How to solve problem Windows 10 not detecting graphics card

Why Windows 10 cannot detect your graphics card

The Graphics card plays a very important role – that is analyzing and displaying the picture to your monitor. Sometimes, there are troubles when Windows cannot identify whether a graphics card is installed on your motherboard. In other words, users cannot use it to run video games and other tasks during the process. Usually, computers are equipped with integrated cards alongside the processor to run simple tasks. Discrete ones get often enabled to increase maximum performance during gaming and editing experience. If one of them goes off, the system will switch up to another. This can slacken your PC and limit its capabilities to pull off the needed tasks. Luckily, experts have found and tested some methods that contributed to solving this issue thus far. See the step-by-step guide to revive your graphics card down below.

Windows 10 not detecting graphics card

Nvidia Geforce Experience not detecting GPU

1. Check if the graphics card is enabled

Sometimes, Windows struggle to enable hardware automatically. You will have to involve your hands to make it on your own. Here is how:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu icon in the bottom left corner and choose Device Manager from the list.
2. Locate Display drivers and double-click on it to expand the drop-down menu.
3. Right-click on your card(s) and choose Enable Device. If there is no such option, this means that it is already active.

2. Install new drivers for the graphics card

There is a chance that your graphics card is malfunctioning due to outdated or corrupted drivers. You can install drivers manually through Device Manager as we did previously:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu button and choose Device Manager as we did already.
2. Find and right-click on malfunctioned video card.
3. Choose Update driver and follow on-screen instructions to finish the scan.

It happens when Windows fails to find and install new updates. Depending on the manufacturer (Nvidia or AMD), you can visit the official page and download drivers specifically for your graphics card series.

Drivers are incredibly key to the stabilization of multiple processes implemented on PCs. They are meant to aid hardware performance to provide a high-quality experience. We recommend you download Driver Booster from IObit. It will sustain your system up-to-date by installing fresh versions without taking your time. Here is a download link:

Driver Booster start screen

Driver Booster scan results

Driver Booster tools section

Turn off iGPU mode (for ASUS ROG only)

1. Open Armoury Crate and choose System in the menu on the right.
2. Click on GPU Power Saving tab.
3. Choose Turn off option and under iGPU mode.
4. Click on Refresh button. Restart may be needed.

3. Check if the graphics card is enabled in BIOS settings

Almost all devices based on Windows have a BIOS environment that contains settings for hardware devices. To solve problems with detecting a graphics card, you can try the following:

1. Reboot your PC and launch BIOS by pressing F2 or Del buttons when the logo appears. The buttons to open BIOS may vary depending on the laptop manufacturer. If F2 does not fit you, google the name of your laptop and see which one works.
2. Once done, navigate to Chipset > dGPU Configuration and enable the dGPU feature.
3. Finally, Save and Exit BIOS.

4. Turn on the graphics card via Command Prompt

If you are one of those using Nvidia cards, you can try the next method. Some users claim that the issue may be related to drivers that cannot identify your video card. This is how you can fix this:

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Once the console is opened, type the bcdedit /set pciexpress forcedisable command and click Enter.
4. When finished, restart your computer and attempt to install drivers once again.

5. Check if a discrete card is connected properly

This method requires physical action – open the computer case and reconnect the graphics card to a motherboard. The cable could go off the port due to transportation or other manipulations. Some users connect graphics devices to inappropriate ports meant for other purposes. Thus, make sure all cables are tightly connected to the slot. You can find tutorials on YouTube to learn how.

6. Update BIOS

This method is risky, you can try it if nothing from the above pays off. BIOS holds responsibility for hardware stability. It ensures proper communication between the motherboard and connected devices. Installing new versions of BIOS can be dangerous for your hardware. Therefore, it is advised to appoint this task to professional hands unless you want to experience a permanent loss. We do not tease out this method as the most successful one. Not many users agreed on its efficiency after trying it out. So do not make impetuous decisions.