How to Check My Graphics Card in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

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To check your graphics card in Windows 11, open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, and read the listed GPU name. Windows 11 may show two adapters—typically integrated and dedicated graphics—on a laptop. Use Task Manager for live usage, DxDiag for driver and DirectX details, or PowerShell for an exportable report.

You do not need to download a third-party system-information tool for the basic check. Windows 11 includes several built-in utilities, and the best one depends on whether you need the model name, current activity, memory information, driver details, or troubleshooting data.

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Key takeaways

• Device Manager is the fastest way to find every detected graphics adapter: open Display adapters and read each name.
• Task Manager shows live GPU utilization and, when supported, dedicated and shared memory activity under Performance > GPU.
• DxDiag reports the adapter name, driver information, display memory, and DirectX details; multiple Display tabs can indicate multiple adapters.
• GPU 0 and GPU 1 are Windows identifiers, not performance rankings and not guaranteed indicators of integrated versus dedicated graphics.
• Microsoft Basic Display Adapter usually means Windows is using a generic display driver rather than the manufacturer-specific driver.

What is a graphics card or GPU?

A GPU, or graphics processing unit, is the hardware that processes and displays graphics. “Graphics card,” “video card,” and “graphics adapter” are commonly used for the same general component, although not every GPU is a removable card.

Integrated graphics are built into a processor or motherboard and generally use shared system memory. Dedicated or discrete graphics are separate graphics hardware intended for more demanding gaming, video editing, 3D rendering, and AI workloads. Desktop discrete GPUs are commonly installed as expansion cards, while laptop discrete GPUs are often soldered to the motherboard.

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Many laptops contain both an integrated GPU and a discrete GPU. Microsoft explains the distinction between integrated and discrete GPUs and notes that a laptop can use either adapter depending on the workload. Microsoft’s GPU overview provides additional background.

How do I check my graphics card in Windows 11 with Device Manager?

Device Manager is the easiest way to find the exact graphics adapter name in Windows 11. Device Manager works without downloading software and can list more than one GPU.

1. Open Start.
2. Type Device Manager.
3. Select Device Manager from the search results.
4. Expand Display adapters.
5. Read the name of each listed adapter.

Microsoft documents the Device Manager > Display adapters path for viewing available graphics adapters. Microsoft’s display and graphics documentation covers this Windows hardware path.

The exact model is more useful than the brand alone. For example, “NVIDIA” identifies a manufacturer, while “NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU” identifies a specific adapter. Other names may include AMD Radeon, Intel UHD Graphics, Intel Iris Xe, Intel Arc, or Qualcomm Adreno.

What does it mean if Device Manager lists two GPUs?

Two GPUs are often normal, especially on laptops. One entry may be an integrated GPU for routine tasks and the other a discrete GPU for demanding applications. Do not uninstall or disable one solely because two adapters appear.

Windows assigns entries such as GPU 0 and GPU 1 in Task Manager. The numbering is an identifier, not a speed ranking, so GPU 1 is not automatically the faster or dedicated GPU.

What do warning icons in Device Manager mean?

A yellow exclamation mark indicates that Windows has detected a problem with the device or its driver. Right-click the adapter, select Properties, and read the Device status message and error code.

If the adapter is missing, appears under another category, or has a warning icon, use the troubleshooting steps later in this guide before assuming that the graphics hardware has failed.

How can I check GPU usage and memory in Task Manager?

Task Manager is the best built-in method for seeing what the GPU is doing right now. Task Manager’s Performance area provides graphical information about system resources, including GPU activity.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. If Task Manager opens in its compact view, select More details.
3. Open the Performance tab.
4. Select GPU 0, GPU 1, or another GPU entry in the left pane.
5. Read the GPU name and the available activity and memory graphs.

Depending on the GPU, driver, Windows build, and hardware support, Task Manager may show:

• GPU utilization.
• Dedicated GPU memory usage.
• Shared GPU memory usage.
• Total reported GPU memory.
• 3D, copy, video encode, or video decode activity.
• Driver or driver-model information.
• GPU temperature on supported hardware and Windows configurations.

