Top 6 Ways to Fix Graphics Device Driver Error Code 22 on Windows

Do you see error code 22 when checking the status of your graphics device driver in the Device Manager? This error typically surfaces when Windows can’t communicate with or recognize the graphics card installed on the computer, which in turn impacts the overall graphical performance of the system.

The error code 22 can appear for various reasons, including temporary glitches, corrupted graphics drivers, and misconfigured BIOS settings. This guide offers several useful tips that will help fix the underlying issue in no time.

1. Restart Your PC

This may seem like a simple solution, but restarting your PC can often resolve temporary issues preventing Windows from communicating with the GPU driver. Hence, it’s the first thing you need to try.

Click the Windows icon on the taskbar to open the Start menu, click the Power icon, and select Restart from the resulting menu. After your PC reboots, check if the error is still there.

2. Enable the Graphics Driver

A common reason why you may see error code 22 on Windows is if you have previously disabled the graphics device driver. Most of the time, you can fix the error by simply re-enabling the driver using the Device Manager. So, let’s try that.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Device Manager from the list.

Step 2: Click the tiny arrow on the left of the Display adapters to expand it. Then, right-click on your graphics driver and select Enabled device.

3. Update the Device Driver

If you see error code 22 even after enabling the graphics driver, it may be outdated or incompatible. This can happen if you have disabled automatic driver updates on Windows. In that case, you can employ the following steps to update the problematic driver.

Step 1: Click the search icon on the taskbar, type in device manager, and press Enter.

Step 2: Expand Display adapters, right-click on your graphics driver, and select Update driver.

Follow the on-screen prompts to finish updating the driver and see if that resolves the error.

4. Reinstall the Device Driver

If updating the driver proves ineffective, it’s likely that the driver is corrupted or damaged. You will need to uninstall the driver and install it again to fix it. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keyboards shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type devmgmt.msc in the box and press Enter.

Step 2: Expand Display adapters, right-click on your graphics driver and select Uninstall device.

Step 3: Select Uninstall to confirm.

After completing the above steps, head over to the manufacturer’s website to download the latest compatible display driver, and install it.

Download Intel HD Graphics Driver

Download NVIDIA GeForce Drivers

Download AMD Graphics Driver

5. Reset BIOS

BIOS (or Basic Input Output System) is the software responsible for booting up your system correctly. If there is a problem with the current BIOS settings, Windows may have trouble communicating with the graphics driver, resulting in error code 22. You can reset the BIOS to its default settings to see if that fixes the error.

Step 1: Press the Windows + S keyboard shortcut to open the search menu. Type recovery options in the box and press Enter.

Step 2: Click the Restart now button next to Advanced startup.

Step 3: Click the Restart now button.

Step 4: Wait for your PC to reboot. Then, select the Troubleshoot option.

Step 5: Go to Advanced options.

Step 6: Select the UEFI Firmware Settings option.

Step 7: Click on Restart. Your PC will then boot into BIOS. Note that the UEFI settings screen may vary depending on your PC’s manufacturer and model.

Step 8: Once you’re in BIOS, press F9 to access the Setup Defaults option. Then, select Yes.

Step 9: Press F10 to save changes and exit BIOS.

Restart your PC after this and see if the error still appears.

6. Perform a System Restore

System restore is a handy feature that can help you reverse any bad changes made to your PC. If none of the above tips help, you can consider performing a system restore as a last resort. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Click the search icon on the taskbar, type in create a restore point, and press Enter.

Step 2: Under the System Protection tab, click the System Restore button.

Step 3: Select the Recommended restore option and click Next to continue.

Step 4: Click Finish to proceed.

From Glitch to Glamour

As with most Windows problems, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for this error. Rest assured, one of the fixes above should help you resolve error code 22 with the graphics device driver on your Windows 10 or 11 PC. As always, let us know which works for you in the comments below.