Download NVIDIA Drivers for PC, Windows 11 and Windows 10 (Free)

The NVIDIA drivers download for Windows 11 and Windows 10 is free from nvidia.com. Pick your GeForce card in NVIDIA’s driver search, download the package, and run it to install the latest Game Ready or Studio driver.

The full package is about 991 MB and installs offline. It also offers the NVIDIA App as an optional extra, which checks for new drivers automatically.

This guide covers which package fits your card, manual and automatic installs, Game Ready versus Studio, rolling back a bad update, and install fixes.

NVIDIA driver card with version, size and supported Windows
The Game Ready package is 990.85 MB and supports Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit.

Which NVIDIA driver download do you need?

Find your card first. Open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, and read the NVIDIA model name. Then match it to a row below.

Your PC Download Size
Desktop with a GeForce RTX 50, 40, 30, 20 or GTX 16 card, mainly for games Game Ready Driver, desktop package 990.85 MB
Laptop with a GeForce RTX, GTX 16 or MX GPU Game Ready Driver, notebook package 990.85 MB
PC used for Premiere, Blender, Redshift or other creative apps NVIDIA Studio Driver 990.89 MB
GeForce GTX 10 or GTX 900 series card NVIDIA driver search Security-update branch, not Game Ready
Linux PC NVIDIA Unix driver archive Production branch 595.99.02
You want new drivers installed for you NVIDIA App Separate small app

Laptop owners have one extra option. NVIDIA notes that the notebook maker also publishes certified drivers for each model, so check the maker’s support page when a laptop has custom display features.

Download NVIDIA drivers for Windows 11 and Windows 10

NVIDIA publishes every GeForce driver on nvidia.com. The Download button on each driver page links straight to the installer on NVIDIA’s own download server.

  1. NVIDIA driver search — pick product type, series, model and Windows version
  2. GeForce drivers page — latest GeForce releases and the NVIDIA App
  3. GeForce Game Ready Driver details page — release notes and supported products
  4. 616.92-desktop-win10-win11-64bit-international-dch-whql.exe — 990,853,104 bytes
  5. NVIDIA Studio Driver details page — 990.89 MB
  6. 616.92-desktop-win10-win11-64bit-international-nsd-dch-whql.exe — Studio package, 990,889,160 bytes

Older releases are listed in the same driver search. Select your card and Windows version, click Find, and the results show earlier Game Ready and Studio versions with their release dates.

How to install NVIDIA drivers on Windows 11 and 10

Close games and creative apps before you start. The screen goes blank for a few seconds while the display driver swaps over.

  1. Download the Game Ready or Studio package for your card from the NVIDIA driver search.
  2. Double-click the downloaded .exe and select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
  3. Click OK to accept the temporary extraction folder and wait for the files to unpack.
  4. Choose NVIDIA Graphics Driver and NVIDIA App, or NVIDIA Graphics Driver to install the driver alone.
  5. Click AGREE AND CONTINUE to accept the license.
  6. Select Express (Recommended), or Custom (Advanced) to pick components, then click NEXT.
  7. Wait while the installer checks the system and installs the driver.
  8. Click CLOSE, then restart the PC if the installer asks you to.

Confirm the install by right-clicking the desktop, opening NVIDIA Control Panel, and selecting Help > System Information.

Install NVIDIA drivers automatically with the NVIDIA App

The NVIDIA App watches for new GeForce drivers and installs them from inside Windows. It is the route NVIDIA’s driver pages promote under Get Automatic Driver Updates.

  1. Open the NVIDIA App page and click Download Now.
  2. Run the installer and select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
  3. Open NVIDIA App from the Start menu once setup finishes.
  4. Select Drivers in the left pane.
  5. Choose Game Ready Driver or NVIDIA Studio Driver as the driver type.
  6. Click Download next to the newest driver.
  7. Start the install when the download completes, and keep the app open until it reports the driver is installed.

Use the manual package instead on a PC that should not run extra software, or when you need a specific older driver.

Should you install the Game Ready or the Studio driver?

