NVIDIA has released GeForce Hotfix Display Driver version 591.67 — a targeted, small-footprint update that fixes three visual and UI bugs (SDR gradient banding, Digital Vibrance color application, and an NVIDIA Control Panel tray-icon toggle) and is available now from NVIDIA’s Customer Care hotfix page for Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.
Background
What a "hotfix" driver is and why vendors ship them
Hotfix drivers are intentionally small, rapid-response packages designed to deliver urgent, narrowly scoped fixes between regular Game Ready or WHQL releases. They are full driver installers in form, but they undergo an abbreviated QA pass and are intended for users who are actually experiencing the targeted symptom set. NVIDIA documents this approach on its Customer Care pages: hotfixes are optional, provided as-is, and the contained fixes will be folded into the next full driver release. This hotfix pattern is not new: NVIDIA and other GPU vendors have used hotfix channels to mitigate emergent regressions quickly (for example, the 581.94 hotfix from late 2025 that addressed Windows-update-induced gaming performance regressions, later folded into a WHQL Game Ready driver). Community threads and editorial coverage from that episode show hotfixes can restore performance quickly in many cases, but outcomes vary by configuration and the vendor advises unaffected users to wait for stable WHQL builds.What 591.67 fixes (short summary)
NVIDIA’s Customer Care bulletin lists the three issues resolved by 591.67:- Slight banding may be observed on gradients in SDR color mode.
- Colors are not applied correctly when using Digital Vibrance.
- Unable to deselect "Show Notification Tray Icon" from NVIDIA Control Panel.
Release timing and distribution
NVIDIA’s Customer Care page lists the hotfix update as posted on December 23, 2025 (the bulletin shows the update timestamp). Community mirrors and public discussion threads corroborate the same release and provide direct CDN download links that users have used to fetch the hotfix executable.Why this matters to gamers and creators
Color banding and incorrect color application are visual regressions that affect image fidelity and perceived quality in games and creative apps. For competitive players and creators who depend on accurate color, these issues are materially important. The tray-icon bug is lower-impact technically but affects user control and convenience for people who manage background overlays or who prefer a tidier notification area.Because hotfixes are targeted, the practical benefit for most users is straightforward:
- If you are experiencing any of the three listed issues, 591.67 is the recommended immediate mitigation to try.
- If you are not seeing these problems, NVIDIA’s guidance (consistent with prior hotfix practice) is to remain on the standard Game Ready/WHQL driver to avoid unnecessary exposure to edge-case regressions.
Where to download 591.67 and a note about mirrors
NVIDIA distributes hotfix drivers exclusively through its Customer Care/hotfix support pages rather than via the automatic NVIDIA App channel. The official Customer Care bulletin provides the announcement and the download link. Community posts have mirrored the direct CDN link to the hotfix installer; those links point to NVIDIA’s distribution CDN (the file name follows NVIDIA’s usual distribution convention for hotfix executables). Important distribution notes:- Hotfix drivers will not always appear in the NVIDIA App (GeForce Experience) search results. NVIDIA warns this is normal: the app may show older driver metadata after a hotfix install because the hotfix is not in the app database.
- Only download hotfix drivers from NVIDIA’s official support site or known NVIDIA CDNs. Third-party mirrors may host copies, but the safest source is NVIDIA’s Customer Care page or the official CDN referenced from it.
Step‑by‑step: how to prepare, download and install 591.67 safely
Preparation (do this first)
- Create a System Restore point or take a full system backup if the machine is mission-critical. A restore point is quick and gives a safe rollback option.
- Note your current driver version and keep the previous driver installer handy (download and archive the last known-good WHQL driver) in case you need to roll back.
- Record baseline metrics or visual references: for color issues take screenshots or screen captures showing the banding or Digital Vibrance problem; for UI problems note the current NVIDIA Control Panel state. These artifacts help confirm whether the hotfix fixed the issue.
Download
- Use NVIDIA’s Customer Care hotfix bulletin to access the official download. The bulletin includes the hotfix description and a download link. Community threads also publish the CDN link (which points to NVIDIA’s official distribution servers).
Installation
- Close all games, overlay apps (Discord/Steam/GeForce overlay), capture utilities (RivaTuner, OBS), and any GPU monitoring apps before starting. These can interfere with the installer or confound verification.
- Run the hotfix installer as Administrator. When offered, you may choose a Custom → Perform a clean installation if you suspect leftover driver remnants. A clean install can reduce the chance of driver residue causing issues, but it will reset driver-level settings.
- Reboot when prompted and retest the affected scenarios. Capture screenshots and run the visual verification tests you prepared earlier.
Troubleshooting (if the hotfix doesn’t solve the problem)
- Perform a Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) clean removal in Safe Mode and reinstall the hotfix. DDU is the standard community tool for fully removing driver traces before reinstalling a fresh package.
- If problems persist, roll back to the last known-good driver and file a detailed report with NVIDIA support (include DxDiag output, Windows Update history, the driver version, and reproducible steps). Hotfixes are delivered with an abbreviated QA cycle; some very rare regressions have required follow-up hotfixes or inclusion in the next WHQL driver.
Verification checklist (short)
- Backup or System Restore point created.
- Baseline visual evidence captured.
