Are you facing any issues with the graphics driver on your Windows, like game lagging, black screen, screen flickering, frozen display, etc? If so, you may need to reset your graphics driver to fix the problem.
Resetting your graphics driver can improve your system performance and stability, especially if you’ve recently updated or installed a new driver.
In this article, I will show you how to reset your graphics driver on Windows 10 and 11 using different methods. I’ll also share some additional tips to optimize your graphics driver and prevent future problems.
Why you need to reset Graphics drivers
There are many reasons why you might need to reset your driver drivers, some of them are:
- Resetting your graphics driver can help you resolve various issues with your display, such as crashes, glitches, screen tearing, etc.
- You are noticing lagging and frame drops while playing games.
- If you recently updated your graphics driver, and then your graphics card driver is not working properly, a reset may help.
How to Reset Graphics Driver on Windows 10 & 11
There are various ways to reset the graphics driver on your Windows. Here are the most popular and working methods.
Method 1: Restart your computer
The simplest and most common way to reset your graphics driver is to restart your computer. This will clear any temporary files and settings that might be causing the problem, and reload the driver from scratch. To restart your computer, follow these steps:
- Click on the Start menu and select the Power icon.
- Choose Restart from the options.
- Wait for your computer to reboot and log in again.
Method 2: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Another quick and easy way to reset your graphics driver is to use a keyboard shortcut. This will force Windows to restart the graphics driver without rebooting the entire system. To use keyboard shortcuts, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Windows key and the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
- While holding down these keys, press the Shift key and the B key at the same time.
- Release all keys and wait for a few seconds.
After that, you will hear a beep sound, and your screen will flicker for a while. This means that Windows has successfully restarted the graphics driver. If this method doesn’t work, try the next one.
Method 3: Reset the graphics driver using Device Manager
Another way to reset your graphics driver is to use Device Manager. It is a tool that allows you to manage and update your hardware devices and drivers on your Windows. To use Device Manager, follow these steps –
1. First, right-click on the Start menu (Windows icon) and select Device Manager from the options.
2. Then, find and expand the Display Adapters category in the Device Manager window and find your graphics driver. This should contain the name of your graphics card or chipset, such as NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
3. After that, right-click on your graphics driver and select Disable Device from the menu. This will temporarily disable your graphics driver and switch to the native display driver.
4. Then, wait for a few seconds and then right-click on your graphics driver again. But, this time, choose Enable Device from the menu.
This will reset your graphics driver and may fix your problem. If this method does not fix your problem, try the next one.
Method 4: Reinstall the graphics driver
Another way to reset your graphics driver is to completely reinstall it. This will remove the old driver and install a new one, which may fix any compatibility or performance issues. To reinstall the graphics driver, follow these steps:
1. First, right-click on the Start menu (Windows icon) and select Device Manager from the options.
2. Then, find and expand the Display Adapters category in the Device Manager window and find your graphics driver.
3. After that, right-click on your graphics driver and select Uninstall Device from the menu. This will remove the graphics driver from your PC.
4. Then, a confirmation pop-up window will appear, click Uninstall to confirm the uninstallation.
5. After the graphics driver is uninstalled, reboot your Windows.
As soon as your PC reboots, Windows will detect your missing graphics driver and install it automatically. If this doesn’t reinstall the driver, you can visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of the graphics driver for your device.
Method 5: Update your Graphics Driver
Another way to reset your graphics driver is to update it to the latest version. It can improve your graphics performance and compatibility, as well as fix any bugs or errors. To update your graphics card drivers, follow these steps:
1. First, right-click on the Start menu (Windows icon) and select Device Manager from the options.
2. Then, find and expand the Display Adapters category in the Device Manager window and find your graphics driver.
3. After that, right-click on your graphics driver and select Update Driver from the menu.
4. Then, click “Search automatically for drivers” and give Windows a few seconds to search for the latest driver.
5. After Windows detects new drivers available for your GPU, install the drivers by clicking “Next.”
After installing the latest drivers for your GPU, restart your PC.
Bonus tips to protect your graphics driver from future problems:
Here are some additional tips and tricks for optimizing your graphics driver and preventing future problems:
- Always keep your graphics driver updated to the latest version, as this will ensure the best performance and compatibility for your system and games.
- Always use official drivers from the manufacturer’s website or trusted driver updater software to avoid any malware or viruses from damaging your system.
- Always create a system restore point before updating or installing any drivers, as this will allow you to revert to a previous state if anything goes wrong.
- Always backup your important files and data before resetting or uninstalling any driver, as this will prevent any data loss or corruption.
- Always monitor your system temperature and fan speed, as overheating can cause your graphics driver to crash or corrupt. You can use tools like HWMonitor to check the status of your system.
- Always clean your computer and graphics card regularly, as dust and dirt can affect the performance and cooling of your system. You can use a soft brush or a compressed air can to remove any dust from your components.
Conclusion
So, these are some of the working methods to reset your graphics driver on Windows 10 & 11 and help you fix any graphics or display issues that you may have been experiencing on your system. I’ve also shared some additional tips and tricks to optimize your graphics driver and prevent future problems.
I hope this article has helped you resolve your graphics driver issue and improve the performance and stability of your system. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
Further Reading
- How To Stop Automatic Updates On Windows 10
- How To Mount ISO Files In Windows 10/11
- How To Change Mouse Cursor In Windows 10
