How to Resolve the Problem of NVIDIA Control Panel Not Opening on Windows

Do you have problems opening the NVIDIA Control Panel in Windows? If the NVIDIA Control Panel would not open, it could be due to outdated drivers, stalled processes, or Windows upgrades. This is a useful tool for adjusting various graphics card settings. Try modifying its settings or turning it off if you think your antivirus is interfering with the software.

Any system that uses a graphics card bearing the NVIDIA name has to have the NVIDIA Control Panel. It grants you complete customization over the controls and it permits you to adjust the performance of your card at the system level with precision.

If this panel is unavailable, you might be in trouble since you might miss out on performance advantages, optimization, and personalization. It also implies that your system or your NVIDIA installations are obviously having problems. After that, how can you open the NVIDIA Control panel? Continue reading to learn more.

What is the NVIDIA Control Panel?

To operate your NVIDIA graphics card, you need to install the drivers required and the NVIDIA Control Panel. This panel allows you to have more precise control over settings such as resolution, color correction, and 3D programs. The NVIDIA Control Panel also provides control over other NVIDIA utilities that you may have installed on your device. This information is taken from the NVIDIA Control Panel Help.

This software might be quite useful for Windows gamers or those who work with 3D applications. It allows you to completely alter how three-dimensional things are rendered by your system. For example, you can enable or disable antialiasing, texture filtering, and VSync.

Fixed: The NVIDIA Control Panel is not opening in Windows

Try the following fixes to resolve the NVIDIA Control Penal not opening on Windows issue:

Step 1. Reactivate the NVIDIA Control Panel.

First, try shutting down the NVIDIA Control Panel application entirely, and then try opening it up once more.

1. Simply right-click on an unoccupied area within your taskbar and select Task Manager.

2. Once the NVIDIA Control Panel has been selected, click the End task button in the lower-right corner of the window.

3. Once the brief lag has passed, open the NVIDIA Control Panel.

Step 2. Restart these NVIDIA services.

NVIDIA installs a few necessary services on your system. If these services are stopped, your software probably will not function as planned. Fortunately, by following the guidelines below, you can prevent and fix this.

1. Press the Windows + R keys on the keyboard. As a result, the Run utility will start.

2. Press Enter after typing “services.msc” onto the keyboard without using quotation marks. This will cause the Services window to open.

3. Locate the “NVIDIA Display Container LS” service from the list. Click the context menu and use the right-click menu to select Restart.

4. Repeat the preceding procedure for the NVIDIA LocalSystem Container, NVIDIA NetworkService Container, and NVIDIA Telemetry Container services.

5. After restarting all NVIDIA services, check to see if the panel appears in your system tray or desktop context menu.

Step 3. Update your NVIDIA drivers.

It is essential that you keep your graphics card driver up to date. Many errors might occur as a result of compatibility issues, especially after major Windows 10 updates.

A malfunctioning or outdated NVIDIA display driver may be the reason of the Control Panel’s absence. There are three ways to address this:

Option 1. Update the display adapter driver manually.

1. Check the type of graphics card that you are using.

     A. At the same time, press the Windows key and the R key on your keyboard.

     B. As a result, the Run utility will start. Enter “dxdiag” without the quote marks, then press the OK button.

     C. Using this shortcut, you can view system information in the DirectX Diagnostics tool.

     D. Select the tab for Display.

     E. Note the brand and manufacturer of your graphics card under Device.

2. Go to the download page by visiting the applicable manufacturer’s website. Some of the most well-known manufacturer websites with driver downloads are listed below:

• page for software and drivers from Intel.
• This is the NVIDIA drivers download page.
• AMD Drivers & Support Page

3. Find the graphics card model using the available search tools, then download the most recent driver for it.

4. To begin the latest driver installation procedure, double-click the downloaded file, then adhere to the on-screen instructions displayed on the screen. You may receive a prompt to reboot your device.

Remember to always make sure the driver you download and install is compatible with the graphics card you own. If you are not sure, ask your manufacturer’s customer service or do some research on Google.