- Official hotfix downloaded from NVIDIA Customer Care (or official CDN).
- Clean install performed (optional but recommended for stubborn artifacts).
- Reboot & re-test; compare before/after captures.
- If problems appear, run DDU and reinstall or rollback.
Deeper technical and QA analysis
Trade‑offs: speed vs. assurance
Hotfix drivers trade the breadth of QA for speed of delivery. That trade-off is intentional and appropriate for short, clear regressions where waiting for a full WHQL release would delay relief. However, that same abbreviated testing means an edge-case regression introduced by the hotfix is a realistic possibility — the very reason NVIDIA limits hotfix distribution to its Customer Care pages and explicitly recommends unaffected users wait for WHQL releases.Historical precedent and what it teaches us
Recent hotfix episodes (notably the 581.94 hotfix addressing Windows October cumulative-induced performance regressions) show both the strengths and limits of hotfixes: many affected users regained prior performance immediately, but results varied by platform and third-party middleware such as anti‑cheat drivers and overlays. The fix was later folded into a WHQL driver for broader distribution and reduced risk. Those past hotfixes also highlight the importance of community verification and vendor coordination when troubleshooting cross-vendor regressions.Anti‑cheat, overlays and enterprise considerations
- Anti‑cheat systems and overlays often operate at privileged levels or inject DLLs into game processes. Hotfixes that change driver behavior can expose latent compatibility issues with these layers. Competitive players and enterprises should test hotfixes in their specific environment before wide deployment.
- Enterprises and managed fleets typically require WHQL or vendor-certified drivers for compliance and audit reasons; hotfixes are not recommended for mass rollout in managed environments unless the issue is mission-critical and adequately validated in a pilot group.
Strengths and risks of 591.67
Strengths
- Fast mitigation for specific, user-visible visual issues that degrade color fidelity and UI control. Fixing such problems can materially improve the experience for creators and competitive players.
- Based on the latest 591.59 Game Ready baseline, so it inherits the broad optimizations and fixes from that release while addressing the three targeted issues.
- Straightforward installation and rollback paths are available (Windows Driver rollback, Device Manager, DDU), enabling safe testing and quick reversion if adverse effects appear.
Risks and known caveats
- Abbreviated QA means rare regressions are possible, especially on less common hardware or when interacting with third-party driver components (anti‑cheat, overlays). NVIDIA explicitly warns hotfixes are optional and provided as-is.
- NVIDIA App (GeForce Experience) may not reflect hotfix metadata correctly; after installing a hotfix, the app can show older driver dates or changelogs because hotfixes are not in the app’s database. This is cosmetic but can confuse users tracking version history.
- Unverified third‑party mirrors may host the hotfix; download only from NVIDIA Customer Care or the official CDN links referenced by NVIDIA to avoid tampered installers.
Cross‑reference and verification notes
Key claims in this article—release, fixes list, and distribution method—are verified against NVIDIA’s Customer Care hotfix bulletin (the authoritative vendor announcement) and public community corroboration (discussion threads that publish the official CDN download link and user reports). Those two independent sources align: the bulletin lists the three fixes and the distribution method, and community threads confirm the hotfix is present on NVIDIA’s CDN and that the installer behaves like other hotfix drivers (not visible in NVIDIA App). For historical context and to show how hotfixes are folded into full WHQL releases, prior hotfix-to-WHQL transitions (for example the 581.94 → 591.44 sequence) are documented in community and editorial reporting; those precedents help set expectations for 591.67 (i.e., current fixes will likely appear in the next official WHQL Game Ready driver).If any detail cannot be independently confirmed (for instance, a third‑party mirror page or a blocked mirror), treat that specific mirror with caution and rely on the NVIDIA Customer Care page as the source of truth. The NVIDIA bulletin itself is the canonical vendor confirmation for this hotfix.
Recommended action plan (practical)
- If you are affected by SDR gradient banding, Digital Vibrance color errors, or the Control Panel tray icon toggle: download and test 591.67 from NVIDIA’s Customer Care page following the preparation and installation steps above. Validate using the before/after captures.
- If you are not seeing these issues: skip the hotfix and remain on 591.59 WHQL (or your current stable driver). Hotfixes are not intended for prophylactic installs.
- For enterprise or managed deployments: stage 591.67 in a pilot first. If the fix is critical across many devices, consider waiting for the next WHQL driver if you cannot validate hotfix behavior in a representative pilot.
Final assessment
GeForce Hotfix Display Driver 591.67 is a precise, narrowly scoped response to real user-facing visual bugs; it follows NVIDIA’s established hotfix pattern of getting targeted fixes into users’ hands quickly while acknowledging the QA trade-offs inherent to that path. For users suffering from the listed issues, the hotfix is a pragmatic, low-friction mitigation — provided they follow basic safety steps (restore point, baseline capture, DDU fallback) and validate results. For most other users and managed environments, prudence argues waiting for the next fully tested WHQL release that will incorporate these fixes with broader assurance.GeForce Hotfix 591.67 is available from NVIDIA’s Customer Care hotfix bulletin; community mirrors report the installer is on NVIDIA’s CDN and ready for download and testing by affected users.
Source: www.guru3d.com https://www.guru3d.com/download/geforce-59167-hotfix-driver-download/
