Nvidia graphics cards are known as top-notch and industry-leading gaming equipment. Without a graphics card, playing is impossible. That’s why the message “The NVIDIA graphics driver is not supported on this version of Windows” can cause frustration and even panic.
If you are having problems because the downloaded Nvidia driver is not compatible with your Windows PC, we are here to help you. In this guide, we will list the common factors that cause the incompatibility issue and explain how to fix it.
Nvidia driver is not supported on this version of Windows
The issue of Nvidia drivers being incompatible with the Windows operating system has been reported numerous times, particularly with Windows 10. Simply put, the incompatibility means that the drivers you are trying to run are not designed for your operating system. No one is to blame in this case; Typically, the reason is an attempt to install a 32-bit driver on a 64-bit operating system, or vice versa.
To find out which version of Windows operating system you are running, follow the steps below:
- Open the Start menu.
- Write “
dxdiag” in the search box.
- Click OK.”
- Select “Display.”
- After the diagnostics are complete, check the “Operating system” line. It will indicate “32-bit” or “64-bit.”
Once you’ve figured out your PC’s operating system version, head over to the Nvidia driver download. page. Set the correct operating system, your graphics card series, driver type and language, and download a suitable driver.
If the problem persists after downloading the correct driver, the problem may be with your Windows version. Windows 10 versions earlier than Windows 10 Threshold 2 version 1511 do not support Nvidia drivers at all. As for builds, your PC should be running version 10586 or later. Here’s how to check your PC’s Windows version and build:
- Press the “Windows” and “R” keys simultaneously.
- Write “
Winver”And press the “Enter” key.
- Look for “Version [version] (OS build [build])” and type or memorize your version and build of Windows.
If your version or build of Windows does not support the Nvidia driver, follow the steps below to fix it:
- Press the “Widows” and “I” keys simultaneously to access Settings.
- Select “Update and security”.
- In the left sidebar, select “Windows Update.”
- Click “Check for updates.”
- If updates are available, accept the installation of all updates.
- Wait until the updates are installed. Your PC may restart a couple of times during the process.
- Once the update installation is complete, install a suitable Nvidia driver.
Nvidia driver is not supported on this version of Windows 21h1
Windows update 21h1 was released on May 18, 2021. It is a relatively new update that supports Nvidia drivers, so the incompatibility issue should lie with the incorrectly chosen driver version. For example, the driver could be created for 32-bit Windows while your PC is running 64-bit Windows. To check your PC operating system, follow the steps below:
- Launch the Start menu.
- Write “
dxdiag” in the search box, then click “OK.”
- Click “Show.”
- After the diagnosis is completed, find the line “Operating system”. It will indicate “32-bit” or “64-bit.”
After knowing your Windows system version, follow the instructions below to download a suitable driver:
- Head over to the official Nvidia driver download page.
- Expand the drop-down menu next to “Operating System” and select your PC’s version of Windows from the suggested ones. If you don’t see your version of Windows, click “Show all operating systems.”
- Select your Nvidia graphics card type and the type of driver required.
- Click “Search.”
- Click “Download.”
- Install the downloaded Nvidia driver.
The Nvidia driver is not supported in this version of Windows 1909
All Windows 10 systems updated to version 1511 or later, including 1909, support Nvidia drivers. The incompatibility issue may arise when you try to install the wrong version of the driver. Here’s how to find out which driver version you need and download it:
- Go to the Start menu.
- Write “
dxdiag” in the search box, then click “OK.”
- Select “Display.”
- Once the diagnostics are complete, look for the “Operating system” line. It will indicate “32-bit” or “64-bit.” Memorize your operating system type.
- Head over to the official Nvidia driver download page.
- Select your Nvidia graphics card type from the suggested types.
- Select your Windows operating system type. If you don’t see it listed, click “Show all operating systems.”
- Select the required driver type and language.
- Click “Search” and then “Download.”
- Install the downloaded Nvidia driver.
If you are still unable to install the Nvidia driver on your PC, you can seek help from the GeForce Experience app. It is an official Nvidia application created to optimize your gaming experience and help keep your drivers up to date. Follow the instructions below:
- Visit the official GeForce site website.
- Click “Download Now” and install the app.
- Make sure your monitor is connected via Nvidia GPU (desktop computers only).
- Launch the GeForce Experience app. If any update is suggested, please accept it.
- Navigate to the “Drivers” tab, then click “Check for updates.”
- Select “Express Installation” for a hassle-free, automatic driver update or “Custom Installation” for manual installation.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver update.
- Restart your PC.
The most common reason for Nvidia driver incompatibility with Windows operating system is the wrong version of the driver. For example, if your PC is running Windows 7 32-bit and you are trying to install the Nvidia driver for Windows 10 64-bit, it will be incompatible. To check which version of Nvidia driver you need, follow the steps below:
The Nvidia graphics driver is not supported in this version of Windows 7
- Open the Start menu.
- Write “
dxdiag” in the search box and then press “OK.” - Select “Display.”
- After the diagnosis is completed, find the line “Operating system”. Memorize or write down the version of your operating system.
Once you have discovered your operating system version, follow the instructions below to download a suitable driver:
- Head over to the official Nvidia driver download page.
- Expand the drop-down menu next to “Operating System” and select the operating system version of your PC. If you don’t see it listed, click “Show all operating systems.”
- Select the version, driver type and language of your Nvidia graphics card.
- Click “Search.”
- Click “Download” under a suitable driver.
- Install the downloaded driver on your PC.
happy game
We hope our guide helped you find a suitable Nvidia driver version and fix the incompatibility issue. To avoid these types of problems in the future, make sure to regularly update your Windows operating system and check the driver version in advance. To make your life easier, you can install the Nvidia GeForce Experience app that will automatically detect necessary updates and optimize your gaming experience.
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