NVIDIA develops software drivers for Windows personal computers that control graphics cards and graphics processing units (GPUs). In the event that you want to install a new GPU from some other manufacturer or simply uninstall NVIDIA from a computer, you can do so from the Control Panel. You can also manually remove hidden NVIDIA folders, and remove any NVIDIA folder from the Registry.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Uninstall NVIDIA Drivers
Step 1. Open the Control Panel
Follow the steps below to open the Control Panel:
- Click on the Windows Start menu in the lower left corner.
- Type Control Panel.
- Click on Control Panel in the results list.
Step 2. Click Uninstall a program
It's under "Programs" in the Control Panel. A list of all programs and applications installed on the computer will be displayed on the screen.
- If you're using Windows 8, right-click the Start menu and click Programs and characteristics.
Step 3. Scroll down and click NVIDIA Graphics Driver
All programs are listed in alphabetical order on the Programs and Features page. The "NVIDIA Graphics Controller" is the main component.
Step 4. Click Uninstall / Change
It's the second tab at the top of the software list. This will launch the NVIDIA uninstaller.
Step 5. Click Uninstall
This will uninstall the NVIDIA component.
The screen might go black a couple of times while uninstalling. Don't worry, this is normal
Step 6. Click Restart Now
When you have finished uninstalling the graphics driver, the computer will need to restart. Go ahead and do it now.
Step 7. Open the Control Panel
Follow the steps below to open the control panel:
- Click on the Windows Start menu in the lower left corner.
- Type Control Panel.
- Click on Control Panel in the results list.
Step 8. Click Uninstall a program
It's under "Programs" in the Control Panel. This will open the Programs and Features list.
Step 9. Uninstall any remaining NVIDIA components
Additional NVIDIA components may remain. This includes, "NVIDIA GeForce Experience", "NVIDIA PhysX System Software", "NVIDIA 3D Vision Driver", and so on. Click on any of these components and then click Uninstall / Change. Follow the instructions to uninstall the component. Repeat for each NVIDIA component in the Programs and Features list.
If you are asked to restart your computer, go ahead and do so
Part 2 of 3: Delete NVIDIA folders
Step 1. Open Windows Explorer
It has an icon that represents a folder with a blue paperclip. It's in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2. Click the View tab
It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Put a popcorn in the box
next to "Hide items".
This will show all files and folders on the computer that are hidden by default, including folders that contain registry keys.
Step 4. Click This Computer
It's in the left menu bar, next to an icon that represents a computer monitor. This will display all the controllers connected to the computer.
Step 5. Click on the driver that contains the Windows installation
It's next to a hard drive icon with the Windows logo on it. Most likely it is the C: drive. It may be labeled "OS (C:)", "Local Disk (C:)", "System (C:)", or the name of the computer.
Step 6. Click on the NVIDIA folder and press Delete
If you see an NVIDIA folder in the root folder, click on it and press the Delete key to delete the folder.
Step 7. Open the gray folder labeled “Program Data
”. It is one of the hidden folders in the root folder.
Step 8. Delete all NVIDIA folders
Find any NVIDIA or NVIDIA Corporation folder within the Application Data folders and click on them to select them. Then press the delete key.
Step 9. Click the back arrow to go back to the Windows Installation drive (C:
). Click the back arrow at the top of Windows Explorer to navigate back to the Windows installation disc.
Step 10. Open the "Program Files" folder
It is located in the Windows Installation (C:) drive.
Step 11. Delete any existing NVIDIA folders
Click on any NVIDIA or NVIDIA Corporation folder under Program Files and press the "Delete" key. Then navigate back to the Windows Installation drive.
Step 12. Open the folder "Program Files (x86)"
If you have the 64-bit version of Windows, you will also have the "Program Files (x86)" folder. Click on this folder to open it. It is located in the Windows Installation (C:) drive.
Step 13. Delete all the NVIDIA folders
Click on any NVIDIA or NVIDIA Corporation folder under Program Files and press the Delete key. Then navigate back to the Windows Installation drive.
Step 14. Open the “Users” folder and click on the folder with your Windows username
The "Users" folder is located in the Windows Installation drive. It contains a folder for each Windows user on the computer. Click on the folder with your username.
Step 15. Open the “AppData” folder
It is located inside the Users folder.
Step 16. Open the "Local" folder
It's inside the AppData folder.
Step 17. Delete all NVIDIA folders:
Click on all the NVIDIA or NVIDIA Corporation folders and press the Delete key.
Step 18. Click the back arrow
It's at the top of the Windows Explorer window. This will take you back to the AppData folder.
Step 19. Open the “Roaming” folder
It is located in the AppData folder.
Step 20. Delete all NVIDIA folders
Click on all the NVIDIA or NVIDIA Corporation folders and press the Delete key.
Part 3 of 3: Delete NVIDIA Registry Keys (Advanced Users Only)
Step 1. Click on the Start menu
It's the Windows logo icon on the Windows taskbar.
Step 2. Type regedit
This will display the Registry Editor at the top of the Windows Start menu.
-
WARNING:
deleting registry items can cause permanent damage to the operating system. Proceed at your own risk!
Step 3. Click regedit
This will open the Registry Editor window.
Step 4. Click on the arrow next to "CURRENT_USER_CHANDARD"
It's to the left of the folder in the left sidebar. This will show all the folders within the "HCLAVE_USUARIO_CURRENT" folder.
Step 5. Click the arrow next to the "Software" folder
The Software folder is listed under "CURRENT_USER_ACCARD" in the sidebar on the left.
Step 6. Delete all “NVIDIA” folders
Find all the NVIDIA or NVIDIA Corporation folders in the left sidebar. Click on all of them and press the Delete key.
Step 7. Click on the arrow next to the folder “HCLAVE_USUARIOS
It's to the left of the "HCLAVE_USUARIOS" folder. This folder contains an additional number of log folders, including a “. DEFAULT” folder and several others with numeric titles.
Step 8. Click the arrow next to the ". Default" folder
It is the first one under the folder "HCLAVE_USUARIOS" in the left sidebar. The arrow is to the left of the folder in the sidebar.
Step 9. Click the arrow next to the "Software" folder
It is located in the "DEFAULT" folder.
Step 10. Delete all existing NVIDIA folders
Find any NVIDIA or NVIDIA Corporation folder and click on them. Then press the Delete key.
Step 11. Repeat with each additional folder under the "HCLAVE_USUARIOS" folder
Click on the arrow, and then on the "Software" folder under any other folder under "HCLAVE_USUARIOS". Then delete any NVIDIA or NVIDIA Corporation folders in these folders.
Step 12. Restart the computer after deleting all the NVIDIA folders
All existing NVIDIA drivers will have been completely removed from the Windows registry.