Lorene Melone
How To Resolve Graphic Settings Issues in Broken Arrow on PC
If you’ve ever tried changing graphic settings in Broken Arrow and just hit a wall — like the game refuses to save your preferences or freezes — you’re not imagining things. More than a few folks have run into this, especially when external peripherals, graphics card setups, or third-party apps clash with the game’s config. The thing is, these conflicts can mess up your ability to tweak visuals, and sometimes the game just won’t respond properly. This guide digs into practical ways to troubleshoot that chaos, so you can actually get your graphics dialed in without pulling out hair.
How to Fix Graphic Settings Issues in Broken Arrow on PC
Method 1: Disconnect Any Unnecessary Peripherals
Yeah, kind of weird, but having extra devices connected can trip up the game’s graphics menu. External units like USB controllers, pedals, extra monitors, or even a weird network adapter can cause conflicts. That’s because broken arrow might be trying to access certain hardware configs or graphical resources that get tangled up. On some setups, disconnecting these devices and restarting the game actually makes a difference. Expect to see smoother menu navigation and settings sticking after this.
- Unplug USB game controllers, pedals, or any peripherals not actively used for gaming.
- Close the game, physically disconnect devices, then relaunch.
It’s one of those things where, on one rig, it helps instantly; on another, maybe not so much. But worth a shot before diving deeper.
Method 2: Close Potentially Conflicting Third-Party Apps
This one’s a classic. Background overlay apps, screen recorders, virtual controllers, or VPNs can interfere with game settings, especially graphics. Programs like VJoy, Rivatuner, MSI Afterburner overlays, or Discord overlays sometimes hijack graphics or keyboard hooks—confusing the game’s config. Before messing with anything fancy, just make sure to close all these apps while running Broken Arrow.
- Right-click the taskbar and open Task Manager.
- End processes for apps like VJoy, Rivatuner, Streamlabs, or overlay tools.
- Then relaunch the game and try changing settings again.
If that doesn’t do the trick, maybe try disabling overlays in your GPU control panel (for NVidia, AMD, or Intel). Sometimes, those are sneaky little devils.
Method 3: Disable Virtual Controller Software in Device Manager
Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. If you’re running VJoy or similar virtual device software, it sometimes confuses the game’s hardware detection, causing issues with graphics or input settings. Disabling it temporarily might help.
- Right-click the Start menu and choose Device Manager.
- Scroll down to Human Interface Devices or Sound, video and game controllers.
- Look for VJoy, VCam, or any unknown virtual hardware.
- Right-click on those entries and select Disable device.
- Launch the game, try changing graphics, see if it sticks.
After that, don’t forget to re-enable the device if everything works fine — just reverse the process. Weird thing is, on some machines this trick works right away, but on others, it needs a full reboot to take effect. Go figure.
Method 4: Tweak Your Dual-GPU Setup
If your PC has both integrated and discrete graphics cards, it’s a common headache. The game might be running on the integrated GPU, or vice versa, causing weird issues when trying to change graphics. Temporarily disabling the discrete card often helps.
- Close Broken Arrow.
- Right-click Start and pick Device Manager.
- Expand the Display adapters section.
- Find your dedicated GPU (like NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon).
- Right-click and choose Disable device.
- Launch the game, go to settings, and try adjusting graphics.
- Once done, repeat the steps to Enable device to avoid performance hiccups later.
Honestly, this step feels a bit drastic, but it’s surprisingly effective at solving stubborn config bugs. On some setups, this drops an extra layer of confusion, so it’s worth a shot. Just remember to revert afterwards.
Method 5: Manually Edit Game Configuration Files
This doesn’t always need to be done, but if the in-game menu keeps acting wonky, editing config files can force settings to stick. Usually, configs sit somewhere like C:\Users\yourname\Documents\BrokenArrow\config.ini or similar. Open it in a text editor like Notepad++ and look for graphics-related options.
- Change values directly, for example:
Resolution=1920x1080orFullScreen=true. - Save and relaunch the game.
This bypasses the UI entirely and can sometimes fix stubborn issues. Be careful, because corruption or mismatched options might crash the game, so backup the config first.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Other things to keep in mind: make sure your graphics drivers are totally up to date — outdated drivers can cause weird conflicts. Also, check if the game itself has any patches available, because devs sometimes release fixes for these problems. Running the game in compatibility mode or as administrator can also help clear permission issues that mess with settings.
Wrap-up
Following these steps usually clears up the most common roadblocks to changing graphic settings in Broken Arrow. The core idea is to eliminate hardware conflicts, disable interfering software, and make sure the game has a clean environment to respect your choices. Whenever troubleshooting, keep in mind that each PC setup is slightly different, so what works on one might need extra tweaks on another.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the game still won’t let me change graphics?
Sometimes, the issue runs deeper — like driver conflicts or permissions. Check your graphics driver installation, run the game as administrator, or reinstall if needed. Reinstalling often resets problematic configs, though it’s a pain.
Can I run Broken Arrow on multiple monitors?
Yeah, but a lot of folks find that multi-monitor setups can sometimes cause weird issues with graphics, especially if the game isn’t optimized for it. Run on a single screen first if you run into trouble, then add monitors once everything’s stable.
How do I get my graphics drivers up to date?
Go straight to the manufacturer’s website – like NVIDIA or AMD. Download the latest driver package and install it, then reboot. That often clears up display conflicts that cause these issues.
Summary
- Unplug extra peripherals temporarily
- Close overlay/third-party apps
- Disable virtual controller devices in Device Manager
- Manage dual graphics card setup
- Consider editing config files manually
- Keep drivers and game updated