How to Install Nvidia Drivers on Ubuntu Linux

NVIDIA drivers unlock GPU acceleration for gaming, 3D rendering, and CUDA development on Ubuntu. You can install drivers from Ubuntu’s default repository for tested stability, the graphics-drivers PPA for the latest releases, or NVIDIA’s CUDA repository for GPU computing workflows. Each method has distinct trade-offs for version freshness, update frequency, and system integration.

This guide covers four installation methods so you can choose the approach that matches your hardware, update preferences, and use case. You’ll learn how to identify available drivers, install them, fix common desktop display issues, and verify your installation is working correctly.

Which NVIDIA Driver Installation Method?

NVIDIA drivers can be installed through several methods on Ubuntu. Choose the method that matches your needs: stability and long-term support, the latest drivers, or GPU computing workflows with CUDA.

Method	Version/Channel	Stability	Best For
CLI/GUI (Default Repository)	Ubuntu-tested stable	Very stable, LTS lifecycle	Users who prefer system-managed updates and tested compatibility
graphics-drivers PPA	Latest upstream releases	Stable, bleeding-edge	Users who want newest drivers and frequent updates
CUDA Repository	Development-focused releases	Stable, optimized for compute	GPU computing, CUDA development, machine learning workloads

New to Linux? The default repository or GUI method provides the easiest, most stable experience. Additionally, Windows users will find the GUI method (Method 2) most familiar, working similarly to Device Manager driver updates.

Quick choice: Most users should start with Method 1 (default repository) or Method 2 (GUI) for simplicity and stability. Alternatively, use the graphics-drivers PPA (Method 3) if you want the latest drivers between Ubuntu releases. Finally, use the CUDA repository (Method 4) only if you’re doing GPU computing or machine learning work and need NVIDIA’s development tools.

Remove Previous NVIDIA Installations

Before switching installation methods, first remove existing NVIDIA drivers completely to avoid conflicts. Mixing driver sources can cause boot failures or graphics instability. Specifically, this section covers uninstalling APT-based drivers, runfile installations, and CUDA Toolkit remnants. After removal, the system will automatically fall back to Mesa open-source drivers until new drivers are installed.

If you haven’t previously installed NVIDIA drivers through any method, skip directly to the Pre-Installation Checks section below.

Remove Old NVIDIA Repositories

If you previously enabled the graphics-drivers PPA or the NVIDIA CUDA repository, remove those sources before reinstalling to avoid mixed driver branches or duplicate repository warnings:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/graphics-drivers-ubuntu-ppa*.list
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-drivers.list

Run sudo apt update after removing these entries so APT stops pulling packages from the old sources.

Remove NVIDIA Packages via APT

To begin, remove any NVIDIA-related packages installed through APT (Ubuntu’s package manager, similar to Windows Update combined with the Microsoft Store). Use the following commands to purge the currently installed driver packages and clean up any lingering dependencies. Quoting 'nvidia*' ensures the shell passes the wildcard to APT without expanding it prematurely:

sudo apt remove --purge 'nvidia*'
sudo apt autoremove --purge

If you previously installed the CUDA Toolkit through Ubuntu’s package repositories, purge those packages as well before installing a new driver source. This removes meta-packages such as cuda-drivers, cuda-toolkit-12-4, and libcuda1 that keep NVIDIA components pinned in place.

sudo apt remove --purge 'cuda-*' 'libcuda*' 'nvidia-cuda-toolkit'
sudo apt autoremove --purge

Remove NVIDIA Drivers Installed via Runfile

Alternatively, if you installed NVIDIA drivers using a runfile (a standalone installer downloaded directly from NVIDIA’s website, similar to .exe installers on Windows), the uninstallation process differs from APT-based installations. Fortunately, runfile installations include an uninstaller script:

The uninstaller refuses to run while GNOME, KDE, or Wayland sessions are active. Press Ctrl+Alt+F3 to reach a text console, sign in, and stop your display manager (for example, sudo systemctl stop gdm3 or sudo systemctl stop lightdm) before continuing. After cleanup, reboot or start the display manager again.

