Most issues that Windows 10 & Windows 11 users ever face is related in one or the other way to their graphics driver. One of the most common of these issues is Display Driver Failed To Start error in Windows 10. As the name states, this error shows up as a notification when your Graphics card driver fails to start. This very specific issue arises usually after a Windows 10 update. It may also occur when the graphics card driver installed on your PC is having some discrepancies. There might be other issues as well, but these two are the most common ones.
The Display Driver Failed To Start Windows 10 error may occur for any type of graphics card, be it NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics card. In this article, we try to find possible ways to fix Display Driver Failed To Start error in Windows 10.
How To Fix Display Driver Failed To Start error in Windows 10 / 11
If the Display Driver Failed To Start error has showed up just once, then you probably need not worry. A simple restart is recommended to fix the issue for you. But, if you are getting this error message multiple times, then you must try out the following methods in the order they are mentioned below.
#1 – Restart Graphics driver
Restart Graphics driver by Pressing Windows key + CTRL + Shift + B keys together. The screen will go black for few seconds and it will turn to normal again.
#2 – Update Display Driver to fix Display Driver Failed To Start error
Step 1: Open Device Manager on your PC. For this, Search Device manager in Taskbar Search box of Windows PC.
Step 2: In the Device Manager menu, look for Display Adapters option When found, click on it to expand its options. In there, you will find the driver of the graphics card installed on your PC. Right click on it, then select the Update Driver option from the right-click menu.
Step 3: From the new Update Drivers window that opens up, you will have to select the Browse my comp driver software option.
Step 4 – Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers.
Step 5 – Select the Driver from the top in the list and click next to install it.
If it does not work, just come here again and try the next one in the list (By hit and trial you can find the current compatible driver)
This will begin looking for an updated version of the graphics driver installed. If an option is available, it will download and install it on your computer. After the update, restart your PC and see if you are getting the Display Driver Failed To Start error. If you are, skip to Method 3 and reinstall your graphics driver.
In case, the latest version of the graphics card driver is already installed on your PC, then you will not be able to update it. In that case, try to Roll Back the display driver.
#3 – Update Display Driver to fix Display Driver Failed To Start error
If the restart has not worked for you, then you should consider updating the display driver on your PC. After updating Windows 10, sometimes old graphics drivers are famous to cause issues. You must try this method, even though you do not remember updating your Windows 10. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Device Manager on your PC. For this, press the Windows + X buttons on your keyboard at once. From the Win+X menu, click on the Device Manager option.
Step 2: In the Device Manager menu, look for Display Adapters option When found, click on it to expand its options. In there, you will find the driver of the graphics card installed on your PC. Right click on it, then select the Update Driver option from the right-click menu.
Step 3: From the new Update Drivers window that opens up, you will have to select the Search automatically for updated driver software option.
This will begin looking for an updated version of the graphics driver installed. If an option is available, it will download and install it on your computer. After the update, restart your PC and see if you are getting the Display Driver Failed To Start error. If you are, skip to Method 3 and reinstall your graphics driver.
In case, the latest version of the graphics card driver is already installed on your PC, then you will not be able to update it. In that case, try to Roll Back the display driver.
#4 – Adjust for best performance
1 – Press Windows key + R together to open run.
2 – Write sysdm.cpl in it and click OK.
3 – Click on Advanced and click on settings under performance.
4 – Select Adjust for best performance.
5 -Click on Apply and Click on OK.
#5 – Roll Back Display Driver Update
If your display driver was working fine earlier and has been updated recently, then, you might wanna stick with the older driver. You can easily roll back to the older version of the display driver installed. Here’s how to:
Step 1: Follow Steps 1 and Step 2 of Method #1 mentioned above. But, you do not have to click on the Update Driver option, instead, click on the Properties option.
Step 2: This will open the Properties window. Here, go to the Driver tab and click on the Roll Back Driver button.
This will begin the process of rolling back your graphics card driver to its previous version. When the process is complete, do a Restart on your PC. After that, see if the Display Driver Failed To Start Windows 10 error still shows up. If yes, you need to try Method #3.
It may also happen that the Roll Back Driver button is grayed out. This means that no older version of the graphics driver is available. In that case too, go to Method #3.
#6 – Reinstall Display Driver to fix Display Driver Failed To Start Windows 10 error
You should totally try to reinstall your graphics card driver if updating or rolling back the driver didn’t work for you. Follow these steps to reinstall graphics driver.
