NVIDIA graphic cards play a significant role in the computer system and quite famous among computer users for the trait of efficacy & affordability. These graphic cards offer an entirely optimized & customized graphics experience to their users.
When it comes to the NVIDIA control panel, it is an interface by which you can easily access the properties of NVIDIA graphic cards; NVIDIA control panel being an essential utility is so far the only way you can adopt to access the settings.
Generally, in a normal state, you can instantly access the NVIDIA control panel from the drop-down menu whenever you right-click on the desktop. But many users have reported that whenever they try to access the NVIDIA control panel, they found it missing there or experienced an NVIDIA control panel missing options problem.
Due to this situation, most users get panic, though it is not a thing to get panic over. However, people consider that a windows update has caused this problem, but there might be many variant causes behind this. So, whatever the reason is, you can still fix it in the shortest period.
Causes of NVIDIA control panel missing options
The reports say that This NVIDIA control panel issue is more common in windows 10. You might see several reasons that can cause the problem in the NVIDIA control panel. The most common cause might be the driver is in an updated state, or a misplacement of the registry subkey or any other important file during the installation process may also lead to the NVIDIA control panel issue.
The reports say that This NVIDIA control panel issue is more common in windows 10. You might see several reasons that can cause the problem in the NVIDIA control panel. The most common cause might be the driver is in an updated state, or a misplacement of the registry subkey or any other important file during the installation process may also lead to the NVIDIA control panel issue.
Few other expected causes of the issue are enlisted down.
- Incorrect windows registry entry
- Internal software bugs
- Outdated drivers
- Hidden control panel
- Updates in Windows 10
- Overclocking on GPU
- corruptly installed drivers
- Uninstalled control panel
Top fixes to NVIDIA control panel not working problem
Though here, we have put down the proven & top working fixing ways to overcome this NVIDIA control panel problem; if any of the solutions don’t work in your case, don’t get despaired; move on to the next one. In the end, you’ll surely be able to resolve the issue in any of the stated ways.
Before implementing any of the following fixing methods, make sure to have the latest BIOS for the motherboard.
Unhide the NVIDIA control panel
If you have recently updated your windows, most likely that be the actual cause of this missing NVIDIA control panel because the updated windows version often hides the NVIDIA control panel. So, to bring it back to a normal state, you would need to unhide it manually. This can be possible by following few more straightforward ways.
- Initiate this fixing process by accessing the control panel on your computer system.
- Navigate to the option “view by:” available in the upper right corner.
- Select the option “large icons” from the drop-down menu.
- Here, click on the “NVIDIA control panel.”
- In NVIDIA control panel windows, click on the “desktop” tab and choose the option “add desktop context menu.”
- Make sure to checkmark the second option, “Show notification tray icon,” also.
After performing the above-stated steps, you will be able to access the NVIDIA control panel by just right-clicking on the desktop.
Restart the NVIDIA services
So many services run simultaneously on your computer at a time to keep certain apps & feature running actively. Therefore, if you encounter any problem in the NVIDIA control panel or do not show up all the options in such a state, all you may need to do is restart the NVIDIA services to get back the NVIDIA control panel missing options instantly. To do so:
- Launch the “Run” app by the shortcut key Windows + R.
- In the Run dialog box, type the “services.msc” command (without inverted commas) and press OK.
- In the services window, navigate to the “NVIDIA Display container LS” service in the list and right-click on it.
- Select the “restart” option in the context menu.
- Repeat the same process of service restarting on all other NVIDIA services, namely NVIDIA NetworkService Container, NVIDIA LocalSystem Container, and NVIDIA Telemetry Container.
Launch the NVIDIA control panel manually.
NVIDIA missing control panel issue is quite common to windows 10 users. As it has been explained earlier, it can be caused by many problems. If you have tried out all other tricky ways to resolve this issue and none worked in your case, try out this most straightforward tactic to run the NVIDIA exe file as administrator.
- Launch the control panel client via the following path C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation.
(This NVIDIA Corporation folder may also be in Program Files(x86) folder of C drive)
- Right-click on the executable file nvcplui.exe and select the option “run as administrator.”
- Now check whether the problem has been fixed or not.
Disable the overclocking of GPU
The overclocking of GPU where proves to be helpful in improving the performance; meanwhile, it also makes your graphic card work above the safe limits. You may also encounter few other errors that might arise as a result of overclocking the GPU.
It is pretty necessary for GPU to remain within defined limits. Because this kind of exceed in limit may affect the computer system badly; even your graphic card may stop functioning.
So indirectly, it can also be the reason behind the NVIDIA control panel missing options or abnormal functioning of the NVIDIA control panel. To get out of such a situation, you would need to disable the overclock on the GPU then you will be able to access the NVIDIA control panel more easily.
