How to Fix Display Driver Failed to Start on Windows 10

Jun. 24, 2022 / Updated by Daphne to Windows 10

"Display driver failed to start" is another new bug that many Windows 10 users encounter after the system update. Each time the key Windows update released, Windows 10 OS will be the focus due to its varied bugs and problems.

The "display driver failed to start" error appears on all the Windows 10 versions, like Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Creators Update, Anniversary Update, etc. And users often receive an error message which says

"Display driver failed to start; using Microsoft Basic Display Driver instead. Check Windows Update for a newer display driver."

display-driver-failed-to-start-error-windows-10.png

Why Do You Receive the Notification of "Display Driver Failed to Start"?

The main culprit of the Windows 10 display problem is the dedicated or the integrated graphics card driver. During the computer power-on, BIOS will check the hardware devices to see if they can work properly. If there are problems with the display device, it will boot into Windows and notice you to repair the graphics driver issue.

Top 4 Ways to Fix "Display Driver Failed to Start" Error on Windows 10

Note: If your computer has two graphics cards (the dedicated one and the integrated one), you can still enter the Windows desktop. But if there is only an integrated graphics card, the computer may runs into black screen and fail to access the desktop. In this case, you need to boot into BIOS and perform the factory reset of the motherboard. Then start up to the system.

1. Scan for malware on the PC

Regarding malicious software, there are two errors that may cause the display driver to fail to start. Only the presence of malware may trigger this error on your PC. Another possibility is that hackers use malicious software to display false "display driver startup failed" errors, and subsequently lead to phishing. What you should do here is to run an antivirus or anti-malware scan on your PC. Run a scan and if malware is detected, delete it from your PC immediately. When it's done, restart the PC and see if the error persists.

2. Uninstall Display Device and then Install the Best-matched Display Driver

Incompatible graphics card driver can result in all the common display problems, such as blue screen error, distorted screen problem, display brightness issue, etc. One of the viable methods to fix the "display driver failed to start" error is to remove the faulty graphics driver, then download and install the stable one for your Windows 10.

You can manually install proper driver version. But if you prefer a one-click solution, we recommend Driver Talent to fix the hitched display driver. The professional and safe driver manager is available via the button below:

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Here's how to fix the "display driver failed to start" with Device Manager and Driver Talent:

Step 1. Use Windows shortcut keysWin + X. Select the Device Manager on the pop-up menu.

Step 2. Expand the Display adapters entry.

Step 3. Right-click the problematic display device and select Uninstall device. Then the device will back to the early state when the original driver was installed. (Note: After that, DON'T select the Scan for hardware changes in case Windows installs incorrect driver version.)

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Step 4. Launch Driver Talent and click the Scan button to detect driver problems.

scan.jpg

Step 5. Click the Repair or Install button to automatically download and install the stable display driver version compatible with current Windows 10 build.

driver status.jpg

After that, perform a computer restart to make the driver changes take effect.

Note: You can backup drivers before any changes to ensure you can restore the system and the drivers once your computer runs into other problems.

3. Perform an SFC scan

When you run SFC scan on your PC, it will scan system files. If a damaged file is found, this utility will repair it. Because the driver file is damaged or damaged, the "Display driver failed to start" error in Windows 10 may appear. Please follow the steps mentioned below to perform SFC scan on your PC:

Step 1: Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously on your PC. From the Win + X menu that opens, select the "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" option. This will open a command prompt in administrator mode.

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Step 2: In the "Command Prompt" window, type the following command, and then press Enter:

sfc/scannow

sfc-scannow.png

You will need to wait for a while when starting the scan. The average SFC scan lasts about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure not to interrupt the scan until the scan is completely completed.

After the scan is complete, restart the computer.

4. Reinstall Windows 10 to Get Rid of the Display Problem

If the method above did not work and you fail to fix the graphics driver file all the time, it is recommended you to reinstall the Windows OS to say goodbye to the "display driver failed to start" error. You can refer to How to Reinstall Windows 10 on Your Desktop or Laptop to make it.

See Also:Common Display/Graphics Problems and Solutions for Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

All of the above are the effective solutions of how to fix "display driver failed to start" issue on Windows 10 computer. If you still have questions on this topic, or if you encounter any problems after installing the latest Windows 10 update, please write them down in the comments section below.If you are looking for more solutions for Windows issues, you can go to Windows 10 section on this site or our blog.

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