Did you run into a black screen issue? It might not be a hardware failure. You might be looking at the Graphics Driver issue. Sometimes, resetting or diagnosing Graphics Drivers is the solution. So, how can you do that?
You will learn to reset the graphics drivers and display adapters. But, there are also some points to keep in mind. These are to help you understand the precautions to take. Additionally, you will learn about the advantages and when to use this option. So, let’s start!
Things To Keep In Mind Before Resetting Graphics Driver
These are some precautions and practices you should take for better system performance.
- Don’t make it a habit to reset Graphics Drivers. You should use it only in emergencies.
- Always save the data and work, if you can. The same applies to creating Backup and Restore Points.
- Resetting drivers frequently can lead to other errors. You could even end up malfunctioning with other drivers. Thus, they will end up needing your attention as well.
- Use The Hotkey Method
- Disable & Enable Graphics Driver
- Remove Corrupted Drivers
- Solutions For Specific Drivers
Methods To Reset Graphic Drivers On A Computer
1. Use The Hotkey Method
Your ‘go to’ option will be to use the shortcut keys available on your Microsoft OS. From Windows 10 onwards, it has become increasingly convenient for the users to fix the PC. One of these is the use of these shortcut keys:
- Press Windows Key + CTRL + SHIFT + B. Make sure to press them in this order to avoid any other complications.
- Your entire screen might go black or unresponsive for a couple of seconds.
If this method doesn’t work, you could have the hotkeys disabled. Another reason could be that your Windows key doesn’t work for some reason. Of course, you can retry to ensure that you’re using the correct keys.
Remember to use this method after you back up all the work. In rare cases, the system could prompt a reboot or even crash. It is uncommon but still a possibility.
Using the manual reset on the Display or Graphics driver too many times can corrupt it or the system files. So, keep that in mind while using this method.
2. Disable & Enable Graphics Driver
If the shortcut keys method doesn’t work, you could always use the conventional method. This is a little longer than the previous one but works the same. In some cases, it could work better, as well.
If you have two different drivers – Display driver and graphics card driver, this is a viable method:
- First, go to the Start Menu and use the Search Bar. Find ‘Device Manager’ in the list. Right-click on it and make sure to launch it as Administrator.
- Next, find the Graphics Driver on the list. Right-click on it and see if you have an option to Enable or Disable it. If there is, click on it. Otherwise, you can click on the properties and go to the Drivers Tab. You will find the same option there to Disable / Enable. If the option is grey, you can’t do anything about it. You will have to move to other methods.
- Once you click the Disable, your screen might fluctuate, and your PC might even restart. But that’s not always the case. If you have two drivers, the work will fall on the other one. (Graphics and Display).
- If there was an option to Enable, your work is done. But, if it was an option to disable: Go ahead and restart the System, then resume to the same settings. Right-click on the driver again and select ‘Enable.’ This will manually restart the driver.
You might want to repeat the same process for the Display Adapters separately. This method is available for most drivers. So, if you run into a hardware problem you can’t seem to diagnose, you can always enable or disable it.
3. Remove Corrupted Drivers
Resetting a Graphics Driver doesn’t always mean enabling and disabling it or just restarting it. Sometimes, you have to take drastic steps – like removing and reinstalling a driver.
A corrupted driver is the same as having a corrupted system or app file. It won’t communicate with the hardware efficiently. In most cases, it won’t work at all. There’s no way to repair the drivers. You can only remove and install a new version:
- Once again, open the Device Manager. Another method to launch Device Manager is through Run Utility. Press Windows + R keys and launch the Run app. Then type ‘devmgmt.msc’ and press Shift + Enter. This will launch Device Manager as Admin.
- Next, find the Graphics Drivers on the list. Right-click on it and see if there’s an option to Uninstall or Remove the device. If there is, click on it. If not, then again, go to the Properties and then the Drivers Tab.
- In the Drivers tab, you will find the option to Uninstall The Driver or Remove Device. Click on either one, whichever is available for you.
- Go through with the Wizard. After that, go ahead and restart your system.
- Relaunch Device Manager. In most cases, Windows 10 and above would have automatically downloaded the drivers. In case they didn’t, use the ‘Scan For Hardware Changes’ option in the top-left corner of Device Manager. This will help you install the latest drivers missing from your system.
After that, you can choose to restart the system or go on with your work.