Task Manager does not display every metric on every PC. If the GPU section is missing or incomplete, verify the adapter with Device Manager and DxDiag rather than treating the missing graph as proof that the computer has no GPU. Driver support, hardware age, and available performance counters can affect the information Task Manager displays. Microsoft’s Task Manager support documentation describes the Performance area and Windows support tools.

How do I check which GPU a game or app is using?

Task Manager can show which GPU engine a running application is using when the required driver and system support are present.

1. Start the game or application.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
3. Open the Processes tab.
4. If available, right-click a column heading and enable GPU and GPU engine.
5. Find the application and compare its GPU activity with the GPU entries under Performance.

The GPU connected to a particular display is not necessarily the only GPU involved in rendering an application. Hybrid-graphics laptops can switch adapters according to workload, power settings, application assignments, and display configuration. Column availability also varies by system and driver.

How can I check my graphics card with DxDiag?

DxDiag is the most useful built-in option when you need detailed graphics-driver, display, and DirectX information for troubleshooting or support.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type dxdiag.
3. Select OK.
4. If Windows asks whether to check digitally signed drivers, select Yes if prompted.
5. Open the Display tab.
6. Read the Device section for the adapter name and manufacturer.
7. Review the Drivers section for the driver version, date, and driver model.

If DxDiag shows multiple Display tabs, inspect each tab. Multiple tabs can correspond to multiple display adapters. Microsoft documents this behavior and the Display-tab diagnostic process in its guidance for Microsoft Basic Display Adapter and display drivers.

DxDiag can help you verify the following:

• GPU name and manufacturer.
• Reported display-memory information.
• Driver provider, version, and date.
• Driver model.
• DirectX information and display capabilities.
• Whether Windows is using a manufacturer driver or a generic Microsoft driver.

Microsoft also documents DxDiag as a way to check the installed DirectX version in Windows. Microsoft’s DirectX guidance explains where to find that information.

How do I save a DxDiag report?

To create a report for technical support, open DxDiag and select Save All Information. Choose a location and save the text file. The report can capture the graphics adapter, driver, DirectX, and display information in a form that is easier to attach to a support request. Microsoft documents the report-saving option in its display-related diagnostic guidance, including DxDiag report instructions.

Can Windows 11 Settings show my graphics adapter?

Windows 11 Settings can show display-adapter properties, but Device Manager or DxDiag is usually clearer for the exact GPU model. The Settings layout may change as Windows 11 receives feature updates.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select System.
3. Select Display.
4. Select Advanced display.
5. Choose the relevant display if more than one monitor is connected.
6. Select Display adapter properties for Display 1, or the equivalent adapter-properties link.

The adapter-properties dialog may show the adapter type, dedicated video memory, shared system memory, total available graphics memory, driver details, and current display mode. Microsoft documents the Settings > System > Display > Advanced display route in its display settings guidance.

If the adapter-properties link is absent or the displayed name is vague, return to Device Manager or use DxDiag. Settings is useful for display-specific information, but Settings does not always provide the clearest exact model identification.

How do I use System Information to inspect the GPU?

System Information, launched with msinfo32, provides a broader inventory of hardware, drivers, system components, and software environment.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type msinfo32.
3. Press Enter.
4. In the left pane, expand Components.
5. Select Display.
6. Review the graphics adapter and driver details.

Run System Information as an administrator when possible. Microsoft warns that running the tool without administrator privileges can cause some driver statuses to appear as stopped even when those drivers are not actually stopped. Microsoft’s msinfo32 documentation explains the tool and its export options.

How can I export a System Information report?

Create the destination folder first, such as C:Temp. Then run one of these commands from Command Prompt:

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msinfo32 /report C:Tempgraphics-report.txt
msinfo32 /nfo C:Tempsystem-information.nfo

The /report switch creates a text report, while /nfo creates an .nfo System Information file. The folder specified in the command must already exist.

How can I check the GPU with PowerShell?

