How to Restart Graphics Drivers in Windows: Quick and Easy Methods

Graphics drivers play a crucial role in the performance and stability of your computer. If you're experiencing display issues or other graphics-related problems, restarting your graphics drivers can often resolve the issue. There are multiple ways to do this, including using keyboard shortcuts, Task Manager, and PowerShell commands. This article outlines these methods in detail, ensuring you can quickly address any graphics-related issues on your Windows system.

Why Restart Graphics Drivers?

Restarting your graphics drivers is a simple and effective way to address issues such as display glitches, freezes, or other performance problems. It can be particularly useful when your graphics drivers are outdated or have experienced updates that are not compatible with your system. By restarting the drivers, you can refresh their current state and potentially resolve these issues.

Methods to Restart Graphics Drivers in Windows

Keyboard Shortcut

Step 1: Press the Ctrl Shift Win B keys simultaneously. This will restart the graphics driver in the background without needing to restart your entire system.

Step 2: You may see a screen flash or hear a beep sound as a confirmation of the process. This quick method can be very useful if you're experiencing minor display issues that don't require a full system reboot.

Using Task Manager

Step 1: Press the Shift Control Esc keys to open Task Manager.

Step 2: Navigate to the Processes tab and scroll down to find the Background Processes.

Step 3: Identify and highlight the processes related to your graphics drivers, such as Nvidia or AMD. Highlight one at a time and click the End Task button.

Once all related processes have been terminated, the graphics driver will reset automatically.

Using PowerShell

Step 1: Press the Windows X keys on your desktop. From the menu, choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Step 2: Enter the following command to get driver information:

npnputil /enum-devices /class Display

Step 3: Once you've obtained the information, look for the Instance ID of the graphics driver you want to restart and copy it by pressing Ctrl C.

Step 4: In the PowerShell window, enter the command:

npnputil /restart-device [Instance ID]

Replace [Instance ID] with the copied Instance ID.

Step 5: Press Enter. Your screen may turn black for a moment, but it should return to normal shortly.

Conclusion

Restarting your graphics drivers can be a quick and effective way to address display and performance issues on your Windows system. Whether you prefer using a keyboard shortcut, Task Manager, or PowerShell, these methods provide you with multiple options to refresh your graphics drivers and improve your overall system performance. By utilizing these techniques, you can ensure that your graphics drivers are functioning optimally and resolving any potential issues.