Before running the uninstaller, remove any NVIDIA-created modprobe blacklist files so the system can boot back into the open-source Nouveau driver if needed:

sudo rm -rf /lib/modprobe.d/nvidia-installer-*
sudo rm -rf /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-installer-*
sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/modprobe.d/nvidia-installer-*

Next, edit /etc/default/grub and remove any custom parameters such as nvidia-drm.modeset=1 or nvidia-drm.fbdev=1 that were added to support the proprietary driver. After saving the file, rebuild GRUB and your initramfs:

sudo update-grub
sudo update-initramfs -u

Finally, run the bundled uninstaller to remove the driver:

sudo /usr/bin/nvidia-uninstall

Remove CUDA Toolkit Installed via Runfile

Similarly, if you installed the CUDA Toolkit using a runfile, remove it using the included cuda-uninstaller script. Replace X.Y with your installed CUDA version number:

sudo /usr/local/cuda-X.Y/bin/cuda-uninstaller

Remember to replace X.Y with the version number of your installed CUDA toolkit. For instance, if you have CUDA 12.0 installed, use cuda-12.0 instead.

Pre-Installation Checks

Updating your system, installing kernel headers, and verifying GPU compatibility prevent common installation failures. This section covers the essential preparation steps.

Update Ubuntu System Packages

Update your system packages to minimize conflicts during driver installation. This is especially important for kernel and graphics driver installations.

Update your package list:

sudo apt update

Upgrade any outdated packages:

sudo apt upgrade

For LTS users with recent hardware, the HWE kernel provides newer kernel versions and improved driver compatibility without upgrading your entire Ubuntu release.

Ubuntu Server and other minimal images often skip kernel headers, yet DKMS (Dynamic Kernel Module Support) requires them to compile NVIDIA modules. Install the headers that match your running kernel before proceeding:

sudo apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

If you compile OpenGL or EGL applications locally, install NVIDIA’s GLVND development stack and build helpers now. These libraries are optional for driver installation but save time when you later build GPU-aware software:

sudo apt install pkg-config libglvnd-dev libegl-dev libgl-dev libgles-dev libglx-dev libopengl-dev gcc make

Verify Graphics Card Compatibility

Next, verify your graphics card compatibility if you have older hardware. Users with recent cards can skip this step.

First, find your graphics card model:

lspci | grep -e VGA

This command displays information about your graphics card. Example output:

03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation TU117 [GeForce GTX 1650] (rev a1)

After obtaining your card model, verify compatibility if you have older hardware. Check the NVIDIA driver support matrix to see if your card is supported by current drivers. Some older GPUs may require legacy driver versions instead.

Method 1: Install NVIDIA Drivers via CLI

The command line (similar to Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows) offers the most flexible and fastest installation approach. Therefore, most users should start here.

Identify Available NVIDIA Drivers

Open your terminal (press Ctrl+Alt+T or search for “Terminal” in your applications menu). First, if ubuntu-drivers is missing (common on Ubuntu Server or minimal installs), install it:

sudo apt install ubuntu-drivers-common

Now list available drivers for your GPU:

ubuntu-drivers devices

Alternatively, list drivers without device detection:

ubuntu-drivers list

Servers and GPU compute hosts should include the --gpgpu flag to see the recommended -server builds:

ubuntu-drivers list --gpgpu

The ubuntu-drivers tool always selects signed drivers that work with Secure Boot, so it is the safest approach when BitLocker-enabled dual-boot systems or Secure Boot policies are in place.

In the example output, the graphics card model is “TU117 [GeForce GTX 1650]”, and the recommended NVIDIA driver is “nvidia-driver-545-open”. However, your NVIDIA graphics card model may differ, so look for the recommended driver option in your output. Consequently, always install the driver version that matches your hardware.

Install NVIDIA Drivers via APT

Install the recommended driver automatically:

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

Alternatively, if you prefer explicit control while staying inside the helper tool, specify the driver version from the ubuntu-drivers list output (replace <version> with the number shown as “recommended”):

sudo ubuntu-drivers install nvidia:<version>

Additionally, you can install a specific driver version from the output above. Choose the version that matches your hardware and whether your output lists an -open build:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>-open

For older GPUs that require legacy drivers:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-470

Ubuntu Server editions should install the -server metapackages, which provide the same driver versions without pulling unnecessary desktop components. Use one of the following commands that matches the release you selected above:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>-server
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>-server-open

The ubuntu-drivers tool can install the same packages on servers with a single command:

sudo ubuntu-drivers install --gpgpu nvidia:<version>-server

After selecting a server driver, pull in the matching utilities so headless hosts still have nvidia-smi and related tooling:

sudo apt install nvidia-utils-<version>-server

After installation completes, reboot to load the kernel modules:

sudo reboot

Unlike Windows where many drivers load without rebooting, Linux requires a reboot to load new kernel modules (the low-level driver components). Your system will reboot and automatically use the new NVIDIA drivers.

