Nvidia drivers not installing in Windows 11? Try these fixes

• After upgrading to Windows 11 several users have reported being unable to install the Nvidia driver.
• This error could be due to installing an outdated version, conflicting processes, or the antivirus blocking it, amongst others.
• Also, find out how you can install just the Nvidia driver without the GeForce Experience application.

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We all know how critical the graphics drivers are, and the significance of keeping them up-to-date. However, a lot of users have reported that the Nvidia drivers are not installing in Windows 11.

This poses a major hurdle since a lot of errors can be encountered on running an outdated version of the graphics driver. Hence, it becomes imperative that you resolve the issue and get your hands on the latest version.

To update Nvidia drivers, you can either use the GeForce Experience application or install just the driver itself. We will walk you through it as well in the later sections.

Before we head to the fixes, it’s imperative that you understand the underlying causes for effective troubleshooting.

Why are the Nvidia drivers not installing in Windows 11?

This could be due to a bunch of reasons. In case you are trying to install the Nvidia drivers right after upgrading to Windows 11, there is a chance of encountering the error. This is because the OS too might be trying to locate and install the same driver.

If your PC already has a newer version installed, you may encounter the Nvidia drivers not installing issue in Windows 11. A background program, most likely an antivirus, may also conflict with the installation and lead to the error.

What can I do if the Nvidia driver is not installing?

1. Restart the Windows 11 PC

Click on the dropdown menu and select Restart from the list of options.

Next, click on OK.

Many a time, it’s a bug or a process that’s preventing you from installing the Nvidia drivers in Windows 11. Restarting the computer eliminates any such bug and will allow you to install the driver.

2. Stop all the Nvidia services

Type services.msc in the text field and either click on OK or press Enter to launch the Services app.

Locate all the services that start with Nvidia, right-click on them, and select Stop from the context menu.

If any of the related services are running, you may face trouble installing the Nvidia driver in Windows 11. Once these are stopped, you shouldn’t encounter the issue anymore. In case the error persists, head to the next fix.

3. End Nvidia tasks, delete files, and registry entries

Locate any app or process that has Nvidia in its name, select it, and click on End Task at the bottom.

Either navigate to the following paths or paste them in address bar at the top, and delete the files:C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvdsp.inf document C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_lh document C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvoclock document C:Program FilesNVIDIA Corporation C:Program Files (x86)NVIDIA Corporation

Enter regedit in the text field and either click on OK or hit Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

Individually navigate the following paths or paste them in the address bar at the top and hit Enter: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\Logging HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\NVIDIA Corporation\Logging

Certain processes, files, or registry keys may be preventing the driver from installing. Hence, it’s best that you remove all these, and try to install the Nvidia driver afresh in Windows 11.

4. Disable antivirus and firewall

Enter Windows Security in the text field at the top, and click on the relevant search result that appears.

Click on Virus & threat protection from the options that appear.

Next, click on Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings.

Turn off the toggle under Real-time protection.

Go back to the main screen, and click on Firewall & network protection.

Select Domain network from the list of options that appear.

Turn off the toggle under Microsoft Defender Firewall.

Similarly, disable the other two, i.e., Private network and Public network.

In many instances, it was the antivirus that lead to an error while installing the Nvidia driver in Windows 11. Also, the firewall settings are known to cause trouble while installing certain software. Hence, it’s best that you disable both and check if the driver can now be installed.

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Do remember to revert the changes after installing the driver, as keeping them disabled exposes your computer to threats and cyber attacks.

5. Uninstall the current driver and then try reinstalling

Type devmgmt.msc in the text field and either click on OK or press Enter to launch the Device Manager.

Double-click on the Display adapters entry to view the various devices under it.

Right-click on the Nvidia adapter, and select Uninstall device from the context menu.

Next, tick the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device and click on Uninstall at the bottom.

Several users found that the current driver was preventing the installation. In many cases, such as that of corruption, uninstalling the driver is the best way forward.

You should now be able to install the Nvidia driver in Windows 11. When it comes to automatic scans of outdated drivers, do not hesitate to take advantage of a dedicated tool such as DriverFix.

6. Rename Nvidia folder

Select Program Files from the folders listed here.

Locate the NVIDIA Corporation folder, right-click on it, and select the Rename option.

Rename the folder as NVIDIA Corporation1 and hit Enter to save the changes.

Though it may sound a bit unconventional, this method has fixed the Nvidia driver installation error for a lot of users. If none of the other methods listed here work, this one is worth a shot since you are only left with the option to reset Windows 11, as discussed in the next section.

7. Reset Windows 11

This should ideally be the last fix since the saved data and programs will be lost during the process. You can, however, create a backup of the files to avoid data loss.

The process to reset Windows 11 to its factory settings is quite similar to the one in the previous OS. You should be done with the whole process in a few hours without the need for a bootable USB drive.

Can I install the Nvidia drivers without the GeForce Experience app?

While some users prefer the GeForce application owing to the added functionality and ease, many still go with just the Nvidia driver in Windows 11 since the latter takes up lesser storage. Here’s how you can do that.

Go to the NVIDIA Driver Download page, select the appropriate options from each of the dropdown menus, and click on the Search at the bottom.

After the file is downloaded, navigate to the folder where it’s stored and double-click on it to launch the installer.

It will take a few moments to save the required files to your computer.

Next, select the NVIDIA Graphics Driver option instead of instead of NVIDIA Graphics Driver and GeForce Experience to install just the driver, and click on AGREE AND CONTINUE at the bottom.

Once the installation is complete, you will only have the Nvidia graphics driver on the system and not the application, thus saving some space.

There are all the ways you can fix issues while installing Nvidia drivers in Windows 11, along with a quick method to get just the driver. Many users faced the Nvidia driver installation issues in Windows 10 as well, and the fixes are pretty much the same.

Also, see how you can resolve problems preventing the Nvidia control panel from opening.

Let us know which fix worked for you in the comments section below, and whether you choose to install the Nvidia driver with the GeForce Experience application or without it.

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