WebGL or Web Graphics Library is nothing but a JavaScript API which helps it in rendering interactive 2D and 3D graphics on any supporting web browser without any third party plugins being used. It works well along with web standards which allows it to use the GPU acceleration to render graphics and physics as a part of a web page. It greatly impacts in improving the overall performance of a web page. It is supported on a variety of web browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and more. But at times, it does not work properly or is not enabled; we will learn today how to get it fixed.
Enable WebGL on Chrome & Firefox
This issue can be caused due to a number of factors. It includes both browsers as well as the operating system. The Graphics Driver also plays a crucial role in helping out WebGL to function on a computer.
Today, we will be checking out how to fix this issue on your updated browsers-
- Manually enable WebGL on Chrome or Firefox
- Update your Graphics Card Driver.
1] Manually enable WebGL on Chrome or Firefox
First of all open Google Chrome and click on the Menu button (by clicking on three dots button on the top right corner). Next click on Settings. Scroll down to find the button that is labeled as Advanced and click on it.
Under the section that goes by the name System, turn on the toggle of Use hardware acceleration when available.
Restart Google Chrome.
When it starts up again, type in chrome://gpu/ in the address bar and hit the Enter key.
This will now display if WebGL is properly enabled or not.
Alternatively, you can open the Google Chrome browser and visit this URL: chrome://flags. Look up Disable WebGL in the search box on the top portion of the page. Toggle the appropriate entry to Disabled. Restart Google Chrome for the changes to take effect.
This will enable the touch-friendly User Experience on Google Chrome.
Firefox users can do the following. To disable Hardware Acceleration in Firefox, open the browser > Options.
Now under the General section, scroll down a bit to see Performance. Here check the Use hardware acceleration when available option.
Restart Firefox.
2] Update your Graphics Card Driver
From the WinX Menu, open Device Manager. Expand the list that says Display Adapters.
Right-click on the listing of your NVIDIA Graphics Card and select Enable. Now, right click on it again and click on Update Driver Software…
A new window will open up. On that, click on Search automatically for updated driver software.
If Windows now detects your Graphics Card and the latest driver for it, great! Else, proceed as follows:
- Right click on it again and click on Update Driver Software…
- Click on Browse my computer for driver software.
- Click on Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
- Select a compatible driver for your computer named as NVIDIA Graphic Card and proceed further.
Let the whole process finish. And then restart your PC for the changes to take effect. This will help you update your Graphics Driver.
All the best!
