NVIDIA has come a long way in GPU software game. However, many users have recently reported an issue with the NVIDIA Control Panel missing or not showing up at all. In the same vein, NVIDIA Control Panel is an application that can configure the GPU’s settings and adjust its preferences by the operating system.
You may likely face the same issue. However, it’s not a big issue as it’s quite easy and feasible to get around the problem. The issue mostly arises after a graphics driver update or a Windows update. Here are a few fixes to help you with the same:
1. Unhide NVIDIA Control Panel
It’s possible that the NVIDIA Control Panel disappeared from the context menu after a Windows update; you can check for the same via Control Panel.
1. Open the Start Menu and type Control Panel.
2. After the Windows Control Panel has opened, click on the Arrow key in the address bar of the Control Panel and click on All Control Panel items.
3. Once there, find the NVIDIA Control Panel option and open it.
4. Once opened, hover over the Desktop in the navigation menu and make sure to enable the “Add Desktop Context Menu” option.
And this should fix the NVIDIA Control Panel missing issue. If this fix doesn’t work for you, read along.
2. Use NVIDIA’s official fix
Apparently, NVIDIA knows about the issue and has a fix for the users. The fix is as follows:
1. First, open File Explorer from the Start Menu or Desktop shortcut.
2. Navigate to the following directory: Program Files (x86) > NVIDIA Corporation > ‘Display.Nvcontainer’
3. Further, copy the file named “NVDisplay.Container.exe” from that folder.
4. Now, press the Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box. There, type shell:startup to open the startup folder.
5. There, paste the previously copied file.
6. Then, right-click on the file and open Properties.
7. Navigate to the Compatibility tab, check the option that reads “Run this program as an administrator,” and click on OK.
8. Finally, restart your computer to continue.
Post this, you should see the NVIDIA Control Panel option.
3. Reinstall NVIDIA Graphics Card drivers
Above all, the most reliable fix for the issue is to reinstall the graphics drivers. We always recommend a clean reinstall for the GPU drivers. Here’s how to do it using Display Driver Uninstaller:
1. Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from this website.
2. Then, open the downloaded file and proceed with the installation.
3. Once installed, navigate to the install folder directory and open “Display Driver Uninstaller.exe.”
4. Further, when DDU opens, get past the first-time user prompts and proceed with the app.
5. DDU will warn you that you are not in Safe Mode. We recommend booting into safe mode with networking for the further process.
6. When you’re in Safe Mode, you need to have NVIDIA Drivers downloaded beforehand.
7. To download NVIDIA drivers, visit the NVIDIA website.
8. Select your GPU’s configuration and click on Search.
9. Download the provided driver.
10. Now, open DDU and click on the Select device dropdown. Choose GPU from the list.
11. Further, it’ll detect your GPU. Click on Clean and Restart.
12. Finally, it will uninstall your graphics drivers and reboot your PC. Once the reboot is complete, you might have a low-resolution display, but don’t worry about it. After that, please navigate to the previously downloaded driver file and open it. Follow the on-screen steps to proceed with Express installation. New drivers will be installed now.
After a reboot, you should definitely see NVIDIA Control Panel on your system tray. One of these fixes should help you get past your issue. This is a common issue when it comes to driver updates.
Did you find this guide helpful? Let us know in the comments below.
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