How to Fix Graphics Card Shows as Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

Has your screen resolution degraded miserably after updating or formatting your current OS? If yes, you may be facing a situation where the system no longer detects your graphics card and boots up using a Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. The problem is not new; several users have reported the same, especially those who recently migrated from Windows 10 to 11.

To confirm that you are facing a similar issue, the best thing you can do is check the Device Manager. Usually, in such situations, the Device Manager shows an item listed under the category of GPU as Microsoft Basic Display instead of your PC’s original graphics card.

The issue is miserable for your display output, especially if you use a multi-monitor setup. Fortunately, there are fixes that you can use to resolve the error. In this post, let’s look at them and fix the graphics card shown as a Microsoft Basic Display Adapter issue on Windows.

Ways to Fix Graphics Card Shows as Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

When it comes to enhancing your display quality, there are several things that you can try. For instance, you can check the screen resolution, play around with factors like sharpness, contrast, etc., and configure the display accordingly. However, none of these will work if the capacity of the GPU is maxed out. And the worst part of the error you are currently facing is that it replaces your GPU with Microsoft’s Basic Display Adapter.

The first thing you should do as soon as you realize the issue has appeared is restart your PC. It gives your PC another chance to boot all the components so that even if the GPU was not initialized in the first place, they are initiated when the memory registers are refreshed.

If the restart does not work, do not panic; we have other fixes too! Without further ado, let’s take a look at them.

Fix 1 – Check for Graphics Driver Updater

The most common factor that causes the graphics card to show as a Microsoft Basic Display Adapter situation is the outdated nature of the GPU driver. After upgrading your OS, the GPU drivers are sometimes not updated automatically. Since the GPU appears outdated, the OS substitutes the same with the basic display adapter it offers.

The best way to resolve this issue is to update the driver. But the problem is that since the Display Adapter section in the Device Manager no longer detects the GPU, how do you update the driver manually?

Well, to resolve the issue and simplify the driver update process once and for all, we recommend you use the Advanced Driver Updater. The application automatically finds fetches, and installs the driver updates on your PC after comparing the existing drivers to the latest available versions.

The best part is that it does all of it in just 3 easy steps –

Step 1 – Download, install, and launch the application on your PC.

Step 2 – Use the Start Scan Now button to find outdated drivers on your PC. This will also detect the GPU driver on your PC, even if it is outdated or not showing in Device Manager.

Step 3 – After creating a list of outdated drivers, you simply use the update all button and allow the application to download the latest drivers and install them on your PC.

Restart your PC after the app is done, and you may find that the display quality has been enhanced.

Fix 2 – Download OS Updates if Available

If you have recently upgraded your PC, check for updates. These updates may contain driver updates for your GPU that may enhance your display performance again.

Step 1 – Press Win+I to open the System Settings.

Step 2 – Find the Windows Update option in the left pane. Click on it to open.
Step 3 – Use the check for updates button to start the update process.

Step 4 – If an update is available, click on Download and Install.
Step 5 – Restart your PC for the update to take effect. This may take a few minutes.

After updates are installed, your display issues should be resolved, provided your PC’s resources can handle these updates.

Fix 3 – Downgrade Your Operating System

If you use a GPU that no longer supports the latest OS, you might have to compromise on it and downgrade it to the last supported version. Several GPU adapters do not support Display Driver Model 1.2 or higher. Hence, it is better to downgrade if you cannot upgrade the GPU.

To downgrade your PC to an older OS, you must get your hands on the OS copy. Get your Windows 10 or any other that you may want to use. Use the media to boot your PC into recovery mode and replace the OS accordingly.

If you are not familiar with how to downgrade, just let the experts take over. Choose a service center that can help you do the same, as you may lose all your data if you try formatting the Windows without experience.

If none of the above fixes work, there is a strong chance that you are facing a hardware issue with the GPU, which is why the OS is not detecting it. The best way to handle this is to ask an expert for help and send your GPU for proper performance evaluation.

Try these measures, and you should be able to restore the same display quality on your PC as you enjoyed before the graphics card started showing as a Microsoft Display Adapter. Hope this post helps you with your GPU performance error. Thanks for reading, good luck!

Dishank Sharma

A creative tech-writer who loves to explore latest tech-trends & convey them to his readers in the simplest way possible. He loves to blend the crispness of technology with a pinch of creativity while curating best practices for the readers. In his free time, he likes to scribble poetry, listen to rap & travel.