Method 2: Install NVIDIA Drivers via GUI (Desktop Only)

Next, the graphical interface method is recommended for users who prefer visual tools over the command line, similar to using Windows Device Manager for driver updates.

This workflow only exists on Ubuntu Desktop editions where GNOME and the Additional Drivers panel are installed. Ubuntu Server users should stick with the CLI methods above.

Open Additional Drivers Application

First, open the “Additional Drivers” application from your application menu:

1. Click “Activities” in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Then, type “Additional Drivers” in the search bar.
3. Select the “Additional Drivers” application from the search results.

Select and Install NVIDIA Driver

Once opened, the “Software & Updates” window displays available drivers for your NVIDIA graphics card. Notably, the number of drivers listed varies depending on your graphics card model.

From here, select the NVIDIA driver you wish to install and click “Apply Changes”. The installation typically takes 2 to 3 minutes depending on your system.

Finally, reboot your system after installation completes.

Method 3: Install NVIDIA Drivers via graphics-drivers PPA

The graphics-drivers PPA (Personal Package Archive) provides the latest proprietary NVIDIA drivers as they release. This approach suits users who want newer drivers between Ubuntu releases without waiting for official Ubuntu testing. Furthermore, the PPA is maintained by Ubuntu developers and widely trusted in the Linux community.

Install PPA Management Tools

First, install the required dependencies:

sudo apt install software-properties-common -y

Add graphics-drivers PPA

Once dependencies are installed, add the graphics-drivers PPA to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa -y

Refresh APT to Detect New Drivers

Update the package list to detect drivers from the PPA:

sudo apt update

Verify Available NVIDIA Drivers

List the PPA’s available drivers:

ubuntu-drivers devices

The output now shows more recent driver versions from the PPA compared to the default Ubuntu repository.

Install NVIDIA Drivers from PPA

Install the recommended driver from the PPA:

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

Alternatively, install a specific version directly (replace <version> with the recommendation from ubuntu-drivers devices):

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>-open

When running Ubuntu Server with the graphics-drivers PPA, select the matching -server or -server-open metapackage instead to keep the installation lean. Choose whichever command matches your preferred driver branch:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>-server
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>-server-open

Prefer sticking with ubuntu-drivers? Use the GPGPU flag to install the same packages from the PPA:

sudo ubuntu-drivers install --gpgpu nvidia:<version>-server

Remember to add the matching utilities for headless systems:

sudo apt install nvidia-utils-<version>-server

Finally, reboot your system after installation completes.

Method 4: Install NVIDIA Drivers via CUDA Repository

NVIDIA publishes CUDA repositories for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 22.04 LTS only. These are long-term support releases that receive five years of security updates (similar to Windows LTSC editions). If you run an older or newer interim Ubuntu release, use the default repository or graphics-drivers PPA instead.

Install Build Tools and Dependencies

The NVIDIA CUDA repository provides drivers alongside CUDA Toolkit support. The build-essential package includes the GCC compiler and build tools for DKMS (Dynamic Kernel Module Support), which automatically rebuilds drivers after kernel updates, similar to how Windows maintains driver compatibility. Install the required packages:

sudo apt install build-essential dirmngr gnupg ca-certificates software-properties-common dkms curl -y

Import NVIDIA CUDA Repository GPG Key

Import the GPG key for your Ubuntu version:

Ubuntu 24.04 Noble Numbat:

curl -fsSL https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ubuntu2404/x86_64/3bf863cc.pub | sudo gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-drivers.gpg >/dev/null

Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish:

curl -fsSL https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ubuntu2204/x86_64/3bf863cc.pub | sudo gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-drivers.gpg >/dev/null

Add NVIDIA CUDA Repository

Add the NVIDIA repository matching your Ubuntu version:

Ubuntu 24.04 Noble Numbat:

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-drivers.gpg] https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ubuntu2404/x86_64/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-drivers.list

Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish:

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-drivers.gpg] https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ubuntu2204/x86_64/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-drivers.list

Update APT Package Index

Update your package list:

sudo apt update

Install NVIDIA Drivers from CUDA Repository

Search for available NVIDIA driver versions:

apt search nvidia-driver-*

NVIDIA offers both proprietary and open-source drivers. Proprietary drivers typically deliver better performance and full feature support for gaming and professional work. Meanwhile, open-source drivers provide better Linux kernel integration and work reliably with Secure Boot. For most users, try proprietary drivers first.

