Home > Windows

Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11: How to Fix

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the Nvidia Control Panel not opening on your Windows 11 PC. This application is used to efficiently manage display settings and gaming-specific features. Along the same lines, it also beholds quite a few nifty features. These include the ability to tweak 3D settings, adjust image settings, configure surround sound, change resolution, adjust desktop color settings, set up G-Sync, adjust the video color and image settings, among others.

However, not many users are able to make full use of these features. This is because the app is refusing to open on their latest iteration of the OS build. While all the app’s data are still present in their default place and the app still shows up in the Start menu, clicking on it doesn’t do any good. If you are also currently getting bugged with this issue, then this guide is here to help you out. In this tutorial, we will show you various methods to fix the Nvidia Control Panel not opening in Windows 11.

How to Fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11

fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11

Do note that there’s no universal fix as such. You will have to try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and see which one works best in your favor. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

Update Graphics Drivers

Your first course of action should be to verify that you are using the latest graphics drivers. If that is not the case, then you should update these drivers to the latest build right away. Here’s how:

  1. Right-click on the Start Menu and select Device Manager.
  2. Then expand the Display Adapter section.
  3. After that, right-click on your graphics drivers and select Update Drivers.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  4. Now select Search automatically for drivers.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  5. Windows will now search for the latest drivers and will subsequently install them.
  6. Once done, restart your PC and then check if it fixes the Nvidia Control Panel not opening in Windows 11.

Restart NVIDIA Container Processes

The NVIDIA Container and NVIDIADisplay Container are the two processes that are constantly running in the background for the efficient running of the app. Any issues with either of these processes and their repercussions would directly be faced with the Nvidia app. Therefore, you should consider restarting both these processes and then let it start off from a fresh instance. Here’s how it could be done:

  1. Use the Ctrl+Shift+Esc shortcut keys to bring up the Task Manager.
  2. Then go to the Background Process section and select NVIDIA Container.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  3. After that, hit the End Task button situated at the bottom right.
  4. Then go to the Details tab and select NVDisplay Container.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  5. Again click on the End Task button. Now wait for a few seconds and let both these processes restart.
  6. Once that happens, verify if the Nvidia Control Panel not opening in Windows 11 has been fixed or not.

Restart Nvidia Services

Similar to the processes, Nvidia also has a few important services running in the backend and handling all the important stuff round the clock. If for some reason it isn’t functioning along the expected lines, then its negative consequences will be faced by the Nvidia app itself. Therefore, you should consider giving these services a fresh restart, using the instructions given below.

  1. Bring up the Run dialog box via Windows+R shortcut keys.
  2. Then type in the below command and hit Enter to open the Services menu:
    services.msc
  3. Now scroll to NVIDIA Display Container LS, right-click on it and select Restart.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  4. Likewise, restart the NVIDIA LocalSystem Container service as well.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  5. Once done, check if it fixes the Nvidia Control Panel not opening in Windows 11

Delete Nvidia Cache

If a lot of temporary data gets accrued over the due course of time, then it might conflict with the proper functioning of the app. Therefore, you should consider deleting these cached files at regular intervals, and now could be the perfect time for that. So refer to the below instructions steps to try it out:

  1. Bring up the File Explorer via Windows+E shortcut keys.
  2. Then head over to the Nvidia’s cache folder using the below address:
    C:\ProgramData\NVIDIA Corporation\NV_Cache

    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11

  3. If the NV_Cache folder is not present there, then check out this directory (replace UserName accordingly):
    C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\NVIDIA Corporation
  4. Once you reach the NV_Cache folder, select all the files via Ctrl+A and hit Shift+Del to permanently delete them.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  5. Now check if you are able to open the Nvidia Control Panel on your Windows 11 PC or not.

Manually Start Nvidia Control Panel

Your next course of action should be to manually start the Nvidia Control Panel app using its executable file. Here’s how it could be done:

  1. Launch File Explorer via Windows+E shortcut and go to the below location:
    C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Control Panel Client
  2. There you should see the nvcplui.exe file, double click to open it.
  3. It shall open the Nvidia Control Panel app on your Windows 11 PC.

Create Symbolic Link for nvcplui.exe

If the nvcplui.exe is missing from the Control Panel Client directory or it isn’t able to invoke the Nvidia app, then you could also manually create a symbolic link for that file and then access Nvidia via that link. Here’s how:

  1. Head over to the Start Menu, search CMD, and launch it as an administrator.
  2. Then type in the below command and hit Enter:
    mklink c:\WIndows\System32\nvcplui.exe "c:\program files\nvidia corporation\control panel client\nvcplui.exe"

    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11

  3. If you have installed Nvidia in any directory (other than the default one), then make sure to replace its address under double quotes accordingly.
  4. Once the command has been executed successfully, you will be notified that the symbolic link for nvcplui has been created. So let’s access it now by heading over to the below location:
    C:\Windows\System32

    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11

  5. Now double click on the nvcplui.exe file and check it is able to open Nvidia Control Panel on your Windows 11 PC or not.

Disable Fast Startup

For some users, it was disabling the Fast Startup that did the trick. So let’s put this tweak to test and see if it gives out the desired results or not:

  1. Launch Control Panel and go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
  2. After that, click on Choose what the Power button does from the left menu bar.
  3. Then click on Change Settings that are currently unavailable.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  4. Now uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) and click on Save changes.
  5. Check if it fixes the Nvidia Control Panel not opening on your Windows 11 PC or not.

Install Nvidia GeForce Game Ready Driver

For me, it was performing a clean install of the Nvidia GeForce Game Ready Driver that worked out, so I decided to document it here as well. Doing so will restore all Nvidia settings to the factory default state and will remove all the profiles that you have created. For me, it was a small sacrifice to make and if you echo this thought as well, then let’s get started with the steps:

  1. To begin with, download the GeForce Game Ready Driver from the official site.
  2. Then launch the setup and checkmark the Perform a Clean Install option situated at the bottom.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  3. Hit the Install button and wait for the process to complete.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  4. Once done, check whether it fixes the Nvidia Control Panel not opening on your Windows 11 PC

Reinstall Nvidia Control Panel

If none of the aforementioned methods did the job, then you will have to opt for the nuclear route of uninstalling the currently installed build and then reinstalling its latest version. Here’s how it could be done:

  1. Head over to the Start Menu, search Nvidia Control Panel, and hit Uninstall.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  2. Again click Uninstall in the confirmation dialog box that appears.
  3. Wait for the process to complete. Once done, launch File Explorer via Windows+E shortcut.
  4. Then go to the following locations and delete the Nvidia Corporation/Nvidia folders, if you find any:
    C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation
    C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation
    C:\NVIDIA

    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11

  5. Now that all the old traces of Nvidia has been removed, it is recommended to restart your PC.
  6. Then go to the official site and download the latest version of the Nvidia Control Panel.
    fix Nvidia Control Panel Not Opening in Windows 11
  7. Launch the setup and proceed with the on-screen instructions to install it. That’s it, the underlying issue should now have been resolved.

With this, we round off the guide on how you could fix the Nvidia Control Panel not opening on your Windows 11 PC. We have listed different methods for the same. Do let us know in the comments section which one spelled out success for you. Likewise, all your queries are welcomed in the comments section below.


Share: