Graphic Card Not Detected? Here are Solutions!

Graphic cards can be extremely expensive and can cause a great dent in your pockets. It might happen that while installing your graphic card onto your system, you may find the error “graphic card not detected” frequently on the screen. This can be very painful for you since you’d see your investment drowning.

Worry not since there are still several cases explained in the article that you may implement to find out why and how to fix this issue.

Why & How to Fix?

Several points may come into mind while solving the "graphic card not detected” issue. We shall be discussing the reasons that led to such an issue, followed by a guide explaining how to check graphics card on Windows 10.

1. Is the GPU installed properly? Check your GPU installation

The very first concern that comes into the mind of any computer enthusiast relates to the hardware itself. Under such concerns where users face issues with their graphics card, the very first thing involves a deep inspection of the hardware to discover potential damages.

One of the most important sections of any GPU is its coolant, which ensures that the GPU is in function. Thus, you should be clear about the cooling fans that are used within the GPU. If these fans are in good condition, the GPU is believed to be reliable and functional. However, there are other things that you may check within these cooling fans, which would confirm the reliability of the tools used within the fan.

gpu cooling fans

In other cases, you may inherit a graphic card that is a few months or a year old. While being uncertain about the history of the card, you should always consider using thermal paste on your GPU to extend its life and provide a scenario to test the card’s adaptability. With a clear hardware inspection, you can always protect the quality of your GPU.

gpu design

While checking your GPU, it is evident that you might have removed the GPU from your computer. For this, you should look across the following steps explaining what everyone should follow while installing a GPU.

Step 1: You need to turn off your PC and cut off all supplies into the processing unit. Following this, you need to access the panel that contains and holds the GPU within the bracket.

Step 2: Unlock the PCI-e slot clip and remove the GPU over a light pull across the card.

Step 3: Take out your new or repaired GPU and push it down for sliding it into the slot while ensuring that the secure lock is inserted in place.

Step 4: Cover all the devices and lock them properly across all the screws.

2. Is the right GPU driver installed? Let’s reinstall graphics card drivers

If your inspection has helped you find out that GPU hardware is perfectly fine, the second concern is directed to the software section of your graphic card. Considering your graphic card, not working issues, there might be some problems with the installation of your driver. To effectively reinstall your drivers for your GPU on your device, you need to uninstall the previous ones first.

Step 1: Press the 'Win + R" key simultaneously for running the 'Run' box. Type in "devmgmt.msc" to enter the Device Manager window for uninstalling the drivers.

open device manager

Step 2: Navigate and find the 'Display Adapters' option in the list for viewing the devices present in the category.

find graphic card driver

Step 3: Locate the graphic card’s name and select the option of ‘Uninstall Device’ in the drop-down menu. Over the dialog box that opens, select the option of ‘Delete the driver software for this device’ and click ‘Uninstall’ to conclude the process.

uninstall graphic card driver

Following this, you are now required to reinstall the graphic card drivers across your device. For this, you can follow two distinct methods that would resolve the concerns of ‘graphic card not working.’

Method 1: From Manufacturer’s Site

The first method involves hovering across the website of your PC or graphic card manufacturer. Find the exact PC model or the version of the graphic card along with the OS. Download the auto-executable file and run the setup for installing the software successfully.

Method 2: Through Window’s Update

Driver installation can be carried out by restarting the Windows and waiting for Windows Update to realize the missing graphic drivers across the OS. If the updates do not show any progress regarding the drivers, you can try out the option of ‘Scan for hardware changes’ in the Device Manager folder.

reinstall graphic card driver

3. Any compatibility issues? Do a quick self-check

The most convenient option to discover what is wrong with your graphic card is by following some compatibility operations throughout the system. The first is through a convenient load test that would put the GPU under effective stress. This will provide you with a report on the significant conditions of the GPU that prevails.

You can even consider combining the stress test with the temperature test to get a clear picture of how your GPU responds to load. If it is getting extremely hot, it can damage the device, which raises questions about the compatibility of the graphic card.

Many people question their NVIDIA graphic card not detected by the system, which can be effectively discovered by matching its compatibility with high-end games. To check if a graphics card is compatible with the game and device, you need to run these games and check if the card is operating properly without any lags. This can let you discover the compatibility issues with your card, which leads to finding a solution to the issue 'graphic card not detected’.

4. Is BIOS outdated? Update your BIOS

If we consider that none of the methods mentioned above provided a solution to the issue with the graphic card, the only concerned solution is involved in managing the BIOS. One problem that may prevail within these concerns is the outdated BIOS and how he is not going to be helped in such a harsh environment. The following steps need to be followed by an individual with the potential to high areas.

Step 1: You need to access the current toolbox website that is available for updating BIOS. Find the details across the platform on time.

Step 2: Find the BIOS file on the platform, download it, and proceed with its implementation. The content downloaded needs to be inserted into the USB flash drive.

Step 3: With the flash drive connected, you need to enter the BIOS accordingly and install it from its menu.

Following these steps would professionally cover the process of updating your BIOS effectively.

However, you can also update BIOS through a bootable USB drive.

5. Are the above solutions not working? Try to restore BIOS to default

This article has worked across multiple techniques that can be used for resolving issues with their graphic issue. With no initiatives taken from both sides in the system, you can consider restoring your BIOS settings to the default for basic operation. Non-operational graphic cards can surely be a nuisance, which can surely be caused due to some software faults.

restore your bios to default settings

Thus, according to the conditions and solutions provided, the thing that may save users from the concerns of graphic card not working is restoring the BIOS settings to default.

Next?

The remedies that have been provided in the previous sections are believed to resolve the issue of "graphic card not detected.” Since it is a very expensive addition to your system, you surely need to check it before taking any abrupt decision over the future of the graphic card. If the five solutions stated above are not that effective or in action; there are a few steps that a user might take, which is:

  • The user is required to check their GPU across any other computer to ensure that it is performing up to the mark.
  • However, if the user finds out that their GPU is functional and operational, it is clear that there are some other issues within the other hardware of your computer.
  • In contrast, if the GPU is not functional across the second tested device, the user only needs to repair or replace their GPU.