How To Fix Nvidia Driver Not Compatible With This Version of Windows

Nvidia graphics cards are known as industry-leading, top-level gaming equipment. Without a graphics card, gaming is impossible. That’s why the “NVIDIA graphics driver is not compatible with this version of Windows” message can cause frustration and even panic.

If you’re struggling with your downloaded Nvidia driver being incompatible with your Windows PC, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll list common factors causing the incompatibility issue and explain how to fix it.

Nvidia Driver Not Compatible With 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, incompatibility means that the drivers you’re trying to run aren’t meant for your operating system. No one is to blame here – typically, the reason for this is an attempt to install a 32-bit driver on a 64-bit operating system, or vice versa.

To find out which Windows operating system version you’re running, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Start menu.
   
2. Type in “dxdiag” into the search box.
   
3. Click “Ok.”
4. Select “Display.”
   
5. Once the diagnostics are complete, check the “Operating System” line. It will state either “32-bit” or “64-bit.”
   

Once you’ve found out your PC’s operating system version, head to Nvidia’s driver download page. Set the correct operating system, your graphics card series, driver type, and language, and download a suitable driver.

If the issue persists after downloading the right driver, the problem may lie in your Windows build. Windows 10 versions before the Windows 10 Threshold 2 version 1511 don’t support Nvidia drivers at all. As for the builds, your PC should be running on version 10586 or later. Here’s how to check your PC’s Windows version and build:

1. Press the “Windows” and “R” keys simultaneously.
   
2. Type in “Winver” and hit the “Enter” key.
   
3. Find the “Version [version] (OS Build [build])” line and write down or memorize your Windows version and build.
   

If your Windows version or build doesn’t support Nvidia driver, follow the steps below to fix it:

1. Press the “Widows” and “I” keys simultaneously to access Settings.
   
2. Select “Update & Security.”
   
3. From the left sidebar, select “Windows Update.”
   
4. Click “Check for updates.”
   
5. If updates are available, accept the installation of all updates.
6. Wait until the updates are installed. Your PC might restart a couple of times throughout the process.
7. Once the update installation is complete, install a suitable Nvidia driver.

Nvidia Driver Not Compatible With This Version of Windows 21h1

The Windows 21h1 update was released on May 18, 2021. It’s a relatively new update that supports Nvidia drivers, so the incompatibility issue should lie in the incorrectly chosen driver version. For instance, the driver could be created for Windows 32-bit while your PC is running Windows 64-bit. To check your PC’s operating system, follow the steps below:

1. Launch the Start menu.
   
2. Type in “dxdiag” into the search box, then click “Ok.”
   
3. Click “Display.”
   
4. After the diagnostics are complete, find the “Operating System” line. It will state either “32-bit” or “64-bit.”
   

After finding out your Windows system version, follow the instructions below to download a suitable driver:

1. Head to Nvidia’s official driver download page.
   
2. Expand the dropdown menu next to “Operating System” and select your PC’s Windows version from the suggested. If you don’t see your Windows version, click “Show All Operating Systems.”
   
3. Select your Nvidia graphics card type and the necessary driver type.
   
4. Click “Search.”
   
5. Click “Download.”
   
6. Install the downloaded Nvidia driver.
   

Nvidia Driver Not Compatible With 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 attempt to install the wrong driver version. Here’s how to find out which driver version you need and download it:

1. Head to the Start menu.
   
2. Type in “dxdiag” into the search box, then click “Ok.”
   
3. Select “Display.”
   
4. Once the diagnostics are complete, find the “Operating System” line. It will state either “32-bit” or “64-bit.” Memorize your operating system type.
   
5. Head to Nvidia’s official driver download page.
   
6. Select your Nvidia graphics card type from the suggested types.
   
7. Select your Windows operating system type. If you don’t see it in the list, click “Show All Operating Systems.”
   
8. Select the necessary driver type and language.
   
9. Click “Search,” then “Download.”
   
10. Install the downloaded Nvidia driver.

If you still can’t install the Nvidia driver on your PC, you can seek the help of the GeForce Experience app. It’s an official Nvidia app created for optimizing your gaming experience and helping to keep your drivers up to date. Follow the instructions below:

1. Visit GeForce’s official website.
   
2. Click “Download Now” and install the application.
   
3. Make sure your monitor is connected using Nvidia GPU (desktop computers only).
4. Launch the GeForce Experience app. If any updates are suggested, accept them.
   
5. Navigate to the “Drivers” tab, then click “Check for Updates.”
   
6. Select “Express Installation” for automatic, hassle-free driver update of “Custom Installation” for manual installation.
   
7. Follow on-screen instructions to finish the driver update.
   
8. Restart your PC.
   

The most common reason for the incompatibility of the Nvidia driver with the Windows operating system is the wrong version of the driver. For example, if your PC is running on Windows 7 32-bit and you’re attempting to install Nvidia driver for Windows 10 64-bit, it will be incompatible. To check which Nvidia driver version you need, follow the steps below:

Nvidia Graphics Driver Not Compatible With This Version of Windows 7

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type in “dxdiag” into the search box, then hit “Ok.”
3. Select “Display.”
4. After the diagnostics are complete, find the “Operating System” line. Memorize or write down your operating system version.

Once you’ve found out your operating system version, follow the instructions below to download a suitable driver:

1. Head to the official Nvidia driver download page.
2. Expand the dropdown menu next to “Operating System” and select your PC’s operating system version. If you don’t see it in the list, click “Show All Operating Systems.”
3. Select your Nvidia graphics card version, driver type, and language.
4. Click “Search.”
5. Click “Download” under a suitable driver.
6. Install the downloaded driver on your PC.

Happy Gaming

Hopefully, our guide has helped you find a suitable Nvidia driver version and fix the incompatibility issue. To avoid such 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 may install the Nvidia GeForce Experience app that will automatically detect necessary updates and optimize your gaming experience.

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