Install the Game Ready Driver on a gaming PC. Install the Studio Driver on a PC that earns its keep in creative apps. Both branches ship at the same version this month and share the same bug fixes. Game Ready releases arrive more often and target new game launches, DLSS and Reflex updates. Studio releases follow a slower schedule, and NVIDIA tests them across multi-app creator workflows in Adobe, Autodesk, Blender and Maxon apps. You can switch at any time by installing the other package over the top.

Which NVIDIA driver do you need for your Mac?

Current GeForce drivers are built for Windows and Linux only. NVIDIA’s last CUDA driver for Mac, 418.163, dates from May 2019.

Your machine What to use Notes
Mac with Apple silicon or AMD graphics Apple’s macOS update guide Graphics drivers arrive with macOS updates
Older Intel Mac with an NVIDIA GPU CUDA drivers for Mac archive Legacy files, last updated 2019
Windows PC with a GeForce card NVIDIA driver search Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit

Is the NVIDIA driver free?

Yes. NVIDIA drivers cost nothing. NVIDIA publishes Game Ready and Studio drivers on nvidia.com with no purchase, trial or licence key, under the NVIDIA GeForce Software license. The NVIDIA App is free as well. A site that charges for a driver, or bundles one inside a paid driver updater, is not NVIDIA.

How to check your NVIDIA driver version and roll it back

Check the installed version before you download, so you know whether an update is due.

  1. Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. Select Help > System Information and read Driver version.
  3. Compare it with the newest release in the NVIDIA driver search.
  4. To undo a bad update, right-click Start and open Device Manager.
  5. Expand Display adapters, right-click the NVIDIA GPU, and select Properties.
  6. Open the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver.
  7. Pick a reason, click Yes, and restart the PC.

Roll Back Driver is greyed out when no earlier driver is stored. In that case, install the older release from NVIDIA’s search results with Custom (Advanced) and Perform a clean installation.

Check the NVIDIA driver system requirements

The driver package checks for a supported GPU before it installs anything.

Field Value
Software GeForce Game Ready Driver and NVIDIA Studio Driver
Developer NVIDIA Corporation
Latest version 616.92 WHQL, Game Ready and Studio
Released 9 September 2026
License Free, NVIDIA GeForce Software license
File size 990.85 MB Game Ready, 990.89 MB Studio
Supported Windows Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit
Architecture 64-bit x64; no 32-bit package
Game Ready GPUs GeForce RTX 50, 40, 30, 20 and GTX 16 series; MX500 and MX400 laptops
GTX 10, GTX 900 and Volta Final Game Ready Driver in October 2025; quarterly security updates through October 2028
Linux Separate Unix drivers
macOS No current driver
Offline installer Yes, the full package installs without a connection
Official source nvidia.com
Last verified 2026-09-13

Fix NVIDIA drivers not installing on Windows 11 or 10

The installer says it cannot find compatible graphics hardware

The package does not list your GPU, or the card needs a different driver branch.

  1. Open Device Manager > Display adapters and note the exact GPU model.
  2. Enter that model in the NVIDIA driver search, choosing Notebooks for a laptop GPU.
  3. Download the driver the search returns, which for a GTX 10 or GTX 900 card is the security-update branch.

Setup fails partway or the old driver keeps coming back

Leftover files and settings from a previous driver conflict with the new one.

  1. Run the package again and accept the license.
  2. Select Custom (Advanced) and click NEXT.
  3. Tick Perform a clean installation and click NEXT.
  4. Restart the PC when setup finishes.

A laptop’s display features stop working after the update

Some notebooks rely on the maker’s certified driver, which NVIDIA recommends checking first.

  1. Open the laptop maker’s support site and enter the model or serial number.
  2. Download the graphics driver listed for that model.
  3. Install it, then restart.

Games crash or the screen flickers after updating

The new release has a known issue with your game or setup.

  1. Open the driver’s details page and read Release Highlights for known issues.
  2. Roll back in Device Manager > Display adapters > Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
  3. Wait for the next release before updating again.

How to uninstall NVIDIA drivers

Removing the driver drops Windows back to the basic display adapter until you install another one.

  1. Download the replacement driver first, so you have it ready offline.
  2. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  3. Search for NVIDIA Graphics Driver.
  4. Select the three-dot menu, choose Uninstall, and confirm.
  5. Follow the NVIDIA uninstaller prompts, then restart the PC.
  6. Remove NVIDIA App the same way if you no longer want automatic updates.

