How to Reset Graphics Card

In 1999, Nvidia was the first business to introduce GPUs to the world. It is no secret that Nvidia’s most popular product is its GTX series, with GTX Titan and GTX 780 being high-end graphics cards released in 2013 that are among leading contenders for their respective categories.

It is possible that a majority of difficulties with your graphics card are caused by the hardware. However, that does not imply that you must replace your card anytime it fails. You’d be shocked how much of an impact cleaning your graphics card may have in some circumstances.

This tutorial aims to show you How to Reset Graphics Card. Aside from the visual improvements, cleaning your graphics card may also fix some of the problems you are experiencing. In addition, if your problems are caused by dust buildup or residue, cleaning your graphics card can easily remove these issues. Let’s get to work!

Your graphics card is essential for your PC. When resetting your graphic card, you click the ‘Preferences’ button and then click the ‘Factory Settings Default’ option to restart. However, there are other ways to reset your graphics card for better graphics.

How to Reset Graphics Card: Step by Step

Sometimes, to reset a graphics card, you may remove it from the motherboard and set it aside for a couple of days. You’ll then be able to reinstall the hardware in your system and see if there are any problems with it.

Alternatively, you can follow the steps below to reset your graphics card.

You should start by opening Device Manager. You can find Device Manager by searching for it in the search box or by heading to the Control Panel and clicking on ‘System.’
Click on ‘Display Adapters’ once the Device Manager has opened. A list of all your display adapters, including your GPU, will appear.
Uninstall your GPU by right-clicking on it. Close Device Manager after confirming the uninstall.
Restart your computer.
Your graphics card drivers will be reinstalled automatically by your computer.

Benefits Of Resetting Graphics Card

By performing a reset, you should be able to clear any locked cache data, allowing your device to run smoothly. This is beneficial if you work long hours and your PC occasionally freezes.

When used sparingly, this method appears to be safe and will not harm your device. The custom settings are unaffected, so everything should function as it did before the device was reset.

How to Find Out Which Graphics Card You Have

Graphics cards are available in a wide range of models and configurations. Finding the graphic card you have can be confusing for a novice user. While there are many different types of graphics cards, they all fall into four categories: integrated, PCI, AGP, and PCI-Express. Follow the steps below to find out which graphics card you have.

Open your PC’s Start menu or desktop search bar to see what graphics card you have.
When the option Device Manager displays, start typing it and select it. Display adapters will be listed near the top of the page.
The name and model of your GPU will appear below when you click the drop-down arrow.

How to Restart Graphics Card Drivers

A hidden keyboard shortcut in Windows resets your video drivers. If your computer ever freezes, use this shortcut before restarting it because it can fix freezes that might otherwise necessitate a hard restart.

It is worth noting that on Windows 10 and Windows 8, this key combination restarts the graphics subsystem. However, on Windows 7, there is no keyboard shortcut for restarting your graphics drivers.

Press Win+Ctrl+Shift+B on your keyboard to restart your graphics drivers.
Your screen will go dark for a second, and you will hear a beep. Everything will revert to its previous state before you clicked the hotkey. All of your open applications will remain open, and no work will be lost.

How to Reset Graphics Card Drivers

Restarting your graphics driver is a smart place to start and will most likely solve your problem.

This can be fixed by using the Win + Ctrl + Shift + B keyboard combination, where you can fast reset your graphics driver.

This command causes your screen to go black for a second, but it also restarts your graphics driver, which may resolve any problems you’re having.

However, what happens when the freezing does not stop? You can try to Update Windows, Uninstall and then reinstall the graphics driver, and update the graphics driver.

Update Windows

To access the Settings window, press Win + I simultaneously.
“Update & Security” will appear.
On the right pane, click the “Check for updates” button.
Check for any updates.
Allow time for updates to download. Then restart your computer.
Check to see if the freezing problem has been resolved.

Reinstall the Graphics Driver

This can be completed by following the steps below:

Press the Win + R key combination to open the Run dialog box.
Click the “devmgmt.msc” command without the quotes, then press the OK button.
Double-click the “Display adapters” section in the Device Manager when it appears.
Choose “Uninstall device” from the context menu of your graphics driver.
Once the process is finished, restart your computer.

Update Your Graphics Driver

You might upgrade the driver instead of uninstalling it and see if that solves the problem.

This can be done by:

Click the Windows symbol in the bottom-left corner of your screen and select Properties.
From the menu, choose “Device Manager.”
Double-click “Display adapters” in the new window, then right-click on your graphics driver.
After that, select “Update driver.“
Now restart your computer.

How to Reset GPU Overclock Settings

An overclocked GPU causes glitches in the computer screen. You can revert an overclocked GPU to its default settings by resetting the afterburner settings.

