Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset Windows’ graphics driver without rebooting the PC. The screen may briefly flicker or go black, and you may hear a beep; if Windows is still running, the picture should return within a few seconds. Microsoft documents this shortcut for Windows 10 and Windows 11 as a possible remedy for flickering and blank displays.
This is a temporary graphics-stack reset—not a driver update, rollback, reinstall, or hardware repair.
The exact shortcut
Press these four keys together:
Win + Ctrl + Shift + B
- Use the Windows logo key, sometimes labeled
Win; it is not the letter W. - Press all four keys at the same time, then wait several seconds.
- The shortcut can be tried during flickering, a black screen, distorted graphics, or a frozen picture when Windows appears to remain powered on.
Microsoft’s instructions are published at its screen-flickering guidance.
What “restart the video driver” actually does
“Video driver,” “display driver,” and “graphics driver” are everyday names for software that lets Windows communicate with the GPU. The shortcut asks Windows to reset or reinitialize that graphics subsystem. It does not restart the entire computer, install a newer package, remove the existing driver, restore an earlier version, or repair a defective GPU, monitor, cable, or laptop panel.
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Because it is a recovery action, the underlying fault can return. Common causes include a bad driver installation or regression, an incompatible application, overheating, inadequate power, a faulty cable or dock, and failing hardware.
What you should see after pressing it
A successful reset can produce a brief flicker, a momentary black screen, a beep, or a redraw of external monitors. The desktop or application may then become visible and responsive again. Microsoft notes that a beep or flicker may occur; neither is guaranteed on every keyboard, audio configuration, Windows build, or failure.
Do not press the shortcut repeatedly in quick succession. Give Windows several seconds to respond. If the image returns, save your work and perform a normal restart when convenient.
When this shortcut is worth trying
- The display suddenly flickers, scrambles, or turns black while the computer remains powered on.
- A game, browser, video editor, or other graphics-heavy program stops drawing.
- Sound continues, the cursor moves, or other keyboard commands still work even though the picture is frozen.
- An external monitor loses its image after waking from sleep or changing monitor connections.
It is less likely to help a complete system lockup, failed boot, blue-screen crash, power loss, or hardware-level failure.
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If the screen stays black or frozen
- Wait briefly. Allow several seconds after the reset before trying another command.
- Open the security screen. Press
Ctrl + Alt + Delete. If it appears, Windows is responding; use it to open Task Manager or restart normally. If it does not, tryCtrl + Shift + Escto launch Task Manager directly, as Microsoft recommends. - Restart Windows normally. Save work first if the display becomes usable. A full restart reloads Windows and its services, which is different from resetting only the graphics subsystem.
- Check the physical display path. Confirm the monitor is powered on and set to the correct input. Reseat HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C cables; test another cable or port; disconnect docks, adapters, and extra monitors; and try another monitor if available. Microsoft’s external-monitor guidance covers these checks.
- Correct the projection mode. Press
Windows + Pand cycle through PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend, and Second screen only. This is especially useful after connecting or disconnecting a monitor. - Use Safe Mode if normal Windows remains unusable. Windows Recovery Environment can start Safe Mode with a limited driver set, helping separate a normal-driver problem from a broader hardware or display fault. A forced shutdown should be a last resort because unsaved data can be lost.
Restarting explorer.exe can restore a missing taskbar or desktop shell, but it is not the same as resetting the video driver. Microsoft lists Explorer restart as a separate blank-screen measure in its blank-screen guidance.
Tell a driver problem from an application problem
Open Task Manager if you can. Microsoft’s diagnostic distinction is useful:
- Task Manager flickers too: a display-driver problem is more likely.
- Task Manager stays stable while the rest of the screen flickers: an incompatible application is more likely. Update, disable, or uninstall the program that triggers the symptom, and test whether the issue appears only in a particular game, browser, editor, or remote-desktop client.
This test does not prove the cause, but it helps decide whether to investigate the driver or the application first.
Update the display driver
Device Manager
- Search for and open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the adapter and select Update driver.
- Follow the prompts, then restart if requested.
For laptops and branded desktops, check the computer maker’s support page first. OEM packages can contain power, brightness, sleep, docking, and GPU-switching components that a generic Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA package may not include. Desktop GPU owners can also use the official NVIDIA driver page, AMD support, or Intel Download Center after identifying the exact model.
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Windows Update
- Open Settings.
- Select Windows Update, then Advanced options.
