NVIDIA Control Panel not showing or missing. (Solved)
These are the possible culprits for NVIDIA control panel not showing up in Windows 10/11. If you are facing a similar issue, follow the steps in this guide to resolve it.
The NVIDIA Control Panel is a tool for managing the NVIDIA graphics card settings. For example, the tool allows users to adjust display settings such as the resolution and refresh rate of their graphics cards or to monitor and optimize the graphics performance in games and applications.
However, some users may encounter the problem that the NVIDIA control panel does not appear anywhere in Windows 10/11, such as in desktop right-click menu, the start menu or in control panel, resulting in not being able to customize their graphics card settings.
What Causes NVIDIA Control Panel Missing Error?
The "NVIDIA Control Panel Not Showing" issue can occur for various reasons and here are some common causes:
1. NVIDIA Graphics Driver Driver & Software is not installed: This is the most common cause of the NVIDIA Control Panel Missing issue. In such a case, installing the NVIDIA drivers solves the problem.
2. NVIDIA Graphics Card is not recognized in Device Manager: If your computer doesn't recognize your NVIDIA graphics card in Device Manager, or if it recognizes it with an error, then this can cause the problem of NVIDIA control panel not showing up.
3. NVIDIA Graphics Driver Issues: An outdated or a corrupted graphics driver can cause the "NVIDIA Control Panel" option missing issue.
4. Windows Updates: Sometimes after installing a Windows update the NVIDIA Control Panel does not appear.
How to Fix the NVIDIA Control Panel Not Showing or Missing issues on Windows 10/11.*
* Important: Before continuing to the methods below, go to Device Manager and verify that your NVIDIA adapter appears in the Display Adapters section and is working properly. If your NVIDIA adapter is not listed there or displays an error proceed and install the latest NVIDIA drivers for your graphics card. (see method-5 for instructions).
- Start or Restart NVIDIA Display Container LS service.
- Install NVIDIA Control Panel App.
- Enable NVIDIA Desktop Context menu in NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Add "NVDisplay.Container" application to Startup apps.
- Remove & Re-Install NVIDIA Graphics Drivers.
Method 1. Restart NVIDIA Services.
The problem of the missing NVIDIA control panel may occur when some NVIDIA services are not running or are disabled. Therefore, the first way to resolve the mentioned problem is to enable and start all the NVIDIA services.
1. Press Windows + R keys to open the run command box.
2. Type services.msc and hit Enter.
3. In the list of services, find the services that have names starting with NVIDIA and see if they are Running and the "Startup Type" is Automatic.
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4. Now according the result do the following:
- If all the NVIDIA services are running, right-click on the NVIDIA Display Container LS service and select Restart. Then go ahead and restart all other NVIDIA services, if any.
- If one of the NVIDIA services is not running, double-click on it to open it's properties, set the Startup Type to Automatic and then Start the service.
5. Now check if the "NVIDIA Control Panel" option appears (eg when you right-click an empty area on the desktop) and if so, you're done! If not, continue to the next method.
Method 2. Reinstall NVIDIA Control Panel App.
The next and easy way to resolve the "NVIDIA Control Panel" missing issue, is to reinstall the NVIDIA Control Panel App.
1. Navigate to Start > Settings > Apps and then click Apps and features if you own Windows 10, or Installed Apps if you own Windows 11.
2. Now locate the NVIDIA Control Panel app in the list. Then click on it and select Uninstall if you own Windows 10, or click the three dots and then choose Uninstall if you own Windows 11.
3. After uninstalling the NVIDIA Control Panel app, restart your PC.
4. From Start menu open the Microsoft Store app.
5. In the Microsoft Store's search box, type nvidia control panel and then select NVIDIA Control Panel in the search results.
6. Press the Get button to install the app.
Method 3. Enable NVIDIA Desktop Context menu.
1. Type nvidia control panel in search, and then click on NVIDIA Control Panel app under the "Best match" result.
2. In the NVIDIA Control Panel app*, click on the Desktop tab and ensure that the "Add desktop context menu" option is chosen. If it's not, click on it and then check if the NVIDIA Control Panel is showing.
* Note: If the NVIDIA Control Panel app doesn't open, skip to next method.
3. If the "NVIDIA Control Panel" option is still not showing, then search again for "nvidia control panel" and select Pin to Taskbar to easy open the NVIDIA Control Panel app from its related icon on the taskbar.
Method 4. Add "NVDisplay.Container.exe" application* to the Startup folder
"NVDisplay.Container.exe" is an executable file that used to launch the NVIDIA Control Panel app. So, adding "NVDisplay.Container.exe" to the startup applications can fix the NVIDIA control panel missing issue.
1a. Press Windows + R keys to open the run command box.
1b. Type services.msc and hit Enter.
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2. In Services, double click to open the NVIDIA Display Container LS service.
3. In NVIDIA Display Container LS service's properties window, select and copy the Path to executable.
4. Then, Paste the copied path in Notepad.
5. In Notepad, select and copy the path of the "Display.NvContainer" folder.*
* e.g. "C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvacegpu.inf_amd64_6940f2df0068ca81\Display.NvContainer\"
6. Now open File Explorer and paste the copied path in the address bar and press Enter.
7. In the Display.NvContainer folder, right-click on the Display.NvContainer application and select Copy.
8a. Now press the Windows + R keys to open the run command box.
8b. Type shell:startup and hit Enter.
9. In the Startup folder that opens, right-click and select Paste to copy the Display.NvContainer file.
10. When done, right-click on the Display.NvContainer file you pasted, and select Properties.
11. In the Properties window, go to the Compatibility tab. and select the "Run this program as an administrator" checkbox. Then click OK to apply the setting.
12. After completing these steps, restart your PC to see the missing NVIDIA Control Panel back on your desktop context menu and system tray.
Method 5. Uninstall & Reinstall NVIDIA Graphics Driver.
If none of the above method fixed the NVIDIA Control Panel not showing issue, then your last option is to completely remove and reinstall the NVIDIA drivers.
1. Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously to open the Power menu and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Display adapters option from the list of drivers in Device Manager.
3. Right-click on your NVIDIA Graphics Card and choose the Uninstall device option.*
* Note: If your NVIDIA graphics card is not listed here, skip to step-4.
3. In the next window, select to Delete the driver software for this device and then click Uninstall.
4. After uninstalling the driver, navigate to NVIDIA Drivers Download webpage.
5. Select your NVIDIA Product Type, Series and Model and then select your Operating System version. When done click the Search button below.
6. At next screen, click Download to download the driver.
7. Once the download is completed, double-click on the downloaded file and follow the on screen instructions to install the NVIDIA drivers.
8. After installation, restart your PC and check if the NVIDIA Control Panel is now available in the desktop context menu and system tray.
That's it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
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