PowerShell is an automation engine and script language that helps in different administrative tasks on our devices. This PowerShell is extremely helpful to perform multiple activities and tasks on our desktops and laptops, but not every person knows the PowerShell scripts.
One task that most users deal with on their devices is restarting the graphics driver. However, the PowerShell script for this restart is not easy to remember, and not everyone can do it as well. So, some alternate ways exist to restart the graphics card without using the PowerShell. We will be discussing them in this article.
Why do we restart the Graphics Driver?
We might need to restart the graphics driver on our device for multiple reasons. Mostly, when the display on our desktop or laptop is lagging or not working as it should be, one solution we can work with is the reset and restart of the graphics driver. Some of the reasons graphics driver restart might be needed are shared below.
- If you install a new graphics card, upgrade the old one, or change the manufacturer, you need to restart the graphics driver.
- If your GPU is causing a problem, you can resolve it by restarting the graphics driver.
- You need to reset the graphics driver when the GPU performs poorly or has been downgraded.
- Sometimes, the automatic Windows updates install a corrupted driver that causes problems in your device. You can reset those drivers to troubleshoot the issue and improve the GPU performance.
- It is recommended that the graphics driver be restarted after some time as it improves the graphics card performance.
How to Reset Graphics Driver?
The PowerShell script is a helpful way to reset and restart the graphics driver. But you might know this script as it can be difficult for people who don’t know enough about coding or PowerShell. So, we will share other methods to carry out this graphics driver reset in simpler ways.
Keyboard Shortcut
The simplest and easiest way to reset the graphics driver is by using keyboard shortcuts. If you are using a Windows device, the reset or restart will be extremely straightforward; you only need to follow the steps we have shared below.
- On your keyboard, you have to press four keys at the same time.
- Press the Window, Ctrl, shift, and the B button on your keyboard at the same time.
- You will hear a beep sound from your device and a quick flash on the screen.
- This means that your graphics driver has been reset successfully.
Update Graphics Card Driver
The other way of resetting and restarting the graphics driver is by updating it. Sometimes, when your graphics driver is outdated, your device will start having problems with its display. So, most of the time, a simple driver upgrade can resolve your issue.
- Open the device manager on your device and open the display adapter section.
- Right-click on the graphics driver you want to update.
- From the displayed menu, select the properties option.
- Open the driver’s tab from the new window and click the update driver option.
- Search for the driver and install it on the device.
Disable and Enable the Diver in the Device Manager
We can restart the graphics driver by manually disabling and enabling it from the device manager menu. The process is also pretty simple, and we have shared all the steps you need to take to perform this reset.
- Open the device manager by searching for it on the Start Menu.
- We can also get to the device manager window by pressing Window+R and then typing “devmgmt.msc.”
- Open the display adapters and right-click on the driver you want to restart.
- From the menu that appears, click on the disable device.
- After that, again right, click on the driver, and this time click on the enable device option.
- Your graphics driver will be restarted successfully.
Conclusion
The graphics card is important for a smooth experience on the desktop or laptop. Some malfunctions or software issues can cause problems and affect the overall GPU performance. But it can be resolved with a simple graphics driver reset.
Now, we can reset with PowerShell, which can be difficult for most of us, but the other methods we have shared in this article are easy to do and very effective. However, if your device performance is still poor after the graphics driver reset, you might need technical help with your device.