How Can I Reset My Graphics Driver on Windows 11?
How Can I Reset My Graphics Driver on Windows 11?
4 Answers

Struggling with your Windows 11 graphics driver? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people face screen flickering, black screens, or other graphics glitches. The good news? There are several ways to reset your graphics driver.
Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Press the Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B keys all at once. It’s a quick fix—your screen might flicker and you could hear a beep, signaling the driver reset. This trick works for both NVIDIA and AMD cards, and it usually won’t mess with your open apps or games.
Method 2: Through Device Manager
- Open Device Manager: Easy peasy—right-click the Start button and pick “Device Manager” from the menu, or just type “Device Manager” into the Windows search.
- Find the Graphics Driver: In the Device Manager window, expand the “Display adapters” section.
- Disable and Re-enable: Right-click your graphics card, select “Properties,” go to the “Driver” tab, and hit “Disable Device.” After that, click “Enable Device” to reset.
- Uninstall and Reinstall: Right-click again, pick “Uninstall device,” and confirm. Restart your computer and let Windows reinstall the driver automatically, or manually download it from the manufacturer’s website.
Method 3: Using the Graphics Control Panel
- NVIDIA Control Panel: Right-click on your desktop and choose “NVIDIA Control Panel.” Head to “Manage 3D settings” and click “Restore Defaults.”
- AMD Radeon Software: Same idea—right-click the desktop, pick “AMD Radeon Software,” and find the option to reset to factory defaults.
- Intel Graphics Settings: Right-click on your desktop, select “Intel Graphics Settings,” click “Restore Defaults,” and reboot.
Method 4: Using the Windows Recovery Environment
- Access Recovery: Restart your computer and press F11 (or sometimes F8 or Shift + F8) during boot.
- Enter Advanced Options: Click “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced Options.”
- Command Prompt: Choose “Command Prompt” in the Advanced Options.
- Disable Driver Signature Enforcement: Type
bcdedit /set no integrity checks on
and hit Enter. - Reboot and Reinstall: Restart your computer, then download and install the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
Method 5: Using System Restore
- Open Recovery Options: Click Start, type “Recovery,” and choose “Recovery options.”
- Launch System Restore: Click “Open System Restore” and follow the wizard to pick a restore point.
- Restore and Test: Once done, restart and check your graphics.
Method 6: Using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU)
- Download DDU: Head to the official DDU website and grab the tool.
- Safe Mode Boot: Restart your computer in Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart from the Start menu).
- Run DDU: In Safe Mode, run DDU and choose to clean and reset your graphics driver.
- Reinstall: After DDU finishes, install the latest driver from the manufacturer’s site.
Method 7: Updating Drivers via Windows Update
- Settings: Click Start and go to “Settings” (the gear icon).
- Update & Security: Click “Update & Security.”
- Check for Updates: Click “Windows Update” and then “Check for updates.” Install any available graphics driver updates.
Why Graphics Drivers Fail
- Outdated Drivers: If your driver’s behind the times, it might not play nice with new system updates, causing flickering or resolution issues.
- Corrupted Driver Files: Power outages or improper shutdowns can mess up your driver files.
- System Updates: Sometimes Windows updates clash with your graphics driver.
- Overheating: Heat is a killer for graphics cards, causing shutdowns or weird graphics.
- Software Conflicts: New apps or software might conflict with your driver.
How to Prevent These Issues
- Update Regularly: Keep your drivers up to date by checking the manufacturer’s site or enabling auto-updates in Windows.
- Monitor System Health: Watch your graphics card’s temperature, clean your computer regularly, and keep air vents clear.
- Use Reliable Software: Only download from trusted sources to avoid conflicts.
- Create Restore Points: Before big updates or new driver installs, create a system restore point to easily roll back if things go wrong.
So, there you have it! Multiple ways to reset your graphics driver on Windows 11 and some tips to keep those pesky driver issues at bay.

Trying to sort out your graphics driver on Windows 11 can seem like a hassle, but don’t worry—I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve for you. There are several ways to tackle this, depending on what’s going wrong.
Method 1: Quick Keyboard Shortcut Trick
Here’s a neat little hack that works like a charm without upsetting your open programs.
- Slam
Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B
together. - Your screen’s gonna do a little dance and possibly give off a beep.
- If it goes off without a hitch, your display should be back to normal.
It’s your go-to for sorting out those annoying screen freezes or flickering without rebooting the whole system.
Method 2: A Quick Stop in Device Manager
When resetting your graphics through keyboard magic doesn’t cut it, Device Manager’s got your back.
-
Jump into Device Manager:
- Hit
Windows key + S
, punch in “Device Manager,” and tap Enter.
- Hit
-
Find Your Display Adapters:
- Pop open the “Display adapters” section to spot your graphics drivers.
- Give the Driver a Break:
- Right-click your graphics driver (maybe NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and choose “Disable device.” Go ahead and confirm if it asks.
- Don’t worry if your screen acts out for a bit.
- Fire the Driver Back Up:
- After a few seconds, right-click the driver again and hit “Enable device.”
This little process acts like a reset button for the graphics driver by making it reload itself.
Method 3: Completely Reinstall It
When nothing seems to work, it might be time to go for the nuclear option: uninstall and install.
- Hop back into Device Manager:
- You know the drill—
Windows key + S
, type “Device Manager,” and Enter.
- You know the drill—
-
Wave Goodbye to the Driver:
- In “Display adapters,” right-click on your card, and hit “Uninstall device.”
- In the pop-up, check “Delete the driver software for this device” if it shows up, then click Uninstall.
-
Let Your PC Take a Nap:
- Reboot your PC after uninstalling. Windows will automatically re-detect and install the driver again when it wakes up.
This gets you a squeaky clean installation of your graphics drivers.
Method 4: Go All Out with Third-Party Tools
If you’re still having driver drama, it’s time to call in the big guns:
- Grab a tool like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).
- Follow what DDU says to remove your current drivers.
- Restart your setup once you’re done.
- Head to NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel’s website to snag and install the newest drivers.
Third-party tools can clean up all traces of old drivers lingering around.
Follow these steps, and your graphics driver issues on Windows 11 should be history. Good luck!

