How to Install Nvidia Drivers on Linux Mint

NVIDIA drivers unlock GPU acceleration for gaming, 3D rendering, and CUDA development on Linux Mint. Choose from three installation methods: Linux Mint’s default repository for long-term stability, the graphics-drivers PPA for the latest upstream releases, or NVIDIA’s official CUDA repository for bleeding-edge drivers optimized for both GPU computing and desktop workloads.

Choose Your NVIDIA Driver Installation Method

NVIDIA drivers can be installed through several methods on Linux Mint, each offering distinct benefits. The choice depends on your priorities: guaranteed stability with official Linux Mint testing, access to the latest driver releases, or optimized bleeding-edge drivers with NVIDIA’s official backing.

Method	Version/Channel	Stability	Best For
Driver Manager (GUI)	Linux Mint-tested stable	Very stable, LTS lifecycle	Desktop users who prefer graphical tools and maximum stability
graphics-drivers PPA	Latest upstream releases	Stable, bleeding-edge	Users who want newest drivers between Linux Mint releases
CUDA Repository	Latest official NVIDIA releases	Stable, bleeding-edge optimized for compute	Latest drivers, GPU computing, machine learning, and power users

New to Linux and Linux Mint? The Driver Manager provides the easiest, most stable experience with regular testing and long-term support, similar to Windows Device Manager. Use the graphics-drivers PPA (Method 2) or CUDA repository (Method 3) if you want the latest drivers for better hardware support, performance, or GPU computing features. Both PPA and CUDA repository are community-trusted sources; the CUDA repository is NVIDIA’s official channel and offers the newest releases with optimizations for GPU-accelerated workloads.

Remove Previous NVIDIA Installations

Before switching installation methods, remove existing NVIDIA drivers completely to avoid conflicts. Mixing driver sources can cause boot failures or graphics instability. 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
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-drivers.sources

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 (Linux Mint’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 Linux Mint’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 before continuing. Linux Mint typically uses lightdm, but alternatives include sddm (KDE) or gdm3 (GNOME). Stop your active display manager with the appropriate command (for example, sudo systemctl stop lightdm). 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-*

Before running the uninstaller, first determine its location since it may be in different directories depending on your installation method:

which nvidia-uninstall

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 (replace /path/to/nvidia-uninstall with the output from the which command above):

sudo /path/to/nvidia-uninstall

Remove CUDA Toolkit Installed via Runfile

Similarly, if you installed the CUDA Toolkit using a runfile, remove it using the included cuda-uninstall script. First, find your installed CUDA version:

ls -d /usr/local/cuda-* | sort -V | tail -1

This shows your CUDA installation directory (for example, /usr/local/cuda-12.4). Then run the uninstaller:

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

Replace X.Y with the version from your directory listing. For example, if ls showed /usr/local/cuda-12.4, use cuda-12.4.

Prepare Your System for NVIDIA Driver Installation

Updating your system, installing kernel headers, and verifying GPU compatibility prevent common installation failures. These preparation steps ensure smooth NVIDIA driver installation on Linux Mint.

Update Linux Mint System Packages

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

First, update your package list and upgrade any outdated packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Linux Mint Server and other minimal images often skip kernel headers, yet DKMS (Dynamic Kernel Module Support, the system that compiles kernel modules) requires them to build NVIDIA modules. DKMS automatically rebuilds drivers when your kernel updates, similar to how Windows maintains driver compatibility across updates. 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.

Find your graphics card model:

lspci | grep -i 'vga\|3d'

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 confirm your card is supported by current drivers. Some older GPUs may require legacy driver versions available through the Driver Manager or alternative repositories.

Method 1: Install NVIDIA Drivers via Driver Manager (GUI)

The graphical Driver Manager is the easiest method for most Linux Mint desktop users. It works similarly to Device Manager on Windows, automatically detecting your graphics card and providing installation options without requiring terminal commands.

Accessing the Driver Manager on Linux Mint

To access the Driver Manager in Linux Mint, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Menu (Taskbar) in the lower-left corner of your screen.
2. Navigate to Administration.
3. Click on Driver Manager.

Install NVIDIA Drivers on Linux Mint via Driver Manager

Once you have opened the Driver Manager, follow these steps to install the NVIDIA drivers:

1. The Driver Manager will prompt you for your password. Enter your password and click on Authenticate.
2. The Driver Manager will scan your system for available drivers. Once the scanning is complete, you will see a list of available drivers for your graphics card.
3. Select the recommended NVIDIA driver from the list.
4. Click on Apply Changes to start the installation process.

Reboot Your System After Installation

After installing the NVIDIA drivers via Driver Manager, reboot your system for the changes to take effect:

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 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 Linux Mint releases without waiting for official testing. 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 Linux Mint 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>

Reboot Your System

Once the installation is complete, reboot your system for the changes to take effect:

sudo reboot

Method 3: Install NVIDIA Drivers via CUDA Repository

NVIDIA publishes CUDA repositories that work with Linux Mint’s Ubuntu base. These repositories provide drivers optimized for GPU computing. If you’re only installing drivers (not CUDA Toolkit), this method still works well for access to a wide range of driver versions.

Install Build Tools and Dependencies

The NVIDIA CUDA repository provides drivers alongside development tools. DKMS (Dynamic Kernel Module Support) requires build tools to compile driver modules locally. 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

Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu LTS releases. The current Linux Mint release uses Ubuntu 24.04 LTS as its base, while the previous Linux Mint LTS release uses Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. This matters because NVIDIA provides separate repositories for each Ubuntu version, so you’ll need to pick the right one below.

First, determine your Linux Mint’s Ubuntu base version since NVIDIA publishes separate repositories for each LTS release. Check the Ubuntu codename from /etc/os-release:

source /etc/os-release && echo "$UBUNTU_CODENAME"

This returns the Ubuntu base codename: noble (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS) or jammy (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS). Import the corresponding NVIDIA GPG key:

For Ubuntu 24.04 LTS base (current Linux Mint release):

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

For Ubuntu 22.04 LTS base (previous Linux Mint LTS release):

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

Add NVIDIA CUDA Repository (DEB822 Format)

Add the NVIDIA repository in modern DEB822 `.sources` format. This format is supported on both Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 22.04 LTS, providing cleaner repository management and better multi-architecture support.

For Ubuntu 24.04 LTS base (current Linux Mint release):

cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-drivers.sources
Types: deb
URIs: https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ubuntu2404/x86_64/
Suites: /
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-drivers.gpg
EOF

For Ubuntu 22.04 LTS base (previous Linux Mint LTS release):

cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-drivers.sources
Types: deb
URIs: https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ubuntu2204/x86_64/
Suites: /
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-drivers.gpg
EOF

The DEB822 `.sources` format replaces the legacy single-line `.list` format with a cleaner, more maintainable structure. The Suites: / line indicates this repository uses an exact path (ending with /) rather than a distribution suite name, so no Components: field is needed. This is the modern standard for APT repository configuration on Ubuntu 22.04+ and Linux Mint based on these releases.

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. Open-source drivers provide better Linux kernel integration and work reliably with Secure Boot. For most Linux Mint users, start with proprietary drivers for optimal performance.

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 Linux Mint Server editions, 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

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. 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

Verify NVIDIA Driver Installation on Linux Mint

After installing NVIDIA drivers and rebooting your Linux Mint system, verify the installation using command-line tools or the graphical NVIDIA Settings application.

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

Access NVIDIA Settings GUI

Alternatively, launch the NVIDIA Settings GUI for graphical driver configuration and monitoring. Open a terminal and enter:

nvidia-settings

Alternatively, you can also access NVIDIA settings through the application menu: Menu > Administration > 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.

Check Compute Capability and CUDA Toolkit

Confirm GPU name, driver version, and compute capability (important for CUDA application support):

nvidia-smi --query-gpu=name,driver_version,compute_cap --format=csv

If you installed the CUDA Toolkit for GPU computing, verify the compiler version:

nvcc --version

For full validation compile and run the deviceQuery CUDA sample. If your compute capability is below an application’s minimum requirement, only newer hardware (not a different driver) resolves the limitation.

Troubleshoot Common NVIDIA Driver Issues on Linux Mint

Installation failures and display issues usually stem from driver conflicts, kernel header mismatches, DKMS build failures, or Secure Boot blocking modules. The following troubleshooting steps resolve the most common NVIDIA driver problems on Linux Mint.

Secure Boot Blocks NVIDIA Driver Loading

Systems with Secure Boot enabled block unsigned kernel modules, preventing NVIDIA drivers from loading. 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. Most Linux Mint users find temporarily disabling Secure Boot the simplest approach.

To disable Secure Boot temporarily during driver installation:

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

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. Press Ctrl+Alt+F3 to access a virtual console and check driver status:

lsmod | grep nvidia

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

sudo dkms status

If the driver shows as “unbuilt” or “failed,” force DKMS to rebuild the kernel modules:

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

Mixed Driver Sources Causing Conflicts

Installing NVIDIA drivers from multiple sources simultaneously (Driver Manager, graphics-drivers PPA, and CUDA repository) creates package conflicts and prevents proper driver loading. Common symptoms include package manager errors mentioning held packages, DKMS build failures, or nvidia-smi reporting mismatched driver versions.

First, identify which driver packages are currently installed:

dpkg -l | grep nvidia-driver

Check which repositories are providing NVIDIA packages:

apt-cache policy nvidia-driver-565

The output shows all available sources. If you see packages from multiple repositories (Linux Mint repos, graphics-drivers PPA, and NVIDIA CUDA repos), conflicts are likely. To resolve this, completely remove all NVIDIA packages following the removal section earlier in this guide, then choose one installation method and stick with it consistently.

After cleanup, verify no NVIDIA packages remain:

dpkg -l | grep -i nvidia

If lingering packages appear, remove them manually:

sudo apt remove --purge package-name
sudo apt autoremove --purge

GPU Not Used (Software Rendering Fallback)

When your system boots normally but the GPU sits idle, the desktop environment fell back to software rendering through Mesa’s LLVMpipe. This occurs when the NVIDIA driver loads successfully but X.org or Wayland fails to recognize it. Performance feels sluggish, videos stutter, and games run at single-digit framerates.

Check which renderer your desktop session is using:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"

If the output shows llvmpipe or software rasterizer instead of your NVIDIA GPU model, the system isn’t using the GPU. Example of software rendering:

OpenGL renderer string: llvmpipe (LLVM 15.0.7, 256 bits)

Verify the NVIDIA kernel module loaded successfully:

lsmod | grep nvidia

If nvidia, nvidia_drm, and nvidia_modeset appear in the output, the driver loaded but X.org isn’t configured to use it. Generate a new X.org configuration file that explicitly tells the system to use NVIDIA:

sudo nvidia-xconfig

This creates /etc/X11/xorg.conf with NVIDIA-specific settings. Then reboot and verify GPU usage again with glxinfo. If the issue persists, check for conflicting Mesa drivers:

ldconfig -p | grep libGL.so

The output should prioritize NVIDIA’s libGL.so over Mesa’s version. If Mesa’s library appears first, reinstall the NVIDIA driver to restore proper library priorities.

Multi-Monitor Detection Problems

When one monitor works but additional displays remain undetected, the issue typically involves cable types, display port assignment, or X.org configuration not matching your physical setup. NVIDIA drivers handle multi-monitor setups through X screens and RandR extensions, requiring explicit configuration when autodetection fails.

First, verify which displays the driver detects:

nvidia-smi -q | grep -A 5 "Attached GPUs"

xrandr --listproviders

Then list connected displays and their current state:

xrandr --query

Monitors show as connected, disconnected, or unknown connection. Example output:

DP-0 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 527mm x 296mm
DP-2 connected 1920x1080+1920+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 527mm x 296mm
HDMI-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

If a physically connected monitor shows as disconnected, try a different cable or port. DisplayPort and HDMI sometimes require specific ports on multi-output GPUs. When monitors appear as unknown connection, force detection through the NVIDIA Settings GUI:

nvidia-settings

Navigate to X Server Display Configuration, click “Detect Displays,” arrange monitors in the desired layout, and apply settings. Then save the configuration to /etc/X11/xorg.conf to persist across reboots. For stubborn detection issues, regenerate the X.org configuration completely:

sudo nvidia-xconfig --probe-all-gpus

Steam and Gaming Library Mismatches

Games launched through Steam sometimes fail with Vulkan initialization errors or OpenGL warnings about missing libraries. This typically occurs when Steam’s bundled runtime libraries conflict with system-installed NVIDIA libraries, or when 32-bit library support is incomplete. Common symptoms include black screens at game launch, immediate crashes, or errors mentioning libvulkan.so or libGL.so.

First, verify Vulkan drivers are installed for both 64-bit and 32-bit applications:

dpkg -l | grep vulkan

Enable 32-bit architecture support if you have not already, then refresh your package lists:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update

Install missing Vulkan libraries if needed:

sudo apt install libvulkan1 libvulkan1:i386 vulkan-tools

Test Vulkan functionality with the validation tool:

vulkaninfo | grep "deviceName"

The output should show your NVIDIA GPU name. If Vulkan reports errors or shows a software renderer, install NVIDIA’s Vulkan ICD loader:

sudo apt install nvidia-vulkan-icd nvidia-vulkan-icd:i386

For persistent OpenGL library conflicts, disable Steam’s runtime libraries and use system libraries instead. Create or modify ~/.steam/steam/steam_dev.cfg to force system library usage:

echo "STEAM_RUNTIME=0" > ~/.steam/steam/steam_dev.cfg

Alternatively, force Steam to prefer system OpenGL libraries without disabling the entire runtime by setting environment variables in Steam’s launch options for individual games. