diff --git a/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.cpp b/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.cpp
index f29314ce4..f42df5f18 100644
--- a/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.cpp
+++ b/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.cpp
@@ -654,6 +654,8 @@ void LiveCapture::updateAPIStatus()
     if(!m_APIs[api].supported)
     {
       apiStatus += tr(", %1 (Unsupported)").arg(api);
+      if(!m_APIs[api].supportMessage.isEmpty())
+        apiStatus += lit("\n") + m_APIs[api].supportMessage;
     }
     else if(!m_APIs[api].presenting)
     {
@@ -665,6 +667,8 @@ void LiveCapture::updateAPIStatus()
   // remove the redundant starting ", "
   apiStatus.remove(0, 2);
 
+  apiStatus.replace(QLatin1Char('\n'), lit("<br>"));
+
   ui->apiStatus->setText(apiStatus);
 
   ui->apiIcon->setVisible(nonpresenting);
@@ -1344,13 +1348,11 @@ void LiveCapture::connectionThreadEntry()
 
     if(msg.type == TargetControlMessageType::RegisterAPI)
     {
-      QString api = msg.apiUse.name;
-      bool presenting = msg.apiUse.presenting;
-      bool supported = msg.apiUse.supported;
-      GUIInvoke::call(this, [this, api, presenting, supported]() {
-        m_APIs[api] = APIStatus(presenting, supported);
+      GUIInvoke::call(this, [this, msg]() {
+        m_APIs[msg.apiUse.name] =
+            APIStatus(msg.apiUse.presenting, msg.apiUse.supported, msg.apiUse.supportMessage);
 
-        if(presenting && supported)
+        if(msg.apiUse.presenting && msg.apiUse.supported)
         {
           ui->triggerImmediateCapture->setEnabled(true);
           ui->triggerDelayedCapture->setEnabled(true);
diff --git a/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.h b/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.h
index fa10c8030..89e6a53b5 100644
--- a/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.h
+++ b/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.h
@@ -127,9 +127,10 @@ private:
   struct APIStatus
   {
     APIStatus() = default;
-    APIStatus(bool p, bool s) : presenting(p), supported(s) {}
+    APIStatus(bool p, bool s, rdcstr m) : presenting(p), supported(s), supportMessage(m) {}
     bool presenting = false;
     bool supported = false;
+    rdcstr supportMessage;
   };
 
   Capture *GetCapture(QListWidgetItem *item);
diff --git a/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.ui b/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.ui
index cc3396a77..785b04e67 100644
--- a/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.ui
+++ b/qrenderdoc/Windows/Dialogs/LiveCapture.ui
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
             <string>API:</string>
            </property>
            <property name="alignment">
-            <set>Qt::AlignRight|Qt::AlignTrailing|Qt::AlignVCenter</set>
+            <set>Qt::AlignRight|Qt::AlignTrailing|Qt::AlignTop</set>
            </property>
           </widget>
          </item>
diff --git a/renderdoc/api/replay/control_types.h b/renderdoc/api/replay/control_types.h
index 9ed872464..541924f92 100644
--- a/renderdoc/api/replay/control_types.h
+++ b/renderdoc/api/replay/control_types.h
@@ -562,6 +562,12 @@ struct APIUseData
 
   DOCUMENT("``True`` if the API can be captured.");
   bool supported = false;
+
+  DOCUMENT(R"(A string message if the API is unsupported explaining why.
+
+:type: str
+)");
+  rdcstr supportMessage;
 };
 
 DECLARE_REFLECTION_STRUCT(APIUseData);
diff --git a/renderdoc/core/core.cpp b/renderdoc/core/core.cpp
index 167caaf9b..4ad37e40c 100644
--- a/renderdoc/core/core.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/core/core.cpp
@@ -1669,7 +1669,16 @@ void RenderDoc::AddActiveDriver(RDCDriver driver, bool present)
   }
 }
 
-std::map<RDCDriver, bool> RenderDoc::GetActiveDrivers()
+void RenderDoc::SetDriverUnsupportedMessage(RDCDriver driver, rdcstr message)
+{
+  if(driver == RDCDriver::Unknown)
+    return;
+
+  SCOPED_LOCK(m_DriverLock);
+  m_APISupportMessages[driver] = message;
+}
+
+std::map<RDCDriver, RDCDriverStatus> RenderDoc::GetActiveDrivers()
 {
   std::map<RDCDriver, uint64_t> drivers;
 
@@ -1678,20 +1687,28 @@ std::map<RDCDriver, bool> RenderDoc::GetActiveDrivers()
     drivers = m_ActiveDrivers;
   }
 
-  std::map<RDCDriver, bool> ret;
+  std::map<RDCDriver, RDCDriverStatus> ret;
 
   for(auto it = drivers.begin(); it != drivers.end(); ++it)
   {
+    RDCDriverStatus &status = ret[it->first];
     // driver is presenting if the timestamp is greater than 0 and less than 10 seconds ago (gives a
     // little leeway for loading screens or something where the presentation stops temporarily).
     // we also assume that during a capture if it was presenting, then it's still capturing.
     // Otherwise a long capture would temporarily set it as not presenting.
-    bool presenting = it->second > 0;
+    status.presenting = it->second > 0;
 
-    if(presenting && !IsFrameCapturing() && it->second < Timing::GetUnixTimestamp() - 10)
-      presenting = false;
+    if(status.presenting && !IsFrameCapturing() && it->second < Timing::GetUnixTimestamp() - 10)
+      status.presenting = false;
 
-    ret[it->first] = presenting;
+    status.supported = (HasRemoteDriver(it->first) || HasReplayDriver(it->first)) &&
+                       HasActiveFrameCapturer(it->first);
+
+    if(!status.supported)
+    {
+      SCOPED_LOCK(m_DriverLock);
+      status.supportMessage = m_APISupportMessages[it->first];
+    }
   }
 
   return ret;
diff --git a/renderdoc/core/core.h b/renderdoc/core/core.h
index 850783b00..ecd9f8001 100644
--- a/renderdoc/core/core.h
+++ b/renderdoc/core/core.h
@@ -236,6 +236,20 @@ enum class RDCDriver : uint32_t
 
 DECLARE_REFLECTION_ENUM(RDCDriver);
 
+struct RDCDriverStatus
+{
+  bool presenting = false;
+  bool supported = false;
+  rdcstr supportMessage;
+
+  bool operator==(const RDCDriverStatus &o) const
+  {
+    return presenting == o.presenting && supported == o.supported &&
+           supportMessage == o.supportMessage;
+  }
+  bool operator!=(const RDCDriverStatus &o) const { return !(*this == o); }
+};
+
 enum ReplayLogType
 {
   eReplay_Full,
@@ -547,7 +561,8 @@ public:
   bool HasRemoteDriver(RDCDriver driver) const;
 
   void AddActiveDriver(RDCDriver driver, bool present);
-  std::map<RDCDriver, bool> GetActiveDrivers();
+  void SetDriverUnsupportedMessage(RDCDriver driver, rdcstr message);
+  std::map<RDCDriver, RDCDriverStatus> GetActiveDrivers();
 
   uint32_t GetTargetControlIdent() const { return m_RemoteIdent; }
   bool IsTargetControlConnected();
@@ -644,6 +659,7 @@ private:
   int32_t m_MarkerIndentLevel;
   Threading::CriticalSection m_DriverLock;
   std::map<RDCDriver, uint64_t> m_ActiveDrivers;
+  std::map<RDCDriver, rdcstr> m_APISupportMessages;
 
   Threading::ThreadHandle m_AvailableGPUThread = 0;
   rdcarray<GPUDevice> m_AvailableGPUs;
diff --git a/renderdoc/core/target_control.cpp b/renderdoc/core/target_control.cpp
index 327abbf44..bd16c1816 100644
--- a/renderdoc/core/target_control.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/core/target_control.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 #include "replay/replay_driver.h"
 #include "serialise/serialiser.h"
 
-static const uint32_t TargetControlProtocolVersion = 7;
+static const uint32_t TargetControlProtocolVersion = 8;
 
 static bool IsProtocolVersionSupported(const uint32_t protocolVersion)
 {
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ static bool IsProtocolVersionSupported(const uint32_t protocolVersion)
   if(protocolVersion == 6)
     return true;
 
+  // 7 -> 8 add custom message for unsupported APIs
+  if(protocolVersion == 7)
+    return true;
+
   if(protocolVersion == TargetControlProtocolVersion)
     return true;
 
@@ -156,7 +160,7 @@ void RenderDoc::TargetControlClientThread(uint32_t version, Network::Socket *cli
 
   rdcarray<CaptureData> captures;
   rdcarray<rdcpair<uint32_t, uint32_t> > children;
-  std::map<RDCDriver, bool> drivers;
+  std::map<RDCDriver, RDCDriverStatus> drivers;
   float prevCaptureProgress = captureProgress;
   uint32_t prevWindows = 0;
 
@@ -171,7 +175,7 @@ void RenderDoc::TargetControlClientThread(uint32_t version, Network::Socket *cli
     Threading::Sleep(ticktime);
     curtime += ticktime;
 
-    std::map<RDCDriver, bool> curdrivers = RenderDoc::Inst().GetActiveDrivers();
+    std::map<RDCDriver, RDCDriverStatus> curdrivers = RenderDoc::Inst().GetActiveDrivers();
 
     rdcarray<CaptureData> caps = RenderDoc::Inst().GetCaptures();
     rdcarray<rdcpair<uint32_t, uint32_t> > childprocs = RenderDoc::Inst().GetChildProcesses();
@@ -182,7 +186,7 @@ void RenderDoc::TargetControlClientThread(uint32_t version, Network::Socket *cli
     {
       // find the first difference, either a new key or a key with a different value, and send it.
       RDCDriver driver = RDCDriver::Unknown;
-      bool presenting = false;
+      RDCDriverStatus status;
 
       // search for new drivers
       for(auto it = curdrivers.begin(); it != curdrivers.end(); it++)
@@ -190,7 +194,7 @@ void RenderDoc::TargetControlClientThread(uint32_t version, Network::Socket *cli
         if(drivers.find(it->first) == drivers.end() || drivers[it->first] != it->second)
         {
           driver = it->first;
-          presenting = it->second;
+          status = it->second;
           break;
         }
       }
@@ -198,19 +202,18 @@ void RenderDoc::TargetControlClientThread(uint32_t version, Network::Socket *cli
       RDCASSERTNOTEQUAL(driver, RDCDriver::Unknown);
 
       if(driver != RDCDriver::Unknown)
-        drivers[driver] = presenting;
-
-      bool supported =
-          RenderDoc::Inst().HasRemoteDriver(driver) || RenderDoc::Inst().HasReplayDriver(driver);
-
-      supported &= RenderDoc::Inst().HasActiveFrameCapturer(driver);
+        drivers[driver] = status;
 
       WRITE_DATA_SCOPE();
       {
         SCOPED_SERIALISE_CHUNK(ePacket_APIUse);
         SERIALISE_ELEMENT(driver);
-        SERIALISE_ELEMENT(presenting);
-        SERIALISE_ELEMENT(supported);
+        SERIALISE_ELEMENT(status.presenting);
+        SERIALISE_ELEMENT(status.supported);
+        if(version >= 8)
+        {
+          SERIALISE_ELEMENT(status.supportMessage);
+        }
       }
     }
     else if(caps.size() != captures.size())
@@ -843,15 +846,21 @@ public:
       RDCDriver driver = RDCDriver::Unknown;
       bool presenting = false;
       bool supported = false;
+      rdcstr supportMessage;
 
