How to Reset Graphics Driver on Windows 11 & 10

Are you suffering from a graphics driver issue on your computer? Does your display darken or flicker while playing games or watching videos? In such a situation, you need to reset your graphics driver to eliminate the graphics driver issues. 

Several reasons cause your graphics driver faults. Sometimes, you have seen graphics drivers crushed or not working properly because new games or applications aren’t compatible with your drivers, or drivers become corrupted in terms of software conflicts, hardware changes, updates, and so on. To fix all the problems, you should learn how to reset the graphics driver on Windows 10 & 11. Keep reading till the end of this article and gather effective ways; how to reset your graphics driver easily. 

What is A Graphics Driver?

The Graphics Driver is a program that controls all the graphics settings of your computer. It includes a monitor, software that displays graphics, and more. Specifically, graphics cards enable a computer to transform binary codes into graphics, and you can see that on your monitor. The graphics driver provides direction to the graphics card about how to complete a task appropriately.

How to Reset Graphics Driver on Windows 11 & 10?

It's very awkward to see your computer display constantly blackout or flicking due to graphics driver issues. To remove this disgusting problem, we have included some effective methods that will eliminate the GPU problem. Let's view the process of how to reset graphics driver on Windows 11 or 10:

Method 1: Use the Keyboard Shortcut to Reset Graphics Driver

This Keyboard shortcut is the easiest way to fix your graphics driver, and applying this method reboots the GPU on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. The keyboard shortcut doesn't affect your applications or unsaved work, but you can't use this method while playing games. When you play a video game, it requires your device's keyboard, and you can't use this shortcut to set the GPU. To reset the GPU using the keyboard shortcut, press "Win + Ctrl + Shift + B" at a time, and you can see the screen flash for one or two seconds with a beep tone. After that, your PC will become normal, and you have applied the keyboard shortcut to fix the error.

Method 2: Utilize Device Manager to Reset Graphics Driver

Device Manager is a useful tool to reset your graphics driver issues immediately. So, if the keyboard shortcut is not working, then use Device Manager to reset your computer graphics driver.

• Type Device Manager in the Windows Search Menu.
• Click on Open, and the Device Manager window will appear for you.
• Select the Graphics Card Driver; right-click on it and select Properties.
• Now, choose the Driver tab in the Properties window and click Disable Device.
• Tap Yes and wait a few seconds.
• Again, click on the Enable Device option.

Your device's screen might be black for a while while you disable and enable the GPU. It's a normal thing, and after this, check if the problem persists. 

Method 3: Uninstall Graphics Driver and Reinstall

If the above method is not working to reset the GPU, then follow this:

Uninstall and reinstall the graphics driver. Uninstall removes your graphics driver from the system and repairs any issues or compatibility problems as well. Here is the process:

• Search Device Manager in the Windows Search.
• Open the Device Manager and choose the graphics driver.
• Right-click on the drive and tap on the Uninstall Device to confirm the action.

After the uninstallation, restart your computer and it will help to solve your problem. Windows will detect the missing driver and reinstall it automatically. When you install the driver, you can see a fresh graphics driver. 

Method 4: Reset the Graphics Driver from the Task Manager

Using the Task Manager, you can also reset the graphics driver. If all the other methods fail to resolve the issue, then utilize the Task Manager by following the process below:

• Press "Ctrl+Shift+Esc" at the same time, and the task manager will open.
• Under the File Menu, choose the Process tab.
• In the background process, you can find the graphics Card or the brand's graphics card on your computer.
• Choose the driver, right-click on it, and then click the End Task to wipe out your graphics driver's information.
• Your computer screen starts to flicker and becomes normal after a while.

Reboot your computer and check if the problem is resolved.

Method 5: Reset the NVIDIA & Intel Graphics Driver

You can easily reset the NVIDIA and Intel graphics cards by following the process below. Here are these:

1. Reset NVIDIA Graphics Card

• Right-click your mouse on the Windows home screen.
• Click on it to open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
• Click on Manage 3D Settings on the left side.
• Navigate down to the lower section and click on Restore to reset the NVIDIA graphics.

2. Reset the Intel Graphics Card

• To reset the Intel graphics card, right-click your mouse on the Windows home screen.
• Click on the Intel Graphics Settings and choose Graphics Properties.
• Now, select the 3D option that contains a 3D cube icon.
• In the following window, find the Restore Defaults and click to restore it.
• You will get the default graphics card driver, and all of the previous issues are resolved.

Precautions Before Resetting Graphics Card

Resetting your graphics driver is a simple process, but you should be careful before resetting it. Here are some suggestions while you're approaching for reset:

1. Apply any of the above methods for resetting, but avoid doing the same process often, because repeated uses of this same method can result in a clogged system. If one method is not working properly, try another method to get an effective result.
2. When you're going to reset the graphics driver, close all unfinished tasks immediately or save files that you haven't done yet! Once you start resetting the GPU, all of your unsaved and open files are removed, and ultimately, you lose that important file.
3. You may find some of your drivers are frozen after resetting your GPU. Don't panic about that! You can resolve this problem by disabling the frozen driver from Device Manager and re-enabling the driver to function normally.

Final Thoughts

We hope our guide on how to reset graphics driver on Windows 10/11 delivers all the information you need most. If you observe a frozen screen or poor-quality graphics, then you should reset your graphics card for better graphics quality. Share your opinion with us in the comment section and let us know the value of this article to you. Have a nice day!

Also Read: How to Update Audio Drivers on Windows 11 & 10