Leftover settings are cleared by the next install when you tick Perform a clean installation.

Which other official source should you get NVIDIA drivers from?

Stick to first-party sources. Third-party driver updaters and repackaged driver bundles add risk and nothing NVIDIA does not already provide.

Source Publisher Best for
NVIDIA App NVIDIA Automatic Game Ready and Studio updates
Windows Update through Device Manager Microsoft A working driver on a fresh Windows install
NVIDIA driver search NVIDIA A specific version, older releases and GTX 10 cards
Laptop maker’s support site Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS and others Certified drivers for one laptop model

Use the NVIDIA App on a gaming PC. Use the manual package when you need control over the exact version.

Frequently asked questions

Are NVIDIA drivers free?

Yes. NVIDIA publishes Game Ready and Studio drivers on nvidia.com at no cost, with no trial or licence key. The optional NVIDIA App is free too. Any site asking for payment is not NVIDIA.

Where is the official NVIDIA driver download page?

The official page is nvidia.com/en-us/drivers. Choose your product type, series, model and Windows version, click Find, and download the driver from the results. Every GeForce driver page carries the same Download button.

How big is the NVIDIA driver download?

The current Game Ready package is 990.85 MB and the Studio package is 990.89 MB. Both include the full graphics driver plus an optional NVIDIA App component, so the download is the same for desktops and laptops.

Do NVIDIA drivers work on Windows 11?

Yes. NVIDIA builds one package for Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit. It supports GeForce RTX 50, 40, 30 and 20 cards, GTX 16 cards and recent MX laptop GPUs.

Is there an NVIDIA driver offline installer?

Yes. The package from NVIDIA’s driver search contains the complete driver and installs without an internet connection. Download it on another PC and copy it across if the target machine has no network.

Are there NVIDIA drivers for Mac?

No current ones. GeForce drivers are released for Windows and Linux only, and NVIDIA’s last CUDA driver for Mac dates from May 2019. Macs get graphics drivers through macOS updates in Software Update.

Is there a 32-bit or ARM64 NVIDIA driver?

No 32-bit package exists for current GeForce drivers, which support 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11 only. The standard package is an x64 build, so it does not install on Windows on Arm PCs.

What is the latest NVIDIA driver version?

GeForce Game Ready Driver 616.92 WHQL, released on 9 September 2026, with an NVIDIA Studio Driver at the same version. It adds support for 007 First Light path tracing and fixes browser flicker.

Is it safe to download NVIDIA drivers?

Yes, when the file comes from nvidia.com or the NVIDIA App. The drivers are WHQL-certified by Microsoft. Avoid driver updater tools and file-hosting sites that repackage NVIDIA’s installer.

Why are NVIDIA drivers not installing?

The usual causes are a GPU the package does not list, a laptop that needs the maker’s driver, or leftovers from an old driver. Match the driver to your exact card, then try Custom (Advanced) with a clean installation.

How do I install an older NVIDIA driver?

Open NVIDIA’s driver search, select your card and Windows version, and click Find. The results list earlier releases with dates. Install the one you want using Custom (Advanced) and Perform a clean installation.

Do GTX 1060 and GTX 1080 cards still get NVIDIA drivers?

Yes, but not Game Ready updates. Pascal cards received their final Game Ready Driver in October 2025 and now get quarterly security updates through October 2028, available from NVIDIA’s driver search.

Philip Celasco

Philip is a Texas-based technology writer and IT administrator at Techdows.com with more than 10 years of experience creating practical content for everyday users and professionals. He specializes in web browsers, particularly Chromium-based platforms such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Opera. Through his work as an IT administrator, Philip has hands-on experience managing devices, configuring browser policies, troubleshooting software and network issues, and helping people resolve problems that affect productivity and security. His articles are based on practical testing and real-world technical experience. He covers browser settings, extensions, performance problems, privacy controls, security features, and Windows troubleshooting. Outside work, Philip enjoys the quieter side of life in Texas and stepping away from the screen when he can. He has two kids, two cats and loves to play golf with his mother during the weekends.

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