       READ_DATA_SCOPE();
       SERIALISE_ELEMENT(driver);
       SERIALISE_ELEMENT(presenting);
       SERIALISE_ELEMENT(supported);
+      if(m_Version >= 8)
+      {
+        SERIALISE_ELEMENT(supportMessage);
+      }
 
       msg.apiUse.name = ToStr(driver);
       msg.apiUse.presenting = presenting;
       msg.apiUse.supported = supported;
+      msg.apiUse.supportMessage = supportMessage;
 
       if(presenting)
         m_API = ToStr(driver);
@@ -859,6 +868,8 @@ public:
       RDCLOG("Used API: %s (%s & %s)", msg.apiUse.name.c_str(),
              presenting ? "Presenting" : "Not presenting",
              supported ? "supported" : "not supported");
+      if(!supportMessage.empty())
+        RDCLOG("Support: %s", supportMessage.c_str());
 
       reader.EndChunk();
       return msg;
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/d3d8/d3d8_device.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/d3d8/d3d8_device.cpp
index 7effac3c9..ccb9b23d8 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/d3d8/d3d8_device.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/d3d8/d3d8_device.cpp
@@ -283,6 +283,7 @@ HRESULT __stdcall WrappedD3DDevice8::Present(CONST RECT *pSourceRect, CONST RECT
   }
 
   RenderDoc::Inst().AddActiveDriver(RDCDriver::D3D8, true);
+  RenderDoc::Inst().SetDriverUnsupportedMessage(RDCDriver::D3D8, "D3D8 is not a supported API");
 
   return m_device->Present(pSourceRect, pDestRect, hDestWindowOverride, pDirtyRegion);
 }
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/d3d9/d3d9_device.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/d3d9/d3d9_device.cpp
index ac54065e1..2b392fb2e 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/d3d9/d3d9_device.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/d3d9/d3d9_device.cpp
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ HRESULT __stdcall WrappedD3DDevice9::Present(CONST RECT *pSourceRect, CONST RECT
   }
 
   RenderDoc::Inst().AddActiveDriver(RDCDriver::D3D9, true);
+  RenderDoc::Inst().SetDriverUnsupportedMessage(RDCDriver::D3D9, "D3D9 is not a supported API");
 
   return m_device->Present(pSourceRect, pDestRect, hDestWindowOverride, pDirtyRegion);
 }
diff --git a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.cpp b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.cpp
index 95d76b15d..950239bc7 100644
--- a/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/driver/gl/gl_driver.cpp
@@ -1027,7 +1027,28 @@ void WrappedOpenGL::UseUnusedSupportedFunction(const char *name)
     }
   }
 
+  size_t sz = m_UnsupportedFunctions.size();
   m_UnsupportedFunctions.insert(name);
+
+  if(sz != m_UnsupportedFunctions.size())
+  {
+    RDCERR("Unsupported function %s used", name);
+
+    rdcstr unsupportedStatus = StringFormat::Fmt(
+        "Unsupported %s used:\n", m_UnsupportedFunctions.size() == 1 ? "function" : "functions");
+    size_t i = 0;
+    for(const char *func : m_UnsupportedFunctions)
+    {
+      i++;
+      if(i > 4)
+        break;
+      unsupportedStatus += StringFormat::Fmt(" - %s\n", func);
+    }
+    if(m_UnsupportedFunctions.size() > i)
+      unsupportedStatus += " - ...\n";
+
+    RenderDoc::Inst().SetDriverUnsupportedMessage(RDCDriver::OpenGL, unsupportedStatus);
+  }
 }
 
 void WrappedOpenGL::CheckImplicitThread()
@@ -2073,7 +2094,9 @@ void WrappedOpenGL::SwapBuffers(WindowingSystem winSystem, void *windowHandle)
       // print the unsupported functions (up to a handful) to show
       if(!m_UnsupportedFunctions.empty())
       {
-        overlayText += "Captures disabled.\nUnsupported function used:\n";
+        overlayText +=
+            StringFormat::Fmt("Captures disabled.\nUnsupported %s used:\n",
+                              m_UnsupportedFunctions.size() == 1 ? "function" : "functions");
         size_t i = 0;
         for(const char *func : m_UnsupportedFunctions)
         {