Access NVIDIA control panel using command prompt
There is a possibility that the problem may be in NVIDIA software, or it may be encountering any internal bug that affected its functioning. The users can’t open the NVIDIA control panel consequently. However, you can easily overcome the problem of missing the NVIDIA control panel by bypassing the internal bug using the command prompt.
- Launch the command prompt on your system.
- Type services.msc command and press enter.
- (Here, a list of all the NVIDIA services will be shown up)
- Select & right-click on the first-shown NVIDIA’s service to access its properties.
- In the properties, select the general menu and change the settings to “start-up type: Automatic.”
- Now click on the “Stop” button and then click on the “start” button after an interval of few moments.
- Save your settings.
- Repeat the same process on all other NVIDIA services displayed in the list.
NVIDIA’s launching settings
If you cannot access the NVIDIA control panel, you may need to put it at start-up programs to resolve this control panel issue. This solution can be implemented by carrying out few crucial steps as stated below. Make sure to follow the sequential order of the fixing method.
- Firstly, navigate to the file path C:\Program files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvContainer and then copy the file “nvcontainer.”
- Now, navigate to the C:\Users\(user name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start and paste the previously copied file here.
- In the meantime, right-click on this nvcontainer file to access its “Properties.”
- In its properties, click on the compatibility tab and checkmark the option “Run this program as an administrator.”
- Save the applied settings and restart your computer system.
Update the NVIDIA display driver
Sometimes, simply an update to your GPU driver can recover the missing control panel of NVIDIA because an outdated NVIDIA driver can deactivate the NVIDIA control panel and consequently causes the “NVIDIA control panel not working” issue. So, it would help if you tried out this tactic; you can either update GPU drivers manually or automatically.
The automatic update may require additional software, “GeForce Experience,” if you don’t have this software installed on your system, then you can quickly go for the manual updating method. To update the outdated drivers, you will need to:
- Access the “device manager” from the control panel menu.
- Select the “display adapters” tab & expand it.
- Choose your particular graphics card and right-click on it.
- Select the option “update driver software.”
- Choose the option “Search automatically for updated driver software.” (If the GeForce Experience software is installed on your system)
- Otherwise, go for the option “Browse my computer for driver software.” (In this manual update process, make sure the required drivers have been downloaded from NVIDIA)
- Restart your PC.
Note: A driver’s version compatibility issue with your device can also cause this problem in rare cases. Because few users have reported that everything was going fine with the previously installed driver version, but after updating the driver to the latest version, they encountered the “NVIDIA control panel not opening” problem. So, you may need to revert back to your previous driver version to get things fixed automatically in such cases.
Reinstallation of the drivers
It is a fact that the fresh installation of any program can resolve so many problems associated with the pre-existing version. If you apply the same strategy in the current situation, you can quickly get back the missing NVIDIA control panel. The reinstallation of the driver can show the guaranteed results so far.
Here you have two options in the drivers’ installation process; it’s up to you either you do it using GeForce experience or go for the windows device manager option.
To reinstall the drivers via GeForce experience software, you would be required to follow the below-stated steps.
- Access the “GeForce experience” in the system tray with a double click.
- In the newly opened window, click on the “Drivers” tab.
- Click on the 3 dotted icons next to the “Drivers” to access more options.
- Select the “reinstall drivers” options.
To reinstall the using windows device manager, follow the given steps. This process will initially uninstall the drivers installed on your computer system.
- Access device manager in the control panel.
- Select the “Display adapters” option.
- Click right on the GPU in the “display adapters” menu and proceed on by choosing the option “uninstall the device.”
- Restart your computer system.
- To install the drivers again, access NVIDIA’s official website from your browser.
- Opt for your operating system & the compatible graphic card, and then download the driver on your system.
- To install the downloaded driver, you need to run a setup wizard first, following all the instructions accordingly.
Download NVIDIA control panel from official Microsoft store
Apart from the above-stated ways to get back the missing or hidden NVIDIA control panel, you might be encountering a different & uncommon situation of NVIDIA control panel not being installed on the windows system. In such a situation, you will need to install the control panel separately from the official Microsoft store because the control panel general doesn’t come within the package in a few latest released versions of NVIDIA.
Conclusion
NVIDIA graphic cards are widely used due to the highest efficiency level; you can have a completely optimized graphical experience. This offers extended & advanced options to customize everything. You can easily access the NVIDIA graphic card settings by its control panel. But some users have reported that the NVIDIA control panel isn’t functioning on their systems.
So given this concern, in this article, we explained each possible way to resolve this kind of issue, regardless of whatever the reason is. Usually, the reasons for this problem may be an outed driver, or corruptly installed driver, a windows update, or any other internal bug; with the update in Windows operating system, the NVIDIA control panel updates its way of access also, especially in windows 10.
Though this is an extensive discussion over the problem of NVIDIA control panel missing options, it will surely assist you in getting out of this disturbing situation more quickly.
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