How to Reset Graphics Drivers – The Keyboard Shortcut
This is the easiest and simplest way. How to reset graphics drivers with a keyboard shortcut? All you need is the keyboard shortcut: Windows Key + Ctrl + Shift + B. That’s it! Once you hit those keys, you’ll hear a beep, and the screen will go black for a second. It may even flicker a few times. After that, the drivers will be reset and hopefully, your problem will be gone too.
Manual Method 1: Update Your Graphics Driver
Now, let’s move on to how to reset graphics drivers manually. One thing you can do is update or reinstall them. This can be done by going to the Device Manager. Here’s how:
- Right-click on the Start Menu and select “Device Manager.”
- Under “Display adapters,” right-click on your graphics card and select “Update driver.”
- If you choose to update the driver, select “Search automatically for updated driver software.” Windows will then search for and install any available updates.
If the driver is up-to-date, you may want to reinstall it instead. When you right-click on your graphics card, select “Uninstall device.” A pop-up window will appear. Confirm by clicking “Uninstall.” After that, restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver.
Manual Method 2: Restart by Disabling and Enabling the Graphic Driver
You don’t always need to completely uninstall the driver to reset it. You can also try disabling and then re-enabling it. Don’t do this if you only have one graphics card, or you could lose your display and only see a black screen. Here’s how to reset graphics drivers using this method:
- Again, open the Device Manager.
- Under “Display adapters,” right-click on your graphics card and select “Disable device.” A pop-up window will appear. Confirm by clicking “Yes.”
- After the driver is disabled, right-click on your graphics card again and select “Enable device.” Once the driver is enabled, restart your computer.
If you have two graphics cards, you can also try switching between them. This may help if one of the cards is not working properly. Or, try disabling and enabling one, then the other. The card that is still on will take over and, hopefully, work properly.
Manual Method 3: Reset Your Graphics Driver in the Control Panel
Depending on your graphics card, you may be able to reset the drivers to their default settings in the control panel. We’ll cover the instructions for three of the most popular graphics cards: NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel.
NVIDIA
For NVIDIA users, open the NVIDIA Control Panel (it’s available when you right-click on your desktop) and go to “Manage Preferences” or “Manage 3D Settings.” Select “Restore” to reset everything back to default. Restart your PC when you’re done.
AMD
If you have an AMD graphics card, open the Catalyst Control Center (or AMD Radeon Settings) and go to “Preferences.” From there, select “Restore Factory Defaults” and then restart your computer.
Intel
For Intel graphics, right-click on your desktop and click “Graphics Properties.” Go to “3D” and click “Restore Defaults.” Confirm by clicking “Apply” and then restart your computer. Your drivers will be reset to their default settings.
Now you know how to reset graphics drivers on Windows in a few ways. If you’re still having issues, you may need to contact your graphics card manufacturer for further assistance.
What If the Freezing Persists?
If your computer continues to freeze after resetting the graphics drivers, there may be another issue at hand. It could be a problem with your CPU, storage, or memory. Or, there may be a software issue that’s causing the problem.
One way to narrow down the culprit is to use your computer in Safe Mode. This will disable all non-essential programs and drivers, so if the freezing stops, you know it’s one of those that’s causing the issue.
To enter Safe Mode on Windows 11, open the System Configuration tool (msconfig.exe). Switch to the Boot tab and check the box next to “Safe boot.” Press “OK,” and you’ll see a pop-up that tells you to restart your computer. Do so, and your computer will boot into Safe Mode.
Does Factory Reset Delete Graphics Drivers?
We’ve answered the question of how to reset graphics drivers. But what if you want to reset your computer entirely? Will that delete your graphics drivers?
A factory reset will reinstall Windows, but it won’t delete your files or change your settings. Any drivers you’ve installed will need to be reinstalled, but they shouldn’t be deleted. So, if you’re having issues with your computer, you can try a factory reset without worrying about losing your graphics drivers.
That’s it! You now know how to restart your graphics drivers on Windows. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!
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