Reinstalling your video card driver can be an important step in troubleshooting any issues you may be having with your graphics card. It’s also necessary when upgrading to a new operating system or if you’ve recently changed the video card itself. In this guide, we will cover how to reinstall your video card driver on both Windows and Mac computers.
Windows
Before You Begin:
Before you start reinstalling your video card driver on Windows, it’s a good idea to disconnect any nonessential external hardware connected to the PC, such as a printer or scanner, as these can interfere with the installation process.
Step 1 – Uninstall the Current Driver
The first step in reinstalling your video card driver is to uninstall the current driver. To do this, go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Find the video card entry in the list of programs and click the Uninstall button. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
If you’re having trouble locating the video card entry in the list of programs, you can use the Search feature at the top of the window to find it more easily.
Step 2 – Download the New Driver
Once the old driver has been successfully uninstalled, it’s time to download and install the new one. The best place to find the latest drivers for your video card is your video card manufacturer’s website. Simply search for your video card model and navigate to the Drivers and Downloads section. There should be a link to download the latest driver version.
When the download is complete, double-click the file to launch the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver. When the process is complete, it’s a good idea to restart your computer to ensure the changes have taken effect.
Mac
Before You Begin:
If you’re reinstalling your video card driver on a Mac, you’ll need to make sure you have the latest version of OS X installed. You can check by clicking the Apple menu > About This Mac and looking for the version number.
Step 1 – Uninstall the Current Driver
The first step in reinstalling your video card driver is to uninstall the current driver. To do this, open the System Preferences window and click the Displays icon. Click the “Open Displays Preferences” button, then select the video card from the list and click the Uninstall Driver button.
Step 2 – Download the New Driver
Once the old driver has been successfully uninstalled, it’s time to download and install the new one. The best place to find the latest drivers for your video card is your video card manufacturer’s website. Simply search for your video card model and navigate to the Drivers and Downloads section. There should be a link to download the latest driver version.
When the download is complete, double-click the file to launch the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver. When the process is complete, it’s a good idea to restart your computer to ensure the changes have taken effect.
Conclusion
Reinstalling your video card driver can be a quick and easy way to resolve any issues you may be having with your graphics card. While the exact steps vary depending on whether you’re using Windows or Mac, the process is generally the same. Be sure to download the latest driver version from your video card manufacturer’s website before beginning the installation process.