- Choose Optional updates when it is shown.
- Install relevant driver updates and restart.
Microsoft says Windows 11 installs recommended drivers automatically through Windows Update; optional driver updates require manual selection. See Microsoft’s driver-update guidance.
Roll back or reinstall after a recurring failure
Roll back a recent change
If the problem began immediately after a driver or Windows update, open Device Manager → Display adapters → right-click the adapter → Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver, then restart. The button is unavailable when Windows has no earlier package stored, and administrator rights are required.
Uninstall and let Windows reload it
- Open Device Manager → Display adapters.
- Right-click the adapter and choose Properties → Driver → Uninstall Device.
- If offered, select the option to delete the driver software.
- Restart Windows so it can attempt to reinstall the driver.
The delete option may appear only in particular circumstances, including Safe Mode. This basic reinstall is not the same as a vendor installer’s advanced clean installation or a third-party cleanup utility.
Important edge cases
Laptops with hybrid graphics
A laptop may switch between integrated and discrete GPUs, with the external port wired to only one of them. Use the laptop manufacturer’s package when possible, especially if generic drivers cause new sleep, brightness, docking, or battery symptoms.
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Docks and USB-C displays
A dock can add its own display-processing component, so resetting the internal GPU may not reset the entire signal path. Test the monitor directly from the computer without the dock.
Multiple monitors
Displays may briefly disconnect or return with a different arrangement, resolution, or refresh rate after a reset. If one remains blank, use Windows + P, reseat its cable, and test monitors individually.
Games, remote sessions, and virtual machines
A game may require closing and restarting even if the desktop returns. Remote Desktop can intercept key combinations, and the shortcut may reset the local adapter rather than the remote or virtual graphics device.
Device Manager Code 43
Open the adapter’s Properties and read Device status. Microsoft says Code 43 means the driver reported that the device is not working properly; either software or hardware can be responsible. Follow the update, rollback, or reinstall path and contact the computer or GPU manufacturer if it persists. See Microsoft’s Code 43 explanation.
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Choose the least disruptive next step
| Action | Best use | What changes | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
Win + Ctrl + Shift + B |
Sudden flicker or temporary graphics hang | Resets the graphics subsystem | Usually temporary; root cause remains |
| Normal restart | Windows or a driver state is stuck | Reloads Windows and services | Unsaved work can be lost if forced |
Windows + P |
Wrong monitor routing | Changes projection mode | Cannot repair a bad driver or cable |
| Update driver | Outdated or compatibility-related fault | Installs a newer package | A new release can introduce regressions |
| Roll back | Failure began after an update | Restores a stored earlier package | Older package may lack newer fixes |
| Uninstall/reinstall | Corrupt or incomplete installation | Removes and reloads the driver | Resolution and acceleration may temporarily change |
| Safe Mode | Normal startup is unusable | Loads a restricted driver environment | Graphics features and apps are limited |
| Cable or hardware testing | Physical fault is suspected | Isolates monitor, port, dock, cable, or GPU | May require spare equipment |
Windows 10 support status
Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. These keyboard and recovery steps may still work on existing Windows 10 installations, but their security, update, and support situation differs from Windows 11. The date and driver guidance are documented by Microsoft at this support page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does resetting the video driver delete files or close apps?
The shortcut is designed to reset the graphics subsystem rather than reboot Windows, but a display failure can still cause an application to crash or unsaved work to be lost. Save work and restart normally once the screen is usable.
Does it work with NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel graphics?
The Windows shortcut is intended for Windows’ graphics subsystem, regardless of those common GPU brands. Vendor-specific driver behavior, hybrid graphics, docks, and remote sessions can affect the result.
Is this the same as reinstalling a driver?
No. The shortcut is a temporary reset. Reinstalling removes and reloads the driver through Device Manager; updating and rolling back are separate operations.
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Does the shortcut work on macOS or Linux?
Microsoft documents this keyboard sequence for Windows 10 and Windows 11. It is not a universal macOS or Linux command.
Why does the problem keep coming back?
A recurring symptom usually indicates an unresolved cause such as an application conflict, driver regression, overheating, defective cabling, dock, monitor, or GPU. Use the Task Manager test and the graduated troubleshooting steps above.
The Bottom Line
Try Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B first. If the picture returns, save your work and restart Windows; if it returns again, diagnose the application, display connections, projection mode, driver history, and hardware instead of treating the reset as a permanent repair.
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