Follow the instructions below to reset an overclocked GPU:

To begin, turn on your Windows PC as usual. If you can’t get into Windows in normal mode, select “Safe Mode” and proceed with the steps below.
Open the list of programs for your PC’s GPU by pressing the “Start” button.
Find and reset the overclocked program’s core sliders.
If you have MSI Afterburner installed on your computer, select “Reset to Factory Settings.”

How to Reset GPU Software

Resetting all of your GPU’s settings might sometimes resolve problems.

For instance, the NVIDIA Control Panel can be accessed by right-clicking on your desktop or selecting it from your installed programs list.

All you have to do now is enter the panel and click the ‘3D Settings’ option, then ‘Restore Defaults.’

Others, such as the AMD Radeon Settings control panel, can be accessed in the same way.

Via Control Panel

All you have to do is click the ‘Preferences’ button
Click the ‘Factory Settings Default’ option when you’ve opened the settings.
Wait for the reset to occur when you confirm it. It should take a few moments.

Via BIOS

Likely due to a bad video experience, the GPU must be reset in the BIOS. This occurs because your graphics cards’ BIOS caching is disabled. You can also use your BIOS to reset your graphics card. The BIOS menu for each PC model, however, may differ.

By enabling BIOS caching, which moves the video BIOS from ROM to the computer’s RAM, you can reset the GPU in BIOS. This can be enabled by:

Consult your PC’s handbook for instructions on accessing the BIOS menu.
Here, look for an option called ‘Advanced Chipset Features.’
After that, you can select the ‘Video BIOS Cacheable’ option.
Finally, shut down the BIOS. Your computer will reboot, and your graphics card will reset.

Installing Drivers in Safe Mode

You can’t update drivers in Safe Mode; it’s a Windows diagnostics mode that’s only for troubleshooting issues. You can download the drivers, but you’ll have to reboot into Normal Mode to install them.

Video Drivers

Video drivers are put in place to improve your computer’s display. The drivers sharpen and clarify your text and graphics. Display drivers can be corrupted by certain devices and apps. In Safe Mode, though, you can repair the drivers. Follow the steps outlined below to accomplish this.

Select “Control Panel” from the Windows “Start” menu.
If you’re running Windows Vista or 7, double-click “System and Maintenance” and then “Device Manager” to open the hardware management console.
Right-click “My Computer” on the desktop in Windows XP and select “Manage.”
To open the hardware management interface, click “Device Manager.”
To expand the “Display Adapter,” click it. Make a note of the model and the serial number of your machine.
Locate the “Support and Drivers” area of your computer manufacturer’s website. “Driver Downloads” should be found.
To get appropriate drivers for your computer, provide your serial or model number when requested.
Next to the video driver that is compatible with your computer, click “Download.” Choose “Save” to save the video driver installation file to your computer’s desktop.
To access the Advanced Options Menu, restart your computer and press “F8” repeatedly before Windows reloads.
Select “Safe Mode” and hit “Enter ” to start Windows Safe Mode.”
To install the video driver on your computer, double-click the driver you downloaded and select “Run.”
Return to Device Manager and select “Display Adapters” once the installation is complete.
Insert your Windows installation CD, then choose “Install software automatically (Recommended)” and “Next.” The video driver is installed automatically by the install wizard.
When the installation is finished, restart your computer normally.

Sound Driver

Windows only runs necessary processes in Safe Mode. This helps resolve difficulties with sound driver processes operating in the background that may interfere with the driver’s functionality. The Sound Driver can be turned on in Safe Mode by following the procedures below.

Turn on your computer to get to the Windows boot screen and continuously click the “F8” button.
Select “Boot Windows in Safe Mode” by pressing the “Down” arrow key on your keyboard. Enter by pressing the “Enter” key.
After that, click “Start” and then “Control Panel.” Under the Devices and Printers section, click the “Device Manager” link under the “Hardware and Sound” header.
Expand the choices by selecting “Sound, video, and game controllers.”
Select “Enable” from the list after right-clicking the sound driver.
Restart Windows normally after closing Device Manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reset my graphics card Windows 10?

Using the Win + Ctrl + Shift + B keyboard combination, you can fast reset your graphics card on Windows 10.

What do I press to reset my graphics card?

Press Win + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset your graphics card.

Conclusion

The graphics card is critical since it is responsible for guaranteeing consistent performance. The steps above are some you can take to reset or reinstall your graphics card’s problems. Your graphic card may stop causing problems if you follow these instructions. Or, if the problem persists, you can seek professional assistance.

Enjoyed reading the article? Feel free to reach out through the comment section with any questions, comments, or concerns.

How to Reset Graphics Card