How To Fix Screen Tearing When Watching Fullscreen Videos in Google Chrome [2026 Guide]

I’m going to teach you how to fix screen tearing when watching full screen videos in Google Chrome. Screen tearing occurs when parts of two or more frames are shown at the same time, leading to a jagged, distorted effect. It can be particularly annoying when you’re watching movies, streaming shows, or enjoying your favorite videos.

Fortunately, a simple adjustment in Chrome settings can often remedy this issue. We’ll begin by opening the Chrome browser and making one quick change. If you also notice stutter or pauses during playback, see this guide to fix freezing or lagging in Chrome fullscreen.

Fix Screen Tearing When Watching Fullscreen Videos in Google Chrome [2026 Guide]

Open settings

Open Google Chrome.

In the top right corner, click the three-dot icon to open the menu.

Click Settings.

Go to System

In the left-hand panel, click System.

This section controls how Chrome interacts with your device’s hardware.

Turn off hardware acceleration

Look for the option labeled Use hardware acceleration when available.

Toggle the switch off.

You can also jump straight to this page by entering the following in the address bar and pressing Enter:

chrome://settings/system

Why this works

Hardware acceleration is a feature designed to offload tasks that require significant power from your CPU to your GPU, effectively enhancing performance. However, it can sometimes cause screen tearing with full screen videos if your hardware or software configurations aren’t fully compatible. Turning it off often restores smooth playback.

If you run into a related visual issue after changing this setting, see how to fix a gray screen problem in Chrome 139.

Apply the change

After toggling it off, click Relaunch.

Relaunching restarts Chrome so your changes take effect immediately. This step is crucial or the problem may persist.

Test full screen playback

With Chrome back up and running, screen tearing during full screen video should be gone. Open a video and switch to full screen to confirm a smoother experience. If issues continue, double check that hardware acceleration is still off, since settings can revert to default in some cases.

If the browser window goes blank during testing, you can follow this fix for a white screen in Chrome on Windows.

Final thoughts

A quick trip to Settings - System and turning off Use hardware acceleration when available usually resolves full screen screen tearing in Google Chrome. Remember to click Relaunch so the change applies. Test in full screen and verify the setting remains off if the issue returns.