The ‘application has been blocked from accessing graphics hardware’ is a video-game related issue that occurs when specific essential files in the system are changed or lost. A lot of gamers playing games that require a graphics card generally face this issue.
There are various causes as to why this issue crops up. Sometimes, the graphics generally drivers aren’t updated, while other times, they may be misconfigured. Just as it has various causes, the ‘application has been blocked from accessing graphics hardware’ issue also has several probable solutions.
Fix ‘Application Has Been Blocked From Accessing Graphics Hardware’ Using These Simple Solutions
If you are an avid gamer who loves playing action games such as World of Warcraft, you might face the ‘World of War was unable to start 3D acceleration’ issue at some point in time. In such cases, it is usually the graphic card that causes the issue.
Let’s get to know the nine easiest ways to tackle this issue and get back to gaming again. You can try out these solutions one at a time and see which one solves the problem.
1. HDMI Method
If you are using a cloned TV or a monitor, the HDMI method may also work. All you have to do is remove the HDMI cable of your secondary cloned TV and run the video card on your primary monitor with the Display Port cable.
Unplugging the cloned TV eliminates the message and enables the user to play 3D games.
2. Run the System Maintenance troubleshooter
The System Maintenance troubleshooter can sometimes be an excellent remedy for the application has been blocked from accessing graphics hardware issue.
To begin with, open the Run function from the taskbar.
Then, type msdt.exe -id MaintenanceDiagnostic
and click OK.
In the dialog box that opens up, click on Next.
Then, click on Try troubleshooting as an administrator.
If the issue is still not fixed, you can go for other methods in this article. Usually, running the System Maintenance troubleshooter often solves the issue. If not, it will at least let users know that the issue might be in the hardware.
3. Run the Hardware Devices Troubleshooter
You need not necessarily take significant steps, such as reinstalling drivers or making changes in the registry editor. Sometimes, this error can also be fixed by the Windows Troubleshooter.
Open the Settings app by typing ‘Settings’ in the taskbar.
Then, click on Update and Security.
Under the Troubleshoot tab, locate the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter and click on Run the troubleshooter button.
Windows will troubleshoot the issue and fix it. If that doesn’t happen, you can move on to trying other solutions and see which one works for you.
4. Run the program in administrator mode
Running the program in administrator mode might not be one of the most effective solutions to apply when you face the ‘application has been blocked from accessing graphics hardware’ issue. However, it is always worth trying this method as it has been known to solve the issue for some.
Search the game you want to play in the search bar.
Once found, right-click on it and select Run as administrator. If this doesn’t work, you can turn to other solutions mentioned in this article.
Running any program or application in administrator mode gives the program extra privileges. The game can be blocked from running normally because of some system limitations or might consider it unsafe. However, by running them in the administrator mode, you notify the OS that the program is safe to run.
5. Tweak the compatibility settings of the game
Graphics card issues usually matter a lot when they block users from playing games. When such an issue occurs, users can tweak the compatibility settings and try to run the game. Compatibility settings are used to run a program in a lower version than the Windows 10 OS.
Just right click on the game’s EXE file and select properties.
Click on the compatibility tab.
Now, Check the option Run this program in compatibility mode. Then, select Windows 7 from the given options and click Apply.
Compatibility settings work for those applications that require fewer colors. Some older applications require fewer colors to run, which may also be why they don’t run on Windows 10.
6. Give Preference to an App
The parameters of a graphics card cannot be changed. To tackle this issue, you can always prioritize it towards a single application. In this method, the graphics card will serve the preferred app in the best manner possible.
Click on the Start button and then the gear-like symbol to open the Settings window.
Go to System and click on Display.
In the Display menu, click and open Graphic settings.
In the ‘Choose an app to set preference’ section, choose your game or application from the drop-down menu.
Then, restart your system to see if it works. App preferences are known to provide better app performance for specific applications. In that sense, setting up your graphics card specifically for your game could do the trick and solve this issue.
7. Use the registry editor
The registry editor can do well to solve the ‘application has been blocked from accessing graphics hardware’ fix. To start with, type regedit in the search Cortana search bar and open the Registry Editor.
Before using the registry editor, make sure you create a safe backup of the Windows registry in your cloud or drive storage. Changes to the registry editor, be it intentional or unintentional, tend to affect your system’s stability and performance. In that case, backing up your registry and restoring it will save you from suffering through performance-related issues.
Then, navigate to the following paths one after other:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\GraphicsDrivers or
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\GraphicsDrivers
Now, in the space on the right pane, right-click and select QWORD (64-bit) Value. You can also choose a DWORD (32-bit) Value if you have a 32-bit platform.
Insert ‘TdrDelay’ as the QWORD or DWORD file name.
Double-click on the TdrDelay, and it will open a dialog box.
Check if the selected base is Hexadecimal. Then, enter 8 in the data value field and click OK.
Now, close and restart the PC and check if the changes have been made.
8. Run System File Checker and DISM commands
The application has been blocked from accessing graphics hardware’ issue may occur if you have corrupted or damaged system files on your Windows computer.
Follow these steps to recover your system files:
Type Command Prompt in the search bar below. Once you locate the Command Prompt, right-click on it and select Run as administrator. Click YES when prompted by the User Account Control.
After the Command Prompt window opens, locate C:\Windows\system32, type sfc /scannow
next to it, and press Enter.
The sfc/scannow command is used to scan the protected system files and replace the corrupt files with a cached copy of the same. You can check the details of how sfc /scannow works and repairs Windows files.
Wait for the scan to be completed 100%.
Then, type the following commands and press Enter after each command.
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Now, reboot the computer and start your game again to check the changes. If this method doesn’t work, move on to the next step.
9. Reinstall the Graphics Card driver
The application blocked from accessing graphics hardware is also caused when the graphics card driver gets corrupted. In such cases, reinstalling the drivers can fix the issue.
To start with, type Device Manager in the Cortana search bar and click Open.
After the Device Manager dialog box opens, locate and expand Display adaptors.
Now, right-click on the Graphics card option and select the Uninstall device.
Click on the Uninstall device option.
To reinstall the driver, press the Scan for hardware changes button.
Reinstalling the driver is always a good practice, especially if your OS has recently been updated. An update tends to misconfigure the Graphics driver at times, which might further block some applications from running.
Conclusion
The application has been blocked from accessing graphics hardware is a common issue and can be fixed quickly, including those who aren’t computer experts. Just have to run through these solutions.
If you encounter this issue, the best way to tackle it is by starting with small fixing processes such as running in administrator mode or by changing the compatibility of the application in question. Methods like using the registry editor or running the System File Checker have a better success rate. But, they should be used as a last resort since they consume more time in contrast to other processes.