A missing GPU in Task Manager does not necessarily mean your graphics card has failed. Windows may be using a generic display driver, the GPU column may simply be hidden, or the installed driver may not support the reporting system Task Manager needs.

The quickest diagnostic is DxDiag. Microsoft says Task Manager’s GPU performance data requires a graphics driver using Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.0 or later. Checking that version helps distinguish a driver worth updating from older hardware that may not support the feature at all.

This guide applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11. You’ll need an administrator account for some driver changes, and an internet connection to download a replacement driver if one is needed.

Windows 11 shows Task Manager and DirectX diagnostics reporting an RTX 3060 with WDDM 3.2. First, check where the GPU is missing​

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. In Windows 10, select More details if you see the compact view. Then check:

Quick walkthrough

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  • Performance: Look for a GPU entry in the list of components.
  • Processes: If the GPU is present under Performance but its column is missing here, right-click a column heading and select GPU. You can also select GPU engine if available.
  • Details: GPU columns are not necessarily displayed by default. Right-click a column heading, choose Select columns, and select the GPU information you want.

If the Performance entry is present, you may only need to change the visible columns. If it is missing, continue with DxDiag.

Check the driver model in DxDiag​

The Display tab of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool with the Device, Drivers and DirectX Features sections for the display adapter.

  • Press Windows + R.
  • Type dxdiag and press Enter.
  • If prompted about checking driver signatures, respond to the prompt and allow the tool to open.
  • Select the Display tab. If there are multiple Display tabs, check each one; a laptop can have both integrated and dedicated graphics.
  • In the Drivers section, find Driver Model.
  • Note the adapter name, driver version and driver model for the GPU that is missing from Task Manager.

Interpret the result like this:

  • WDDM 2.0 or later: The installed driver meets Microsoft’s stated WDDM requirement. A missing GPU entry still needs investigation; the version alone does not prove the driver is functioning correctly.
  • WDDM 1.x: The current driver does not meet the requirement for Task Manager GPU performance data. Check whether the manufacturer offers a compatible newer driver.
  • Microsoft Basic Display Adapter: Windows is using a generic display driver rather than a manufacturer-specific one. Installing the correct manufacturer driver is a sensible next step. Microsoft notes that this generic driver may be used when the specific driver is unavailable or not installed.
  • No useful adapter information or a device error: Open Device Manager and inspect Display adapters. The problem may involve detection or a driver that failed to start, rather than just a hidden Task Manager entry.

The Driver Model is the important field for this check. Don’t confuse it with the DirectX version listed elsewhere in DxDiag: a DirectX version is not a substitute for the WDDM number.

Update the correct graphics driver​

Start with Windows Update, then check the manufacturer’s support page if necessary.

Check Windows Update​

  • Press Windows + I to open Settings.
  • On Windows 11, go to Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates.
  • On Windows 10, go to Update & Security > Windows Update, check for updates, and select View optional updates if it appears.
  • If a relevant graphics driver is offered, select it and choose Download and install.
  • Restart the PC, then check DxDiag and Task Manager again.

Optional drivers are not installed automatically, and there may be no applicable driver offered. On a work or school PC, updates may be managed by your IT department.

Use the manufacturer’s driver​

If Windows Update does not resolve the issue, identify the exact GPU and PC model before downloading anything:

  • For a laptop or prebuilt desktop, check the PC manufacturer’s support page first.
  • For a separately installed graphics card, check the GPU manufacturer’s official support page.
  • Match the driver to the graphics hardware and your Windows version and architecture. Avoid third-party driver-download sites.

Run the manufacturer’s installer and follow its instructions. If the download instead contains driver files for manual installation, right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click the relevant adapter, and choose Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers. Select the downloaded driver folder and follow the prompts. Microsoft recommends obtaining manual drivers directly from the device manufacturer.

A message saying the best driver is already installed does not prove that no other compatible driver exists on the manufacturer’s support page.

Reinstall or roll back the driver​

If the correct driver is already installed but the GPU is still missing, reinstalling it may help.

  • Download the appropriate manufacturer driver first, so you have it ready.
  • Save your work and close open applications.
  • Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
  • Expand Display adapters, right-click the affected adapter, and select Uninstall device.
  • Confirm the uninstall, then restart the PC.
  • Windows will attempt to reinstall a driver. If needed, install the manufacturer’s downloaded package and restart again.

Device Manager showing the computer's hardware device categories in a tree.

The screen may flicker or temporarily use a lower resolution during a display-driver change. On a managed device, consult your administrator before uninstalling drivers.

If the problem began immediately after a driver update, try a rollback instead: in Device Manager, open the adapter’s Properties > Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver, if available. If the button is unavailable, Windows does not have a previous driver available for that rollback.

Is it the driver or the hardware?​

A low WDDM version describes the driver currently in use; it does not, by itself, prove that the GPU can never use a newer one. The deciding check is whether the PC or GPU manufacturer offers a driver for that exact hardware and Windows version that supports WDDM 2.0 or later.

If you install the appropriate driver, restart, and DxDiag still shows WDDM 1.x—and the manufacturer offers no newer compatible driver—Task Manager’s GPU performance reporting may simply be unavailable for that adapter. Reinstalling the same legacy driver repeatedly will not add a capability it does not provide.

If DxDiag shows WDDM 2.0 or later but the GPU remains missing, check Device Manager for an error and contact the PC or GPU manufacturer with the adapter name, driver version, WDDM version and any error code. A compliant version is a requirement, not a complete diagnosis.

Confirm the fix​

After a driver change, reopen DxDiag and verify the adapter and Driver Model. Then open Task Manager > Performance and look for the GPU entry. If it appears, select it to view its activity and memory graphs.

One useful detail from Microsoft’s DirectX team: Task Manager gathers GPU performance data from Windows’ GPU scheduler and memory manager, rather than only from DirectX applications. The graphs can therefore reflect work submitted through other graphics and compute APIs too.

Windows 10 note: Standard support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. The PC will still work, and Extended Security Updates are available for eligible enrolled devices, but fixing a graphics driver does not restore standard Windows 10 support. Consider a supported Windows version as part of your longer-term plan.

 

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