PowerShell is useful when you want a scriptable or repeatable inventory of one or more Windows PCs. Open PowerShell and run:

Get-CimInstance Win32_VideoController |
  Select-Object Name, AdapterCompatibility, AdapterRAM, DriverVersion, DriverDate, VideoProcessor

The command can return the adapter name, manufacturer, reported adapter memory, driver version, driver date, and video processor. Microsoft documents these properties in the Win32_VideoController reference.

For a simple name-only result, run:

Get-CimInstance Win32_VideoController |
  Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name

Do not treat AdapterRAM as a guaranteed measurement of usable VRAM. Microsoft notes that WMI can return inaccurate property values for hardware that is not compatible with the Windows Display Driver Model, and the value also depends on how the driver reports memory. Use Task Manager, DxDiag, the GPU manufacturer’s control panel, or official hardware specifications when exact physical VRAM matters.

How do I check how much VRAM my graphics card has?

Use Task Manager for current memory usage and DxDiag or adapter properties for reported display-memory information, but distinguish dedicated memory from shared system memory.

An integrated GPU may show little or no dedicated memory because integrated graphics generally use system RAM. Task Manager’s Performance > GPU view is useful for seeing current dedicated and shared-memory use. DxDiag and Display adapter properties may show reported memory values, while PowerShell’s AdapterRAM field is best treated as an inventory value rather than an infallible VRAM specification.

What does “Microsoft Basic Display Adapter” mean?

“Microsoft Basic Display Adapter” means Windows is using a generic display driver instead of the manufacturer-specific graphics driver. The label is a driver name, not necessarily the exact physical GPU model and not proof that the graphics hardware is broken.

Microsoft describes Microsoft Basic Display Adapter as a built-in generic driver that provides basic display and graphics capabilities and recommends installing the manufacturer-specific driver. Microsoft’s Basic Display Adapter guidance explains the distinction.

How should I replace the generic display driver?

1. Identify the computer manufacturer and model, or identify the GPU manufacturer.
2. Check Windows Update for an available graphics-driver update.
3. If Windows Update does not provide the correct driver, use the PC manufacturer’s support website or the GPU manufacturer’s official website.
4. Install the correct driver for Windows 11.
5. Restart the PC if the installer requests it.
6. Check Device Manager or DxDiag again.

For laptops, prefer the laptop manufacturer’s driver when the laptop vendor provides a customized package. Customized drivers can be important for power management, display switching, and laptop-specific hotkeys. Avoid random driver-download websites.

What should I do if the GPU is missing from Device Manager?

A missing GPU can result from a disabled device, missing or corrupted drivers, failed hardware, firmware settings, or a detection problem. Work through these checks in order:

1. In Device Manager, select View > Show hidden devices.
2. Expand Display adapters again.
3. Look for an Unknown device or a device with a warning icon.
4. Right-click the computer name at the top of Device Manager.
5. Select Scan for hardware changes.
6. Restart Windows.
7. Install the correct graphics driver from Windows Update, the PC manufacturer, or the GPU manufacturer.
8. If the problem began immediately after a driver update, open the adapter’s Properties > Driver tab and consider Roll Back Driver.
9. For a desktop PC, shut down the computer and check that the graphics card and its power connectors are seated correctly.
10. Check the PC or motherboard manufacturer’s documentation before changing BIOS or UEFI settings.

On some laptops, a discrete GPU can be powered down until an application needs it, so a missing live Task Manager graph does not by itself prove that the hardware is absent. Use Device Manager and DxDiag together for verification. Microsoft provides graphics-device recovery and rescan guidance in its documentation for blank screens and display-driver problems.

What does Error Code 43 mean for a graphics card?

Error Code 43 means the graphics-device driver has notified Windows that the device is not working properly. A Code 43 message does not prove that reinstalling the driver will solve the problem; software, firmware, power, overheating, connection, or hardware faults can also be involved.

