How to check what graphics card you have in Windows 11

Applies to: Windows 11 (Home, Pro and Enterprise). None of these methods need extra software or opening the case, and none of them change anything on your PC.

Which method should you use?

Every method below finds the graphics card name. They differ in what else they tell you, so pick the one that matches why you are asking.

You want to know	Best method
Just the name of the card, quickly	Task Manager or Settings
Whether the PC has two graphics chips	Task Manager or Device Manager
The installed driver version	Device Manager
A report to send to a game’s support team	DirectX Diagnostic Tool
A full hardware summary alongside other parts	System Information

1. Task Manager (fastest)

Task Manager is the quickest route, and Microsoft’s own guide to checking a GPU uses it. It also shows live load, so it doubles as a way to see whether the card is actually being used.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager.
2. Select Performance in the left pane.
3. Choose GPU. It is usually at the bottom of the list.
4. Read the card’s name in the top-right corner of the GPU view.

If you see more than one entry, such as GPU 0 and GPU 1, the PC has two graphics processors. Select each one to see its name. The view also typically lists dedicated and shared GPU memory below the graphs; the dedicated figure is the card’s own video memory, while shared memory is ordinary RAM that Windows can lend to graphics.

2. Settings: Advanced display

The Settings app shows which graphics processor drives a given screen, which is useful on a laptop connected to an external monitor.

1. Open Settings and select System.
2. Select Display, then scroll down to Related settings.
3. Select Advanced display.
4. Look under Display information for the GPU’s make and model.

This page reports the adapter connected to the selected display, not every graphics chip in the PC. With several monitors, there should be a selector near the top of the page to switch between them. If an external monitor is missing from the list entirely, see our guide to a second monitor not detected in Windows 11.

3. Device Manager (and the driver version)

Device Manager lists every graphics adapter Windows knows about, including one that is disabled or has a driver problem. That makes it the better choice when something seems wrong, and it is where the driver details live.

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters. Each graphics chip appears as its own line.
3. To see the driver, right-click an adapter, select Properties and open the Driver tab.

The Driver tab normally shows the driver’s date and version, which is what a game’s minimum requirements or a vendor’s support page will ask about. A yellow warning icon on the adapter means Windows has found a problem with it; double-click the adapter and read its status before changing anything.

4. DirectX Diagnostic Tool (to share details)

The DirectX Diagnostic Tool, or dxdiag, is what many game publishers ask for when you contact support, because it bundles graphics, driver and system details into one file.

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type dxdiag and select it from the results.
2. If it asks whether to check for digitally signed drivers, either answer is fine for this purpose.
3. Open the Display tab. On some PCs there are two, for example Display 1 and Display 2, one per graphics adapter or screen.
4. To create a shareable report, select Save All Information and choose where to save the text file.

The System tab of the same tool shows your DirectX version, which some games also list as a requirement. Microsoft’s page on checking your DirectX version covers that tab. The exact fields on the Display tab can vary with the driver, so treat its memory figure as a rough guide and use the card maker’s specifications when precision matters.

5. System Information

System Information gives a broader hardware summary, which helps when you also need the processor, motherboard or memory details in one place. Type msinfo32 in the search box and open System Information. In the left pane, the graphics adapter is typically under Components > Display, along with its driver details. Microsoft’s description of the System Information tool also explains how to save its output to a file.

For memory specifically, our guide to checking your RAM manufacturer uses a similar no-screwdriver approach.

Integrated, dedicated, or both?

Microsoft describes two kinds of graphics processor. An integrated GPU is built in alongside other components, is smaller and uses less power, and is common in laptops. A dedicated (discrete) GPU is a separate chip on its own board that uses more power and often needs its own cooling.

Many laptops have both: the integrated chip handles everyday work to save battery, and the dedicated one takes over for games and heavy apps. As a rough guide, names that include Intel UHD, Intel Iris or AMD Radeon Graphics usually indicate integrated graphics, while NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon RX models are usually dedicated cards. Check the exact model on the maker’s site if you need to be sure.

On a desktop with a dedicated card, the monitor should normally be plugged into the card’s own ports rather than the ones on the motherboard. If a screen stays blank, our monitor no signal guide walks through the cable and port checks.

Seeing Microsoft Basic Display Adapter?

If Device Manager or Settings shows Microsoft Basic Display Adapter instead of a brand name, Windows is most likely using its generic fallback driver because the proper one is missing or failed to load. The real card is still there, but you cannot see its name this way, and features such as higher refresh rates or gaming performance are usually limited until the correct driver is installed.

The fix is to install the right driver through Windows Update or from the PC or card maker. Our guide on how to update drivers in Windows 11 covers each route, including how to roll back if the new driver causes trouble. Microsoft’s Device Manager driver page uses the display adapter as its example for reinstalling a driver.

What to do with the answer

• Checking game requirements: compare your card’s model with the game’s minimum and recommended GPU, then check that the driver version meets any stated minimum.
• Updating the driver: use the exact model name to find the right download on the maker’s site, or start with Windows Update.
• Keeping a specific driver: if Windows keeps replacing the version you installed, see how to stop Windows 11 from updating your graphics driver.
• Asking for support: save a dxdiag report and attach it, rather than retyping details by hand.

Related guides

• How to update drivers in Windows 11 (and when not to)
• How to stop Windows 11 from updating your graphics driver
• Second monitor not detected in Windows 11: how to fix it
• Monitor no signal: how to fix it
• How to check your RAM manufacturer in Windows 11 and 10 (without opening the PC)

Official sources

• Microsoft Windows: How to check your GPU and why it matters
• Microsoft Support: Which version of DirectX is on your PC?
• Microsoft Support: Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows