How to Fix "Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered" Error

The "Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered" error is a common issue in Windows, indicating that the graphics driver has failed but recovered. This problem can cause screen flickering, crashes, or temporary loss of display, affecting your computer's performance and stability. Several factors, including outdated drivers, overheating, or hardware issues, can trigger this error. This guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve the problem to ensure a smoother computing experience.

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Keeping your graphics drivers up-to-date can resolve compatibility issues and bugs.

• Use Device Manager:

  • Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager.”
  • Expand the “Display adapters” section and right-click on your graphics card.
  • Select “Update driver” and choose “Search automatically for updated driver software.”
  • Follow the prompts to install any available updates.

• Download from Manufacturer’s Website:

  • Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
  • Locate the drivers section and download the latest driver for your specific graphics card model.
  • Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

2. Roll Back Graphics Drivers

If the issue started after a recent driver update, rolling back to a previous version might resolve it.

• Open Device Manager:

  • Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager.”
  • Expand “Display adapters” and right-click your graphics card.
  • Select “Properties” and go to the “Driver” tab.

• Roll Back Driver:

  • Click “Roll Back Driver” if the option is available.
  • Follow the prompts to revert to the previous driver version.

3. Adjust Graphics Settings

Reducing graphics settings can alleviate stress on the GPU and prevent driver crashes.

• Open Graphics Control Panel:

  • For NVIDIA users, right-click on the desktop and select “NVIDIA Control Panel.”
  • For AMD users, right-click on the desktop and select “AMD Radeon Settings.”

• Change Settings:

  • In the control panel, adjust settings related to performance and quality.
  • Reduce the resolution or graphics quality in games and applications to lessen the load on the GPU.

4. Check for Overheating

Overheating can cause the graphics driver to fail. Ensure your system is adequately cooled.

• Clean Dust and Debris:

  • Turn off your computer and unplug it from the power source.
  • Open the case and clean out any dust or debris from the GPU fans and heatsinks using compressed air.

• Improve Airflow:

  • Ensure that your computer has proper ventilation. Consider adding or adjusting case fans to improve airflow.

• Monitor Temperature:

  • Use software tools like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to monitor GPU temperatures.
  • If temperatures are high, you may need to improve cooling or apply new thermal paste to the GPU.

5. Check for Windows Updates

Ensuring Windows is up-to-date can resolve compatibility issues that affect the display driver.

• Open Windows Update:
  • Go to “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Windows Update.”
  • Click “Check for updates” and install any available updates.

6. Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

System corruption can cause display driver errors. Running SFC and DISM can repair system files.

• Run SFC Scan:

  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search for “Command Prompt,” right-click it, and select “Run as administrator”).
  • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Wait for the scan to complete and follow any instructions.

• Run DISM Tool:

  • In the same Command Prompt window, type:

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    

  • Wait for the process to finish, then restart your computer and run the SFC scan again if needed.

7. Test Hardware

Faulty hardware can cause display driver issues. Testing hardware components can help identify the problem.

• Run Built-In Diagnostics:

  • Some computer manufacturers provide diagnostic tools. Run these tools to check for hardware issues.

• Test with Another Graphics Card:

  • If possible, test with a different graphics card to determine if the issue persists. This can help identify if the problem is with the GPU itself.

8. Disable Hardware Acceleration

Disabling hardware acceleration in applications can sometimes prevent driver crashes.

• For Web Browsers:

  • Open your browser settings (e.g., Chrome, Firefox).
  • Search for “Hardware acceleration” and disable the option.

• For Other Applications:

  • Check the settings of other applications or games for hardware acceleration options and disable them if available.

9. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot can help identify if background services or startup programs are causing the issue.

• Open System Configuration:

  • Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.

• Configure Clean Boot:

  • Go to the “Services” tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services,” and click “Disable all.”
  • Go to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager.”
  • Disable all startup items and close Task Manager.
  • Click “OK” in the System Configuration window and restart your computer.

Conclusion

The “Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered” error can disrupt your computing experience, but several solutions can help resolve it. By updating or rolling back drivers, adjusting graphics settings, checking for overheating, and performing system scans, you can address the root causes of the problem. If the issue persists, consider testing hardware components and disabling hardware acceleration to further diagnose and resolve the error. These steps should help restore stability to your display and improve overall system performance.