Step 1: Repeat the Step 1 and Step 2 that are mentioned in Method #1, but instead of selecting the Update Driver option, select the Uninstall option.
Step 2: Now, if you have Intel graphics driver installed, simply go to your PC manufacturer’s website to download the latest graphics driver compatible with your PC and Windows version. If you use NVIDIA or AMD graphics card, then go to their respective websites and download the latest driver compatible with your graphics card model and PC.
Step 3: Run the downloaded driver file to install it on your PC.
When the installation is complete, you will have to restart your PC. After restarting, see if you fixed the Display Driver Failed To Start error. If not, try out the next method.
#7 – Reinstall Windows 10 Without Losing Personal Files
Although this method is one of the sure shot methods to get rid of the Display Driver Failed To Start error in Windows 10, it is not recommended unless there are no options left. You will be able to preserve your personal data, but all the software and apps installed on your PC will be lost. If you are ready, let’s go through the steps to Reinstall Windows 10:
Step 1: Search reset this PC in Search box located in the Taskbar.
Step 5: Now, you will get two options. Here, you have to click on the Keep my files option. Mind you again, that all your apps and settings will be removed, but not the personal files.
Once you select that, a wizard will help you reset or you can say, reinstall Windows 10 on your PC. Once the reinstall is complete, your Display Driver Failed To Start Windows 10 error would have been fixed.
#7 – Scan PC for Malware
There are two possibilities regarding Malware that could be causing the Display Driver Failed To Start error to show up. The mere presence of malware could trigger this error on your PC. The other possibility is that hackers using malware to show fake Display Driver Failed To Start error to show up, later leading to pishing.
What you should do here is run an Antivirus or Antimalware scan on your PC. If you do not have an antivirus installed on your PC, here are some best Antivirus software for Windows 10 available out there. Run a scan, and if a malware is detected, remove it right away from your PC. When done, restart your PC and see if the error is still there.
#8 – Install Windows Updates
If Windows drivers are not up to date, it could be possibly causing the Display Driver Failed To Start Windows 10 error to show up. You should consider updating your Windows 10. Here’s how to update Windows:
Step 1: Search Check for Updates in Windows search box.
Step 3: From the Update & Security window that opens, go to Windows Update section. You will find a Check For Updates button there which you will have to click. Now, Windows will start looking for new Windows updates. Follow the update wizard to complete the Windows 10 update.
Your computer will restart after the update is complete. When done, check if the Display Driver Failed To Start error still shows up. If this doesn’t solve the issue, gove the next method a try.
#9 – Make A SFC Scan
When you run an SFC scan on your PC, it scans through the system files. In case corrupt files are found, this utility fixes it. The Display Driver Failed To Start error in Windows 10 could be showing up because of corrupt or bad driver files. Follow the below mentioned steps to do an SFC scan on your PC:
Step 1: Search command prompt in windows search box and then right click and click on run as admin.
Step 2: When in Command Prompt window, type the following command and hit the Enter key:
sfc /scannow
When you begin the scan, you will have to wait for some time. The SFC scan goes for around 10 to 15 minutes on average. Make sure you do not interrupt the scan and wait till the scan is fully complete.
After the completion of scan, restart your computer and then check if the error is still popping up. If yes, give Method #8 a try.
#10 – Do System Restore to fix Display Driver Failed To Start error
When you do a System Restore, it takes your computer back to a point where it was in past. So, you can restore back your system to a point when you didn’t use to get this error. For a successful System Restore to happen, it is necessary that you have a System Restore Point created in advance. In case, you do not have a System Restore point on your PC, unfortunately, you will not be able to proceed with this step (skip to Method #9). But if you do, here are the steps to follow for a System Restore in Windows 10:
Step 1: Search rstrui.exe in Windows search box. Click on it.
Click on it, then select the restore point to which you want to restore back your PC. Just take care that the date of restore point you select is a date before you started to get the Display Driver Failed To Start Windows 10 error. Run the restore and wait till the System Restore is complete.
Note: When you carry out a System Restore, all the data that you stored on your PC after the date of restore point you select will be wiped out completely. It is highly suggested that you take a backup of the files you would like to keep on an external drive before you do a System Restore.
Closing Words
Reinstalling Windows or System Restore will for sure fix the issue. But, if you are not in a situation to carry out any of these methods, then you must contact your PC manufacturer’s customer support to get them to help you fix this issue.