Install the latest proprietary driver (replace <version> with the branch you want from the apt search output):

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>

Alternatively, install the latest open-source driver:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>-open

For Ubuntu Server, install the proprietary server build:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>-server

Or install the open-source server build:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>-server-open

Install the matching utilities so headless systems have nvidia-smi and related tools:

sudo apt install nvidia-utils-<version>-server

For CUDA Toolkit installation alongside drivers, refer to our comprehensive CUDA Toolkit installation guide which covers driver selection, CUDA package options, and GPU computing setup.

Install NVIDIA Headless Drivers

For servers, Docker containers, or headless compute nodes without a display, headless drivers omit GUI components while providing full GPU computing capabilities. Therefore, these are ideal for machine learning, render farms, or compute servers.

Install the proprietary headless driver:

sudo apt install nvidia-headless-<version>

Or the open-source headless driver:

sudo apt install nvidia-headless-<version>-open

Pair headless builds with the matching user-space utilities so commands like nvidia-smi work:

sudo apt install nvidia-utils-<version>

For data center servers with NVSwitch hardware, also install Fabric Manager (replace <version> with the same branch you used above):

sudo apt install nvidia-fabricmanager-<version> libnvidia-nscq-<version>

Finally, after installation completes, reboot to load the drivers:

sudo reboot

Troubleshoot Common Installation Issues

Installation failures and display issues usually stem from driver conflicts, Secure Boot blocking modules, or stale GNOME settings. Below, this section covers quick fixes for the most common problems.

Secure Boot Blocks NVIDIA Driver Loading

Systems with Secure Boot enabled block unsigned kernel modules, preventing NVIDIA drivers from loading. Consequently, you have two options: disable Secure Boot in BIOS/UEFI settings during installation, or enroll a Machine Owner Key (MOK) to sign DKMS-built modules.

For most users, temporarily disabling Secure Boot during driver installation is simplest:

1. Reboot and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing Del, F2, or F12 during startup)
2. Find “Secure Boot” in Security settings and disable it
3. Save and reboot
4. Install NVIDIA drivers using any method above
5. Re-enable Secure Boot only after enrolling a key that signs the NVIDIA modules; otherwise leave it disabled

If you need Secure Boot enabled, enroll a Machine Owner Key (MOK) so DKMS signs the drivers before you switch it back on:

sudo update-secureboot-policy --new-key
sudo reboot

During reboot, follow the on-screen MOK enrollment prompt. After enrollment, reinstall the NVIDIA driver so the modules are signed, then re-enable Secure Boot. For more background, refer to Debian’s Secure Boot and DKMS documentation; the process applies to Ubuntu as well.

Black Screen or No Display After Installation

If your system boots to a black screen, the NVIDIA driver failed to load or Nouveau (the open-source driver) is still active. Next, boot into recovery mode or a virtual console:

lsmod | grep nvidia

If this shows no output, the NVIDIA driver didn’t load. Next, check DKMS status:

sudo dkms status

Subsequently, if the driver shows as “unbuilt” or “failed,” rebuild it:

sudo dkms autoinstall

If you see Nouveau loading instead of NVIDIA, blacklist it permanently:

echo "blacklist nouveau
options nouveau modeset=0" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf

Rebuild your initramfs and reboot:

sudo update-initramfs -u && sudo reboot

DKMS Build Failures After Kernel Updates

If DKMS fails to rebuild drivers after a kernel update, ensure kernel headers match your running kernel:

uname -r

sudo apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Then force DKMS to rebuild:

sudo dkms autoinstall && sudo update-initramfs -u

Remove Ghost “Unknown Display” Entries

Some GNOME installs display an extra “Unknown Display” entry after switching driver branches because stale monitor layout files linger in your profile or in GDM’s configuration. Delete those layout files so GNOME regenerates them with the active displays:

rm -f ~/.config/monitors.xml
sudo rm -f /var/lib/gdm3/.config/monitors.xml

Log out and back in (or restart GDM on multi-user systems) so GNOME creates a fresh layout without the phantom monitor. Repeat the user-specific removal command for any additional desktop accounts affected by the ghost entry.

Restore Wayland on the Login Screen

If Wayland disappears as a session option, edit the GDM configuration and force Wayland back on, then neutralize GDM’s old udev rule:

sudo nano /etc/gdm3/custom.conf
# ensure WaylandEnable=true (uncommented)
sudo ln -s /dev/null /etc/udev/rules.d/61-gdm.rules
sudo reboot

Stabilize Wayland Sessions with NVIDIA

Wayland behaves best on GNOME 46 and NVIDIA driver 555 or newer. Add the explicit sync kernel parameters, update GRUB, and reboot:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub
# add inside GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX:
# nvidia-drm.modeset=1 nvidia-drm.fbdev=1
sudo update-grub
sudo reboot

Verify the proprietary EGL bindings are installed. Ubuntu 24.04’s packages include libnvidia-egl-wayland1, but you can reinstall it if Wayland keeps falling back to Mesa (skip this step if you installed NVIDIA 555+ runfiles because they already provide the library):

sudo apt install libnvidia-egl-wayland1

Chrome, Chromium, and Electron apps (VS Code, Slack, etc.) may still default to XWayland. Enable the Wayland Ozone backend by setting the “Preferred Ozone platform” flag to “Wayland” or launching Electron apps with --enable-features=UseOzonePlatform,WaylandWindowDecorations --ozone-platform-hint=auto.

Disable Problematic GSP Firmware (Optional)

Preview NVIDIA drivers occasionally enable GSP firmware that hurts responsiveness. Check whether GSP is active:

nvidia-smi -q | grep "GSP Firmware"

If a version number appears (instead of N/A), disable the firmware through the kernel parameters:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub
# add nvidia.NVreg_EnableGpuFirmware=0 inside GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX
sudo update-grub
sudo reboot

Fix Suspend or Resume Artifacts

Systems that resume to flickering displays often lack the Preserve Video Memory Allocations parameter. Enable it and verify the change:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub
# add nvidia.NVreg_PreserveVideoMemoryAllocations=1 inside GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX
sudo update-grub
sudo reboot
sudo cat /proc/driver/nvidia/params | grep PreserveVideoMemoryAllocations

Confirm NVIDIA Drivers Work Correctly

After installing NVIDIA drivers and rebooting, next verify the installation using command-line or graphical tools.

Check NVIDIA Drivers via Terminal

First, confirm which kernel module version is loaded:

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/version

Then, use nvidia-smi to see GPU utilization, memory usage, and driver status:

nvidia-smi

If you have a laptop with NVIDIA Optimus technology (hybrid Intel + NVIDIA graphics), you may need to manually switch to NVIDIA mode using prime-select before nvidia-smi works. However, switching to NVIDIA mode without the proper X.Org input drivers can cause frozen keyboard and mouse at the login screen.

Before switching to NVIDIA mode, install the complete X.Org input driver stack:

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-input-all
sudo prime-select nvidia
sudo reboot

If your keyboard and mouse freeze after rebooting, access recovery mode by holding Shift during boot, select “Advanced options,” choose “recovery mode,” then “Drop to root shell.” Switch back to Intel graphics, reboot, install the input drivers, and retry:

sudo prime-select intel
sudo reboot

Additionally, for a more detailed graphical overview, install GPU Viewer to monitor real-time GPU metrics, temperatures, and utilization.

Access NVIDIA Settings GUI

Alternatively, launch the NVIDIA settings GUI for graphical configuration. Open the terminal and enter:

nvidia-settings

Alternatively, you can also access NVIDIA settings through the application menu: Activities > Show Applications > NVIDIA X Server Settings.

The NVIDIA settings GUI displays your GPU configuration, information, and customizable settings. From here, you can adjust display settings, manage performance profiles, and configure advanced driver options.

Conclusion

Your Ubuntu system now has NVIDIA drivers installed and verified working, whether from the default repository, graphics-drivers PPA, CUDA repository, or GUI method. Your GPU is ready for gaming, 3D rendering, or GPU computing workflows. From here, you can install CUDA Toolkit for machine learning, configure multi-GPU setups, or optimize performance settings for your specific use case.

Useful Links

For reference, here are some helpful links related to installing NVIDIA drivers. These resources provide additional documentation, community support, and official driver downloads:

• Graphics Drivers PPA: Access the latest NVIDIA drivers from the Ubuntu graphics drivers PPA. This repository often has the most up-to-date drivers available.
• NVIDIA Unix Drivers: Visit NVIDIA’s official page for Unix drivers to download the latest drivers directly from NVIDIA.
• NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit: Learn about and download the CUDA Toolkit, which includes drivers and tools for GPU-accelerated computing.
• NVIDIA Tesla Driver Documentation: Read the documentation for NVIDIA Tesla drivers, providing detailed information on driver branches and updates.
• NVIDIA Forums: Join the NVIDIA community forums to discuss issues, share solutions, and get support from other NVIDIA users.