4. Solutions For Specific Drivers
Some Graphics drivers come with an extra tool. Often, it is a third-party app, small in size, to help you configure graphics settings. That’s the case with AMD, NVIDIA, and high-end INTEL Graphics Cards. Thus, you might want to tackle them separately and reset them:
For AMD Graphics Card Users
- Right-click on the desktop display screen. It is the home screen. You will see the AMD Radeon Settings among the options. Click on it to launch it.
- Next, go to the Preference tab. This is for you to adjust settings.
- There will be the Restore Factory Defaults option. You can use this to reset your AMD graphics cards and its settings.
- Once done, you might want to restart your PC.
For NVIDIA Graphics Card Users
- Once again, right-click on the Home Screen, away from any File or Folder. Select the ‘Nvidia Control Panel.’
- Next, go to the Manage 3D Settings option. You will find the Restore Defaults option there.
- This will help you reset the NVIDIA graphics cards.
For INTEL Graphics Card Users
- You will see the Graphics Properties option upon right-clicking the screen. Select the 3D Option if it is available.
- In there, you will find the Restore Defaults option. Go through with it, and it should save you the trouble.
In some cases, right-clicking the screen won’t work. You can find the toolkit for the graphics card in the Task Bar. It should be among the other tasks near your Wifi, Date & Time Display.
If The Above-Given Solutions Didn’t Work – Update The Drivers
Did the above-given solutions not fix your issue? If your Graphics Driver or Display Adapter is still causing problems, it could be another issue. In some cases, it could be an outdated or even a too-advanced driver.
In such cases, there’s no use in resetting the drivers. You have to use another method. Update the drivers or Roll Back Driver. How to do that?
- Once again, access the Device Manager. Go to the relevant Driver.
- Right-click on it and select Properties. In the Drivers tab, check for the options.
- See if you have an ‘Update Driver’ option available. If it is available, click on it. Make sure that you have an internet connection.
- In the Wizard, make sure to select the automatic option to download the drivers. This will save you some trouble.
In case you don’t have an option to Update the Driver, but there’s a Roll Back Driver option, click on it. This will revert your driver to the previous version.
Don’t worry if this solution doesn’t work. You can always update the driver again.
Did the automatic update not work for the driver? Then you might have to manually search for the latest version of the driver. For that, learn about the manufacturer and the current version of your Driver. Google for it, and you will find it. Download the driver from the official website.
The Need For Resetting Graphics Drivers
A graphics driver reset is handy when you use your system for extensive hours. In those cases, your screen, PC, or the entire system could get stuck. That’s either because of the overheating issues, or the System is trying to focus power. Thus, you can reset the graphics driver to enhance the graphics performance. This also applies in case you are playing games for too long.
Other reasons include:
- Your system is stuck. Nothing seems to be working for you. If that’s the case, Graphics Reset is worth giving a try.
- In case you get a Black Screen, it is worth resetting the Graphics Drivers.
Remember that Graphics Reset doesn’t work for everything. If you see issues like Blue Screen Of Death, you can’t fix it. The same goes for frequent system crashes. These issues need different diagnoses and solutions.
Conclusion – How To Reset Your Graphics Driver In Microsoft PC
Now you have learned how to reset the graphics driver and display adapter. If you ever run into the issues, you can use these methods. We have tried our best to bring you the most viable methods.
But remember, this is not a solution to everything. If you’re trying to run graphics extensive tools and games, you might want to upgrade.
Apart from that, it’s Ok to use these methods.
FAQs – How To Reset Graphics Driver Shortcut
Is A Display Adapter And Graphics Card The Same Thing?
In a general sense of things, yes, they are. But a Graphics Card is usually extra hardware you add to the system. It allows you to enhance graphics performance and memory. Thus, you can play your favorite games, stream higher quality content, and do much more. It eases graphics-oriented tasks. Meanwhile, the Display Adapter works for the system.
Should You Use A Third-Party Driver Program To Handle Things?
It is not the best idea to try and use third-party tools. Several companies and websites will ask you to use a tool. These promise to help you keep drivers up to date, among other things. But they are not necessary. Microsoft Windows takes care of most of your needs.
Why Isn’t My Keyboard Shortcut Working?
You might have the Windows key disabled in the settings. There’s also a possibility of faulty hardware or hotkeys being disabled. So, make sure to check your system’s settings before moving ahead.
Can You Reset Everything Through Device Manager Settings?
No. The device manager works for the hardware you have on your system and its drivers. Thus, you can reset them or update them. There are different controls available for each hardware. To change system settings and other things, you have to rely on other methods.
