Fix a Video Driver Problem in Windows

A video driver problem can cause a black screen, flickering, low resolution, crashes, or an error when you open a game or app. These steps help you identify whether the cause is a recent driver update, an outdated or damaged driver, or a display connection, then use Windows’ built-in recovery and update tools.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Windows account with permission to install updates or drivers.
An internet connection if you need to download a driver. If the affected PC cannot connect, use another device and a USB drive to transfer a suitable installer.
Your PC or graphics hardware details, such as the computer model or graphics adapter name. Check the manufacturer’s support information if you need a driver from it.
Save open work first. If possible, create a restore point before changing drivers, especially before installing one manually.

Step-by-Step

Check the display and restart. Confirm the monitor is powered on and set to the correct input. Reseat the video cable at both ends, and check that it is connected to the intended graphics output. If you use a dock, adapter, or external monitor, temporarily connect the display directly to the PC if practical. Restart Windows; a temporary graphics or connection fault can clear after a restart.
Note what changed. Did the problem begin after a Windows update, driver installation, new app, or hardware change? Note any message you see and whether the issue affects one app, one monitor, or the whole desktop. This helps choose a safe first fix rather than repeatedly installing unrelated drivers.
Try the graphics-driver reset shortcut. If Windows is running but the display has frozen or gone black, press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B once. The screen may briefly go dark or beep while Windows attempts to reset the graphics driver. Wait several seconds. If the picture does not return, restart the PC; do not assume the shortcut repairs a faulty driver permanently.
Check Windows Update. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install applicable updates and restart when prompted. Also check Advanced options > Optional updates for a driver update. Optional driver updates are not always the newest or best match, so if one causes a problem, use the rollback step below.
Inspect the adapter in Device Manager. Right-click Start and select Device Manager. Expand Display adapters, then double-click the listed adapter. On the General tab, read the device status. A warning icon or message can point to a driver or device problem, but a generic adapter name alone does not prove the hardware is broken.
Roll back a driver that recently caused trouble. In the adapter’s Properties, open the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver if the button is available. Choose a reason if asked, confirm, and restart. This option may be unavailable if Windows has no previous driver to restore. If the issue started after an update, this is often a better first driver change than uninstalling everything.
Update the driver through Device Manager. If there was no recent change, right-click the adapter and choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. Follow any prompts and restart if requested. Windows may report that the best driver is already installed; that does not necessarily mean it has the latest version offered by the PC or graphics-hardware maker.
Install a compatible driver from the appropriate support source. If the problem remains, identify the exact PC model and adapter in Device Manager. For a laptop or prebuilt PC, check its maker’s support page first, since its driver may be tailored to the system. For a separately installed graphics card, check the graphics-hardware maker’s support page. Select the correct Windows version and hardware, and avoid third-party driver-download sites. Run the downloaded installer, follow its instructions, and restart. Do not install a driver just because its name looks similar.
Reinstall the device only if updating or rolling back fails. In Device Manager, right-click the display adapter and choose Uninstall device. If offered a checkbox to remove the driver package, leave it unchecked for a routine reinstall unless the manufacturer’s instructions say otherwise. Confirm and restart. Windows may reinstall a basic or saved driver; then install the compatible driver you obtained from the support source. Expect the display to temporarily use a lower resolution.
Test and keep a way back. After restarting, check the display resolution under Settings > System > Display, then test the app or task that previously failed. If the new driver worsens the problem, use Device Manager’s rollback option, reinstall the prior compatible package, or use a restore point created before the change.

Common Mistakes

Installing a driver for a similar-looking but different adapter, computer model, or Windows version.
Removing the driver package before having a replacement ready, which can leave the display at basic resolution and make recovery harder.
Using unofficial driver sites or driver-updater utilities. They can supply incorrect or unwanted software; use Windows Update or the relevant hardware maker’s support page.
Assuming every black screen is a driver problem. A loose cable, wrong monitor input, failed display, or other hardware issue can look similar.
Changing several drivers or settings at once. Make one change, restart if required, and test so you can identify what helped or made things worse.

Tips

Before a manual change, note the current adapter name and driver version on Device Manager’s Driver tab.
Keep the PC connected to power during driver installation, and close games or graphics-heavy apps.
If an external display is the only screen affected, test another cable, port, or display before removing a driver.
Use a restore point as a recovery option, not as a substitute for selecting a driver that matches your exact system.

Troubleshooting

The screen stays black: Check monitor power and input, reseat the cable, and try another cable or display if available. If you can, restart the PC and try the graphics reset shortcut. If Windows does not appear at all, or the display remains blank before Windows loads, the cause may be hardware or firmware rather than the Windows driver. Seek help from the PC or display support service if basic checks do not restore a picture.

Device Manager has no Display adapters entry, or shows an error: In Device Manager, select Action > Scan for hardware changes, then restart. Check Windows Update and the computer maker’s support page. If an error message appears, note its exact wording and look it up in official Windows or hardware support documentation rather than guessing at a fix.

The installer says the driver is incompatible: Stop rather than forcing installation. Recheck the PC model, adapter name, and Windows edition, and use the PC maker’s package if it provides one. If you cannot identify the hardware, ask the computer maker’s support team before installing another package.

The problem returns after Windows Update: Use Device Manager to roll back the driver if available, then check for a corrected driver from the PC or graphics-hardware maker. Avoid repeatedly uninstalling updates or drivers without recording what changed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my video driver is the problem?
A display issue that began after a driver change, a warning in Device Manager, or failures limited to graphics-heavy apps can be clues. Cables, monitors, apps, and hardware can cause similar symptoms, so check those too.

Can Windows automatically fix a video driver?
Windows Update and Device Manager can find and install some drivers. They may not offer the newest compatible package, so check the computer maker’s support page if the issue continues.

Is it safe to uninstall a display adapter in Device Manager?
It is usually recoverable, but the screen may use a basic driver or lower resolution after restart. Have a suitable replacement driver available and avoid removing the driver package unless you have a specific reason.

Why is Roll Back Driver unavailable?
Windows may not have retained a previous driver, or the current driver may not have been updated through a method that supports rollback. Use a compatible driver from the PC or hardware maker instead.

Should I update the driver if everything works?
Not necessarily. A driver update can address compatibility or reliability problems, but changing a stable setup without a reason can introduce new issues. Use updates from trusted sources and keep a recovery option.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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