware dispatch.

Toggling hardware acceleration in Microsoft Edge.

  1. When you've made your selection, click the Restart button in Edge. push button.

Opera

Opera logo

Follow these steps to enable or disable hardware dispatch in Opera.

  1. Open Opera.
  2. Click the Opera menu icon icon in the upper-left corner.
  3. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Opera settings selector

  1. Click the Advanced button button.
  2. Select Browser from the expanded bill of fare.

Browser selector in Opera

  1. Scroll down until you find the System department. Click the toggle switch next to Utilise hardware dispatch when available to enable or disable hardware acceleration.

Hardware acceleration toggle in Opera.

  1. When yous've made your selection, click the Relaunch button in Opera. push button.

Safari

Safari logo

As of macOS Catalina, users are no longer able to turn hardware acceleration on and off in Safari.