8 Easy Ways to Fix Nvidia Driver Crashing on Windows 10

Many Windows 10 users enjoy multimedia daily. Drivers play an essential role in this as they serve as the link between the hardware and software components.

However, you might experience specific issues with multimedia if your graphic card driver crashes. For example, many users reported Nvidia driver crashes on Windows 10.

In this guide, we will show you quick ways to solve this issue for good and continue enjoying your driver again.

Why does the Nvidia driver keep crashing?

There are various reasons your Nvidia driver might be crashing on Windows 10. Below are some of the variations of this issue and the causes:

• Nvidia graphics driver keeps crashing Windows 10 laptop: This issue might be because of outdated drivers. Updating your driver to the latest version should solve the problem.
• Nvidia driver problems Windows 10: Crashing isn’t the only problem you can experience with Nvidia drivers in Windows 10. However, the solutions presented below will help you in most cases.
• Windows 10 Nvidia driver black screen: Black screen is, along with crashing, one of the most common issues one can experience with Nvidia drivers. You should be able to fix it with one of our solutions.
• Nvidia driver install crashes windows 10: If you are getting this error, it means the driver you are trying to install is not compatible with the version of OS. So you might need to install an older version of the driver.

How do I fix the Nvidia driver crashing on Windows 10?

1. Uninstall and reinstall your driver

1. Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
   
2. Double-click the Display adapters option to expand it.
   
3. Right-click your Nvidia driver and select Uninstall device.
   
4. Now, click the Uninstall button to confirm the action.
   
5. Finally, click the Scan for hardware changes icon at the top.
   

If the Nvidia driver keeps crashing on Windows 10, removing the problematic driver and installing the latest version entirely is the best solution. Unfortunately, there is also a possibility that the NVIDIA driver is not compatible with your Windows version.

You can download the latest driver version from your manufacturer’s website if you don’t want to use the built-in tool.

Alternatively, you can use a third-party driver updater to do all the work for you in seconds. Outbyte Driver Updater is a professional tool not only updates any driver on your PC but also fixes those that are either broken or missing altogether.

All you need is a stable Internet connection and a few minutes of your time since the entire update and fix process is pretty much automated from the moment you launch the program.

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2. Stop automatic driver updates

1. Press the Windows key + S, type System, and select System from the menu.
   
2. Click Advanced system settings under Related settings.
   
3. Go to the Hardware tab and click on Device Installation Settings.
   
4. Select No (your device might not work as expected).
5. Click Save Changes.
   
6. Finally, go to your PC manufacturer’s website to download an older version of your driver.

In some instances, older drivers can work better than the latest version. So, if the Nvidia GPU driver keeps crashing on Windows 10, you should try downloading an older Nvidia driver, maybe even the version for Windows 8.

Check our expert fix if you are having problems downloading Nvidia drivers on Windows 10.

Before you download the older version of the Nvidia driver, you should stop automatic driver updates.

After you’ve disabled automatic driver updates, you can remove your current driver and install an older Nvidia driver. For more information on how to uninstall graphic card drivers, have a look at our previous solution.

3. Uninstall your antivirus

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Choose the Apps option.
   
3. Locate your antivirus app and click on it.
4. Finally, click the Uninstall button and follow the onscreen instruction to complete the process.
   

Sometimes, your antivirus software might cause your Nvidia driver to keep crashing on Windows 10. So, if you’re having any problems with Nvidia drivers, you might want to disable or uninstall your antivirus software.

Users report that Avast 2016 causes Nvidia drivers to crash, but feel free to try this solution even if you’re using different antivirus software.

On the other hand, if you value digital security, then instead of removing your antivirus, you should try changing it with one less prone to errors.

There are many Windows 10 compatible antivirus software options that offer excellent protection without negatively impacting your user experience. But only a few can match the safety and efficiency of ESET NOD32.

This software protects your digital life effectively without affecting the other processes that make your PC run smoothly. Lastly, it is not just limited to online protection but also offline safety from apps and other services.

4. Deactivate iGPU in BIOS

1. While your computer boots, keep pressing Del or F2 to access BIOS. Sometimes it might be a different key, so you’ll have to repeat this step a few times.
2. When BIOS opens, you need to locate iGPU, or integrated graphic card, option and disable it.
3. Save changes and restart.

Sometimes, the Nvidia driver crashing on Windows 10 issue can be caused by your integrated graphic card; therefore, make sure to disable it from BIOS.

5. Disable Vsync and change the power plan

1. Open Nvidia Control Panel.
2. When Nvidia Control Panel opens, click on Manage 3D settings.
   
3. Set Power Settings to Maximum Performance and turn off Vertical sync.
4. Click Apply to save changes.

Users reported that the Nvidia driver crashing on Windows 10 could be solved by changing a few options in Nvidia Control Panel. It’s also advised that you set your power options to High Performance by following these steps:

1. First, press the Windows key + S and enter control.
2. Next, select Control Panel from the list.
   
3. Choose the Hardware and Sound option.
   
4. Now, select Power Options.
   
5. Choose to Create a power plan in the left pane.
   
6. Select the High-performance option.
7. Now, click the Next button.
   
8. Finally, click the Create button after making the necessary tweaks.
   

After this, check if the Nvidia driver is still crashing on Windows 10.

6. Disable ATKFUSService

According to users, ATKFUSService can sometimes cause Nvidia drivers to crash, therefore, it might be best for you to disable this service.

1. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and click OK.
   
2. When the Services window opens, locate ATKFUSService and double-click it.
3. Click the dropdown before the Startup type and select Manual or Disabled.
   
4. Click Apply and OK to save changes.

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7. Use MSI Afterburner to underclock your graphic card

Users reported that sometimes your GPU memory frequency doesn’t match your RAM frequency, and that can cause the Nvidia driver to keep crashing on Windows 10.

Some users suggest underclocking your graphic card by lowering its memory frequency to fix this issue. Unfortunately, this is an advanced process, and if you’re not careful, you can cause permanent damage to your computer.

Remember that you’re underclocking your graphic card at your own risk.

8. Clean your graphic card

Sometimes, the Nvidia driver crashing on Windows 10 issue can be caused if your graphic card overheating. To fix this, it’s advised to open your computer case, remove your graphic card and clean it from dust.

We have to mention that by doing this you might break your computer’s warranty. To avoid that, you can install software that cools your computer, thus solving many possible issues from one installation.

How do I know if my graphics card is faulty?

There are various signs that your graphics card gives when it is faulty. At the same time, not all the symbols mean that your graphics card is undoubtedly faulty; a combination points in that direction.

Below are some of the signs to look out for:

• Stuttering display
• Consistent crashes
• Noticeable frame drop
• Glitches on the screen
• Motherboard-related error codes
• The dreaded BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) accompanied by an error code

Nvidia driver crashes are usually related to driver incompatibility, and if you have any issues with Nvidia drivers, feel free to try some of our solutions.

Do you want to know how to roll back your Nvidia drivers on Windows 10/11? Then, check our detailed guide on how to do it quickly and effectively.

Feel free to let us know if you were able to fix this issue with the solutions in this guide in the comments below.