Option 2. Update the display adapter driver automatically

1. Press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time. As a result, the Run utility will start.

2. Enter “devmgmt.msc” without the quote marks, then press the OK button. You can now access the Device Manager window by doing this.

3. The Display adapters section can be expanded by clicking the left arrow sign.

4. Right-click on the driver you are now using and select Update driver to update it.

5. Navigate the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option to allow Windows 10 to update your drivers automatically. When you are done, feel free to restart your computer and shut down Device Manager.

Option 3. Utilize an external software to update your drivers.

While it is not necessary, all Windows 10 users can choose to use a third-party app for driver updates. Every user of Windows 10 has the choice to utilize a third-party program for driver updates, even if it is not required. You can also search for and download third-party updater programs like Driver Booster, DriverHub, or DriverPack Solution to update drivers automatically.

Most of these programs are free and easy to use. We advise exploring for more complex programs online if you are not satisfied with the service.

Verify the dependability of the app you are utilizing at all times. Many apps incorporate spyware, adware, or malware under the guise of updating or fixing your drivers. We suggest researching the product name online and reading user reviews before downloading any program.

Step 4. Close the NVIDIA Display Container process.

One simple fix for the Control Panel not opening might be to play about with another NVIDIA process called the NVIDIA Display Container process. If you terminate this task, you might be able to use the utility.

1. Click with the right mouse button on a vacant area of your taskbar and then select Task Manager.

2. In case the Task Manager was launched in compact mode, be cautious to click on the “Mode information” option to view more information.

3. Choose the Details tab. Scroll down to the NVIDIA Display Container procedure after you have reached it. Click it with the right mouse button to select End task. Remember that these processes can be operating concurrently, so make sure you terminate them all.

4. Try to enter the NVIDIA Control Panel again after the process has restarted.

Step 5. Turn off Windows 10’s Quick Startup.

Some users assert that the Fast Startup setting may be connected to issues with the NVIDIA Control Panel. For example, if the necessary files and services are not loaded on startup, the NVIDIA Control Panel may not open successfully.

You can quickly disable Fast Startup and determine whether it is the cause of the issue by following the steps shown below.

1. Press the Windows + R buttons on the on-screen keyboard to launch the Run application; type “control” into the window that displays, and click OK. This will open the Windows 10 Control Panel.

2. Make sure your view mode is set to Category. Next, click on the Hardware and Sound header.

3. Choose the “Configure power buttons” option found in the Power Options menu.

4. From here on, you ought to be able to customize how your computer starts up. To modify these options, you have to click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.

5. Make sure that Turn on fast startup is off before choosing Save changes. Try rebooting your device after that to check if the NVIDIA Control Panel appears.

Step 6. Reinstall the drivers for NVIDIA GeForce Experience.

1. Launch the taskbar search bar by clicking the magnifying glass icon. As an alternative, you can open it with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.

2. Enter GeForce Experience and select the top search result to launch the application.

3. Select the Drivers tab to get to the Currently Installed section. Here, choose Reinstall driver by selecting it through the More… menu.

4. Follow the on-screen directions to reinstall your current driver. If required, try restarting your computer and opening the NVIDIA Control Panel.

Step 7. Restoring the display of the NVIDIA Control Panel (bonus)

One common error that causes the NVIDIA Control Panel to vanish from your system tray is hiding it. Occasionally, a later-added third-party program or Windows 10 would automatically hide the icon. To see the NVIDIA Control Panel, take the following actions:

1. Navigate to the Windows 10 Control Panel. Adjust the view mode to Large Icons and click the NVIDIA Control Panel from the list of items.

2. When the NVIDIA Control Panel opens, select it by clicking the Desktop menu at the top. Check to see if the boxes for Add Desktop Context Menu and Show Notification Tray Icon are selected. Simply click on them to add it if there is not already.

3. Attempt to use the system tray or right-click on your desktop to reopen the NVIDIA Control Panel after it has been closed.