How To Fix NVIDIA Control Panel Not Opening On Windows 11/10

The NVIDIA Control Panel lets you tweak your graphics card’s settings, including colors, frame rate, resolution, and other NVIDIA -specific features. They used to be included with the Windows driver bundle, but that is no longer the case. They are, however, available for download via the Microsoft Windows Store. If everything is in order, you can click on the app’s icon to start it. Right-click on the desktop when the icon is not displayed and select the NVIDIA Control Panel from the context menu.

If it isn’t on the menu, use the NVIDIA Control Panel area of the Windows Control Panel to add it. Let us discuss different methods to resolve the issue of the NVIDIA Control Panel won’t open on Windows PC.

How to Fix NVIDIA Control Panel Not Opening On Windows 11/10

Method 1: Driver Update

Drivers communicate between the software and hardware of your PC. The graphics drivers must always remain updated to function flawlessly with the NVIDIA control panel. If you face the NVIDIA control panel not opening issue, I suggest you update your drivers.

There are two ways to update NVIDIA drivers:

Manual Update. You can always visit the official website of NVIDIA and search for the updated drivers for your product. Once you have downloaded the appropriate driver, you can install it and update your NVIDIA driver.

Automatic Update. There is an alternate to the above method, and that is to use a driver updater software like Advanced Driver Updater to scan/download/install updated drivers on your PC with a few mouse clicks. Here are the steps on How to use Advanced Driver Updater on your PC.

Step 1: Download and Install Advanced Driver Updater on your PC by clicking on the download button provided below.

Step 2: Once downloaded, double click on the executable file and follow the onscreen instructions to install the software on your app.

Step 3: After the app has been installed, launch it and click on the Start Scan Now button in the middle of the app screen.

Step 4: Wait for the software to complete the scan of your PC and identify outdated, missing, and corrupt drivers on your PC. It will then highlight these driver issues in a list within the app screen.

Step 5: Look for the NVIDIA graphic driver within the list and click on the Update button next to it.

Step 6: Wait for the update process to complete, and reboot your system.

Method 2: Windows Update

If you are facing the issue of the NVIDIA control panel not opening even after the driver update, it is time to update your Windows PC. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + I on your keyboard to open the Settings App.

Step 2: Choose Updates & Security option among the rest.

Step 3: Now click on the Check For Updates button in the center of the screen.

Step 4: Windows OS will automatically search for all the updates on the Microsoft Server and Download/Install them on your computer. Once the updates are done, click on the Check For Updates again to ensure no updates are left.

Step 5: Once you are sure that you are up to date, reboot your PC.

Method 3: Reboot NVIDIA Control Panel

Every application in Windows comes with a background process. When you click on an application, the corresponding process begins. The graphics process always begins when Windows OS boots up.  However, even when the background service is active, the application may not perform properly owing to system issues. In such circumstances, the service must be restarted. Take the following steps:

Step 1: Press CTRL+ Shift+ Esc on your keyboard to launch the Task Manager.

Step 2: Next, click on the Applications tab.

Step 3: Look for the NVIDIA Control Panel in the list of apps running on your PC and make a right-click on it.

Step 4: Select End task from the context menu.

Step 5: Close the Task Manager and Relaunch Nvidia Control Panel.

Method 4: Check The Services That Are Required

Check that key services are operating for the NVIDIA Control Panel to function properly. It’s possible that you can’t open the control panel because some critical services aren’t functioning correctly. Follow these procedures to see that all of the relevant linked services are up and running:

Step 1: To open the Run Prompt, press Windows+R on Your Keyboard.

Step 2: Type services.msc.

Step 3: Click the OK button.

Step 4: The Services Box will open.

Step 5: Locate the NVIDIA Display Container service among the list.

Step 6: Make a right-click on this service and choose Restart from the context menu.

Method 5: Fix the Windows Registry

A small alteration in the Windows Registry can help fix the NVIDIA control panel that won’t open on Windows PC. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the RUN box.

Step 2: Type Regedit in the text space followed by Enter.

Step 3: The Windows Registry will open in front of you.  You have to navigate to the following path.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\ContextMenuHandler

Step 4: Locate NvCplDesktopContext and make a right-click on it, followed by selecting Delete from the context menu.

Step 5: Now navigate to this path:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background

Step 6: Make a right-click on Shell and select New followed by Key.

Step 7: Rename this Key as NVIDIA Control Panel.

Step 8: Make a right-click on NVIDIA Control Panel and select New and Key.

Step 9: Rename this key as Command.

Step 10: Navigate to the default value section and double-click on it.

Step 11: In Value Data type C:\Windows\System32\nvcplui.exe followed by OK.

Step 12: Restart your PC

The Final Word On How To Fix NVIDIA Control Panel Not Opening On Windows 11/10

The above expert-recommended methods will help fix NVIDIA Control Panel not opening on Windows PC. It is recommended to try the Driver updates first as NVIDIA depends on graphic drivers more than anything.

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