What is DXGI-ERROR-NONEXCLUSIVE?
DXGI_ERROR_NONEXCLUSIVE shows up as a medium-severity graphics API (DirectX) fault. An application is trying to gain exclusive access to the screen, but another program already has it. It's most often caused by background applications (recording, overlay) and error in window manager (DWM). Work through the steps below in order.
Common Causes
- Background applications (recording, overlay)
- Error in window manager (DWM)
Step-by-Step Fix Guide
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1
Close background apps
As a first move, Close background apps handles the most common scenario behind DXGI_ERROR_NONEXCLUSIVE.
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2
Restart the Desktop Window Manager service
A recurrence usually points to a rarer directx instability cause, which is what the following steps are meant to catch.
Commands & Diagnostics
taskkill /F /IM dwm.exe
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases, background applications (recording, overlay) is behind DXGI-ERROR-NONEXCLUSIVE. Error in window manager (DWM) can trigger it too.
The fastest fix is "Close background apps". Only move on to the later steps if DXGI-ERROR-NONEXCLUSIVE keeps coming back.
As a medium-severity issue, DXGI-ERROR-NONEXCLUSIVE is more of a stability annoyance than a hardware risk — the steps above should clear it up.
Usually. DXGI-ERROR-NONEXCLUSIVE is fixable with the steps above; a full Windows reinstall is rarely necessary unless everything else has failed.
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