How To Reset Video Drivers Guide

If you are experiencing persistent visual glitches (artifacts, wrong resolution, or color distortion), the driver files might be confused. Resetting them through Windows Device Manager is the next logical step.

If the shortcut doesn’t help, move to DDU and reinstall. For most users, the keyboard shortcut resolves temporary glitches instantly, while DDU fixes deeper driver corruption. how to reset video drivers

. YouTube +3 3. macOS: Resetting NVRAM/SMC macOS doesn't have a direct "driver restart" shortcut like Windows, but you can reset the hardware controllers that manage the display. Medium +1 For Intel-based Macs: Shut down your Mac, then hold Option + Command + P + R immediately after turning it back on until you hear the startup sound a second time. For Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3): These Macs perform a similar check automatically every time they restart; a simple restart is usually enough. SMC Reset (Power Management): If your display isn't waking up properly, an SMC reset can help. On most laptops, hold Shift + Control + Option + Power for 10 seconds while the Mac is off. Apple Support Community +4 4. Linux: Restarting the Desktop Environment In Linux, the driver is often tied to the "compositor" or the X server/Wayland session. Reddit Common Shortcut: Alt + F2 , then type r and hit Enter (specifically for GNOME users) to restart the shell without losing apps. The TTY Method: If the GUI is frozen, press Ctrl + Alt + F2 (or F3–F6) to switch to a terminal session, log in, and restart your display manager (e.g., For most users, the keyboard shortcut resolves temporary

Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics (Windows 11) or Graphics settings (Windows 10). macOS: Resetting NVRAM/SMC macOS doesn't have a direct

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to reset your video drivers on a Windows PC. This process can resolve screen flickering, black screens, graphical glitches, game crashes, and poor performance.

Go to the Driver tab.

If your screen freezes but the computer is still running (you can hear audio or see the mouse moving), you don’t necessarily need to reboot the whole machine. Windows has a built-in mechanism to restart the graphics driver instantly.