NVIDIA is the most popular choice among users when opting for a dedicated GPU. The graphics it offers are top-class, and the customization it brings along is also unbeatable. With extended features like the GeForce Experience and NVIDIA Control Panel, the GPU makes it super easy for users to interact with it. However, sometimes, issues like the NVIDIA control panel crashing/not opening take over the experience.
Users have shared that the utility keeps crashing out of nowhere, especially when clicking on the manage 3D option in the NVIDIA Control Panel. Several have also pointed out the issue of the NVIDIA control center not opening, which is again a concern.
So what can be done? Well, there are a few ways to resolve the NVIDIA control panel not opening or crashing out of nowhere. In this post, we will discuss all of them, so stay tuned!
What is the NVIDIA Control Panel?
As the name suggests, It is a utility tool that allows a user to control both basic and advanced configurations for the GPU. No matter what NVIDIA hardware you use, you can make the most of it by fine-tuning the settings available in the control panel. Some of the crucial things that can be configured using the same are –
- Graphics Settings – Allows you to manage the basic usage settings of the GPU.
- Display Configuration – Everything from supported aspect ratio to regular display settings are available.
- 3D Settings – The ability of a GPU to handle 3D objects and how it renders them can be configured using the 3D settings in the NVIDIA control panel.
- Refresh Rate – If you have a monitor that supports a higher refresh rate than the usual (40-60Hz.), the control panel allows you to monitor and maintain the same as per usage.
- G-Sync – It is an advanced feature that allows you to sync both the GPU and the monitor’s refresh rate together. This way, all the lags and screen tears are resolved.
Other features are available in the utility. However, these are some of the most common and useful ones. It is a useful tool. However, issues related to the NVIDIA control panel crashing when changing resolution or not opening at all cause problems that can be irritating.
Read Also : Fix – NVIDIA GeForce Experience Not Working or Missing
Why Do These Problems Appear on the NVIDIA Control Panel?
Before starting with the fixes, we must explore the possible reasons that may be responsible for the NVIDIA control panel crashing on Windows. Multiple factors may cause the issues. These include –
- Outdated NVIDIA Drivers
- Conflicting Software on PC
- Startup Issues
- Existing Display Container Process Error
These are the known issues; other problems may be causing the sudden crashing of the NVIDIA control panel on your PC. Fortunately, all these issues are fixable. Check out the next section, where we have shared fixes to help you resolve the NVIDIA control panel not opening issues.
Ways to Fix NVIDIA Control Panel Crashing/Not Opening
Fix 1 – Restart the NVIDIA Services in the Background
There are times when you have double-clicked on the NVIDIA application icon, but it won’t open. That is because sometimes there is a process already running in the background. It usually happens when you impatiently try to launch the application by clicking on it multiple times.
The best way to deal with such issues is to close all the initiated processes before trying again. Here’s what you should do –
Step 1 – Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager.
Step 2 – Head to the Processes tab in the application
Step 3 – Look for the NVIDIA Control Panel.
Step 4 – Select the process and click on End task.
Step 5 – Once the process is removed from the list, go to the launcher and start the process again.
This should help you resolve the NVIDIA control panel not opening error. However, if it did not, simply move to the next fix.
Tip : You can also try closing the NVIDIA Container process from the list, as it is often a disturbing element that stops the NVIDIA control panel from opening in the background.
Fix 2 – Try Launching the NVIDIA Control Panel as Administrator
Sometimes, the not opening issue can result from a lack of permissions. The ideal way to handle the permissions issues while launching an application is to try and open it with Admin privileges. Simply find the NVIDIA control panel source and launch it as administrator. Here’s how you can do so –
Step 1 – Go to the start menu and search for the NVIDIA control panel.
Step 2 – In the search results, you may find the Run as Administrator option. Click on it to launch.
If you used to open the application using the right-click on the desktop shortcut, we recommend you use the Run as administrator option via the start menu. That is because it will open the application faster and with better performance.
Fix 3 – Update NVIDIA Drivers on Your PC
Another reason why the NVIDIA control panel keeps crashing on your PC may be the outdated drivers on your PC.
Finding outdated drivers on your PC is fine, as there’s no direct way to update them regularly. Sure, you can manually go to the Device Manager and search for driver updates. However, it is not at all feasible. This is also why you may face NVIDIA control panel compatibility issues.
The easiest way to keep your drivers updated and skip such issues is to use the Advanced Driver Updater. It is one of the most popular choices among users for updating the drivers due to its vast driver database and instant processing method. The best part is that it breaks down the entire driver update process into 3 simple steps –
Step 1 – Download and Install the application on your PC.
Step 2 – Run a scan using the Start Scan Now button on the application’s home screen.
Step 3 – Once the scan results are fetched, click Update All to finish the process.
Once you have updated the driver, you can check if the NVIDIA control panel not opening error still exists on your PC. It should be resolved after updating the drivers on your PC. However, if not, do not worry; we have other fixes too!
Want to more in-depth about the tool – Visit here
Fix 4 – Check Installed Programs for Conflicts
If the NVIDIA Control Panel was working fine a while ago, and the crashing/not opening issues have recently started. In that case, there are chances that a conflicting application is causing the error. It may be a third-party app you recently added to your PC or the antivirus program that received recent updates.
There are two things you can do to fix the issue –
1. Uninstall recently installed third-party applications.
Step 1 – Press Windows + R to open the Run search on your computer
Step 2 – In the Run search, use the command Control appwiz.cpl to open the program manager on your computer.
Step 3 – In the program manager window, click on Installed On to sort the apps based on their installation.
Note : Remember that the latest updates are also shown as recently installed applications, so do not get confused if you see an older application at the top of the list
Step 4 – Uninstall the recently installed third-party applications by selecting the app and clicking the uninstall button on the top bar.
2. Deactivate Antivirus Before Launching the NVIDIA Control Panel
If the application was not the issue, the firewall of your third-party antivirus may be causing the error. The best way is to open and deactivate the application until the next restart. Try launching the control panel again, and it should work properly.
You may find the deactivate option in the antivirus application easily. Check the quick access menu for the same.
Fix 5 – Remove Corrupt Bin Files
The NVIDIA Control Panel also has dedicated core files that allow it to function properly. There are bin files that serve as the system files for the same. If you cannot launch the NVIDIA control panel, chances of bin files going corrupt are there.
The easiest way to handle the situation is to remove the existing files and restart using the control panel so that it creates the new ones automatically. Here’s what you should do –
Step 1 – Press Windows + R to open the Run Search Utility
Step 2 – In the Run Search, use the address
C:\ProgramData\NVIDIA Corporation\Drs
Step 3 – After opening the address, find the – nvdrsdb0.bin and nvdrsdb1.bin files and delete them.
Step 4 – After you have deleted these files, restart your computer.
Step 5 – Once the PC is back on, launch the NVIDIA control panel, which should launch properly.
NVIDIA Control Panel Not Opening – FIXED!
Other than these fixes, you can also uninstall and reinstall the NVIDIA Control Panel, but it may not work if the above factors are improper. Hence, it is better to use the shared 5 fixes and ensure the proper functioning of the tools available.
If you have any doubt about the steps shared, feel free to connect with us via the comments section or our social handles. That’ll be all for this post. Thanks for reading, good luck!
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