Use this recovery order:

1. Restart the computer.
2. Update the graphics driver.
3. Roll back the driver if the problem began after an update.
4. Uninstall the device in Device Manager and restart Windows.
5. Scan for hardware changes.
6. Check the PC or GPU manufacturer’s support page.
7. If software recovery fails, investigate power, overheating, physical connections, firmware, and possible hardware failure.

Microsoft explains that Code 43 indicates a device problem reported by the driver and provides recovery guidance in its Code 43 troubleshooting article.

How do I check whether my graphics driver is current?

First identify the installed driver, then compare update options from Windows Update, the PC manufacturer, or the GPU manufacturer. Identifying a driver is not the same as proving that an update is appropriate.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click the GPU.
4. Select Properties.
5. Open the Driver tab.
6. Review the driver provider, date, version, and available controls.

A newer driver is not automatically the best driver for every laptop or application. Laptop manufacturers may customize graphics drivers for power management and display switching. If a graphics problem started after an update, rolling back to the previous driver can be more appropriate than installing the newest package. Microsoft’s display troubleshooting guidance recommends Windows Update or the PC manufacturer’s website for relevant driver updates.

Which Windows 11 GPU-checking method should you use?

Choose the Windows 11 graphics-card checking method based on the information you need rather than using every tool.

For most readers, start with Device Manager. Use Task Manager when the question is “Which GPU is busy?” Use DxDiag when the question is “What graphics driver and DirectX information should I send to support?” Use PowerShell when the result needs to be collected repeatedly or exported as part of a larger inventory.

Common mistakes when checking a Windows 11 GPU

• Confusing the vendor with the model: “NVIDIA” or “Intel” is not a complete GPU identification.
• Assuming one PC has one GPU: integrated and discrete adapters commonly coexist in laptops.
• Calling shared memory VRAM: shared memory is system RAM allocated for graphics use.
• Assuming Task Manager always shows every metric: GPU graphs depend on hardware and driver support.
• Treating Microsoft Basic Display Adapter as the card’s exact name: the label identifies a generic driver.
• Assuming GPU 1 is the dedicated GPU: Windows numbering does not guarantee adapter type.
• Assuming the newest driver is always best: a laptop vendor’s customized driver or a rollback may be more suitable.
• Assuming the GPU connected to a monitor renders every application: hybrid graphics can separate display output and application rendering.
• Using AdapterRAM as definitive VRAM: WMI and driver-reported memory values can be inaccurate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check my GPU without downloading software?

You can check your GPU in Windows 11 without downloading software by opening Device Manager, expanding Display adapters, and reading the listed adapter name. Task Manager, DxDiag, Settings, System Information, and PowerShell are also built-in options.

How do I know whether I have integrated or dedicated graphics?

A computer commonly has integrated graphics when the adapter is built into the processor and uses shared system memory, while a separate discrete adapter is dedicated graphics hardware. If Device Manager lists two adapters, the laptop may have both; the names alone do not always prove which adapter is integrated, so check the computer or GPU manufacturer’s specifications when that distinction matters.

Why do I see two GPUs in Windows 11?

Seeing two GPUs in Windows 11 is often normal on laptops with hybrid graphics: an integrated GPU handles routine tasks and a discrete GPU handles demanding workloads. Do not disable or remove one solely because two adapters appear.

Why does Task Manager not show my GPU?

Task Manager may omit GPU graphs when the driver does not expose the required performance counters or when the hardware does not support the available metrics. Verify the adapter in Device Manager and DxDiag, and check whether Windows is using Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.

What does Microsoft Basic Display Adapter mean?

Microsoft Basic Display Adapter means Windows is using a generic display driver rather than the manufacturer-specific graphics driver. Install the correct Windows 11 driver through Windows Update or the official PC or GPU manufacturer’s website; the label alone does not prove that the physical GPU has failed.

The Bottom Line

For the quickest answer, use Device Manager: open Display adapters and read the exact GPU name. Use Task Manager for live activity, DxDiag for driver and DirectX diagnostics, System Information for a broader report, and PowerShell for a scriptable inventory. Multiple adapters can be normal, while Microsoft Basic Display Adapter or a warning code usually calls for driver and hardware troubleshooting.

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