How to Reset Graphics Driver in Windows 11: A Handy Rundown
Having trouble with your display? Maybe it’s freezing up or you’re plunged into the dark abyss of a black screen. Resetting your graphics driver can swoop in and save the day. Here’s how you can tackle these nasty gremlins.
What’s Messing with Your Graphics Driver?
- Driver Meltdown: Little hiccups that pop up due to software scrapes or hardware overloads.
- Old or Corrupted Drivers: Dinosaur-age files that just don’t fit in anymore.
- The Havoc of Third-Party Software: Those gaming or overclocking pals might be turning against your driver.
- Funny Business with System Settings: Your OS or BIOS might just be out of tune.
Ways to Give Your Graphics Driver a Reboot
Quick Keyboard Shortcut Reset
Situation: Your screen’s acting jittery, or there’s a minor hiccup.
Do This:
- Smash Win + Ctrl + Shift + B together.
- Expect a brief black-out as your driver gets its act together. You should see things back to normal in a second.
Heads Up: Make sure the Windows key isn’t switched off if you’re in gamer mode.
Spruce Up or Reinstall Your Driver via Device Manager
Situation: Display troubles or your driver might need a fresh coat of paint.
Do This:
- Right-click on the Start button and hit up Device Manager.
- Scroll down to Display adapters, right-click your graphics card (like NVIDIA, AMD, Intel), and go for Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the steps.
- If it’s still a no-go, uninstall the driver:
- Right-click the device and select Uninstall device.
- Tick Attempt to remove the driver software (if you see it).
- Reboot—Windows will pop the original driver back.
Clean Driver Refresh
Situation: Botched drivers or failed updates.
Do This:
- Evict Current Drivers:
- Head to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find your GPU software (say, NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon) and show it the door.
- Snag Latest Drivers:
- Swing by the card maker’s site (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and grab the freshest driver that’ll cozy up to Windows 11.
- Safe Mode Install (Optional):
- Slip into Safe Mode (hold Shift as you select Restart > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart).
- Fire up the driver sans conflicts.
Masterful System-Level Fixes
Situation: Non-stop crashes or OS blunders.
- Zap System Problems with SFC:
- Launch Command Prompt as the big cheese and type:
sfc /scannow
- Launch Command Prompt as the big cheese and type:
- Bring Out the Big Guns with DISM:
- In Command Prompt, run:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Reboot once it’s done.
- In Command Prompt, run:
Time to Reset Windows 11 (Last-Ditch Effort)
Situation: Epic system meltdown screwing up everything.
Do This:
- Hold Shift and click Start > Power > Restart.
- Go over to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
- Pick whether to Keep my files or go full Monty with Remove everything.
- Follow the instructions popping up on your screen to reboot your OS.
Bonus Tips
- Peek at BIOS/UEFI Settings: Make sure your GPU settings (like the main display adapter) are squared away.
- Turn Off Compatibility Assistant:
- Launch gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor) and head to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Application Compatibility.
- Enable Turn off Program Compatibility Assistant.
Why Bother Resetting Your Graphics Driver?
You’re ditching temporary junk and reloading driver files, which helps iron out issues without touching your stuff. It’s usually a safer pick than going nuclear with system resets, often tackling bugs from updates or heavy-duty programs.
By giving these steps a whirl, you can pretty much clear up most graphics quirks in Windows 11. If there’s hardware havoc (hello, overheating or physical dings), it’s smart to holler for a technician.

So, your graphics driver in Windows 11 is acting up? No worries, we’ve got some tricks to reset it and get everything back on track.
First up, there’s a snappy keyboard shortcut that does wonders! Hit the Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B keys all at once. You’ll hear a little beep and the screen might do a quick flicker. It’s like a quick nudge for the graphics driver, but you keep your apps open. Super handy!
If you want to dig in a bit more, head over to the Device Manager. Here’s how: right-click your computer’s Start button and tap Device Manager. Dive into Display adapters and find your graphics driver. Right-click it, choose Disable device, twiddle your thumbs for a few seconds, and then Enable it again. It’s like flipping the switch on it.
Sometimes you just need a fresh restart. Click the Start menu, hit Power, and then Restart your PC. Easy peasy—and sometimes it’s all you need to clear up those pesky little driver gremlins.
Feeling a bit adventurous? Try reinstalling the driver through Device Manager. Open Device Manager from Start, head over to Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and choose Uninstall device. Don’t panic—restart your computer after this, and Windows will fetch and reinstall the driver automatically. It’s like a facelift for your graphics!
Lastly, give Windows Update a whirl. Press Windows + I to open Settings, go to Update & Security, and then Windows Update. Hit Check for updates. If your graphics driver needs a sprinkle of updates, this will take care of it.
Resetting your graphics driver can really be a game-changer for those annoying display issues. Flickering, laggy performance, or apps crashing—they’re all no match for these fixes. Just take it step by step, and you should be in the clear!