Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Here are solutions for the most frequently encountered problems with Staged.

Virtual Display Not Appearing

If the virtual display doesn't show up after installation:

Game Not Launching in Game Stage

If your game launches but doesn't appear in the Game Stage:

• Set game to Borderless Windowed - Some games need this mode to work with virtual displays
• Check game display settings - The game should target the virtual display, not your main monitor
• Use the Game Migrator - In Staged, right-click the game and select "Move to Game Stage"
• Disable exclusive fullscreen - Some games work better in borderless mode with Staged

Apps Not Snapping to Zones

If apps don't automatically snap to their assigned zones:

• Check zone assignments - Open Zone Editor and verify the app is assigned to a zone
• Enable auto-arrange - Settings > Zones > Enable Auto-Arrange
• Restart the app - Some apps need to be restarted after zone assignment
• Check app window mode - Maximized windows may not snap correctly; try windowed mode

Cursor Lock Not Working

If the cursor escapes the Game Stage when it shouldn't:

• Check Game Mode status - Ensure Game Mode is active (look for the indicator)
• Try different games - Some games (especially strategy/RTS) intentionally release the cursor
• Disable cursor unlock shortcuts - If you're accidentally triggering them
• Check for conflicting software - Other cursor tools may interfere

Anti-Cheat Compatibility

Staged works with most games, but some anti-cheat systems may detect virtual displays. Here's what you need to know:

Safe Usage Tips

• Never use in ranked/competitive modes until you've verified the game works
• Check game's ToS - Most allow virtual displays, but verify to be safe
• Keep Staged updated - We update compatibility as anti-cheat systems change
• Report issues - Let us know if a game stops working so we can investigate

Performance Issues

FPS Drops

If you're experiencing lower FPS than expected:

Stuttering or Hitching

If your game stutters periodically:

• Disable hardware scheduling - Some systems work better with it off (Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling)
• Set game priority - In Task Manager, set your game to "High" priority
• Reduce zone count - Fewer zones = less overhead
• Check for driver conflicts - Other display-related software may conflict

Input Lag

Staged should add no noticeable input lag (under 0.2 ms processing, measured) since the Game Stage uses native Windows display handling. If you notice input lag:

• Verify you're in the Game Stage - Not accidentally playing in a zone
• Check display refresh rate - The virtual display should match your monitor
• Disable overlays - Discord, Steam, and NVIDIA overlays can add latency
• Test without Staged - Verify the game itself doesn't have input lag

Driver Issues

Driver Installation Errors

If the driver fails to install:

• Run as Administrator - Right-click the installer and select "Run as administrator"
• Disable antivirus temporarily - Some AV software blocks driver installations
• Check Windows Update - Pending updates can block driver installations
• Try manual installation - See our manual installation guide

Reinstalling the Driver

To completely reinstall the virtual display driver:

1. Open Staged Settings > Driver
2. Click "Uninstall Driver"
3. Restart your computer
4. Open Staged again
5. Click "Install Driver" when prompted
6. Restart your computer again

Completely Removing the Driver

If you need to remove the driver manually:

1. Open Device Manager
2. Find "Display adapters"
3. Right-click "Staged Virtual Display"
4. Select "Uninstall device"
5. Check "Delete the driver software for this device"
6. Click Uninstall
7. Restart your computer

Display Issues

Wrong Resolution or Refresh Rate

If the virtual display has incorrect settings:

1. Open Windows Display Settings
2. Select the Staged virtual display
3. Set the correct resolution and refresh rate
4. Or use Staged Settings > Display to configure

Displays in Wrong Position

If apps appear on the wrong display:

• Open Windows Display Settings and arrange the virtual display correctly
• The virtual display should overlay your physical display, not be beside it
• Use Staged's display wizard to auto-configure (Settings > Display > Auto-Configure)

HDR Not Working

If HDR doesn't work on the virtual display:

• Ensure HDR is enabled in Windows (Settings > System > Display > HDR)
• Enable HDR in Staged Settings > Display > HDR Mode
• Some games require restarting after enabling HDR
• Verify your physical display supports HDR

Getting Help

If you can't resolve an issue, here's how to get help:

How to Report a Bug

When reporting an issue, please include:

• Staged version - Found in Help > About
• Windows version - Settings > System > About
• GPU and driver version - Device Manager > Display adapters
• Steps to reproduce - Exactly what you did before the issue occurred
• Expected vs actual behavior - What should happen vs what did happen
• Log files - From %APPDATA%\Staged\logs

Resetting Staged

If all else fails, you can reset Staged to its default state:

Reset Settings Only

This keeps your presets but resets all settings:

1. Open Staged Settings
2. Go to Advanced
3. Click "Reset to Defaults"
4. Confirm the reset

Full Reset

This removes all settings, presets, and data:

1. Close Staged completely
2. Delete the folder: %APPDATA%\Staged
3. Restart Staged - it will create fresh configuration files

Clean Reinstall

For the most thorough fix:

1. Uninstall Staged from Windows Settings
2. Delete the driver manually (see Removing the Driver)
3. Delete %APPDATA%\Staged
4. Delete %LOCALAPPDATA%\Staged
5. Restart your computer
6. Download and install the latest version