There had been a considerable number of complaints regarding the NVIDIA Control Panel Missing on Windows computer. Many users reported the NVIDIA Control Panel Missing from the Windows Control Panel and the desktop context menu. This seemingly irritable problem is indeed easy to solve.
What is NVIDIA Control Panel Missing Error?
NVIDIA Control Panel is used to modify graphics settings in computers having the NVIDIA Graphics card installed in it. However, problems arise at times when the NVIDIA Control Panel is not visible on the context menu or the Windows Control Panel.
This problem seems to be serious. However, you can fix this with a few steps. While some of the methods seem tedious and time-consuming, there are some simple methods to resolve this problem.
What Causes NVIDIA Control Panel Missing Error?
Presently, a notable number of Windows users face the issue of their NVIDIA Control Panel disappearing. This problem arises primarily because of the latest Windows Security Update. NVIDIA Control Panel is an appropriate tool to change and adjust graphics settings.
It is a hardware control application developed by NVIDIA and automatically appears when an NVIDIA video card is installed on the computer. It provides NVIDIA video card users with a platform to modify the driver settings and alter the configuration of their NVIDIA hardware. It is simply impossible to adjust the NVIDIA graphics preferences without this Control Panel.
How to Fix NVIDIA Control Panel Missing Error
There are multiple ways to solve the missing NVIDIA Control Panel error. Solving this error by getting the control panel back lets the user modify graphics settings according to his requirements. Some of the convenient methods to rectify this error are listed below:
Method 1: Uninstall and Reinstall the Graphics Driver
The NVIDIA Control Panel can go missing if the driver is not suitable. To solve this, try uninstalling the NVIDIA Graphics Driver and search for a suitable one from NVIDIA’s website. Download and install a compatible driver manually. We have listed the steps to uninstall the Graphics Driver:
Step 1: Click on Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type msc and click enter to be redirected to Device Manager.
Step 3: Click on Display adapters.
Step 4: Right-click on NVIDIA driver and select Uninstall
Step 5: Restart the system.
Method 2: Unhide the NVIDIA Control Panel
The control panel in the system can go hidden after updating. It can also go hidden by a software application that has wrongly modified the graphics settings. The steps to unhide the NVIDIA Control Panel are as follows:
Step 1: Firstly, open Control Panel.
Step 2: Under View by, choose Large icons.
Step 3: Then, select NVIDIA Control Panel.
Step 4: Click the View or Desktop option and then select the Add Desktop Context Menu.
Step 5: Finally, right-click on your desktop and check if the NVIDIA control panel appears in the context menu.
Method 3: Restart NVIDIA Services on your system
If the NVIDIA services in your system are troublesome, the control panel can go missing. If the services have become corrupt, the foremost way to try and solve this is to restart it. Whatever the complication is, firstly, try to restart and see if it works. The steps are as follows:
Step 1: First, click on Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type msc in the dialog box to get redirected to the Services tab.
Step 3: Click on Open Services that pops near the gears icon.
Step 4: Right-click on the service and select Properties.
Step 5: In startup type, choose Automatic.
Step 6: Tap the Stop button and wait for a while. Then, click on Start and confirm the dialog boxes.
Step 7: Recheck if the Control Panel issue has been resolved.
Method 4: Update the system’s Graphics Driver
When the NVIDIA Control Panel disappears, it could be because of the incompatibility of the graphics driver. The problem arises when the graphics driver is not suitable or outdated. Therefore, ensure that the driver is compatible with your graphics adapter, and update if it is not.
To solve this problem instantly, check NVIDIA’s Driver Downloads page to search for the appropriate driver. After finding the right driver, download and install it manually on your computer. It might take some time to finish, but it is an efficient way of solving the problem.
Method 5: Avoid Overclocking the Graphics Processing Unit
Overclocking means the occurrence of changing the frequency and speed of your processor to value, higher than the factory settings. It is dangerous, as there had been cases where the entire system went down in flames. Hiking the frequency and speed can give your system an amusing speed boost, but the process is highly risky.
Reversing the Graphics Processing Unit’s rate and frequency back to its normal state depends primarily on the software that was used to overclock in the first place. Applications that allow users to overclock their GPU are available. Even though NVIDIA has its own applications available for download, many users download applications from other sources.
In Verdict
It is indeed a frustrating issue to have the hardware configuration settings not working. It is, without a doubt, annoying if you are unable to adjust and modify settings. For every problem, there is a solution. But for the NVIDIA Control Panel Missing issue, we have multiple solutions. You can easily solve this problem by following the solutions and subsequent steps.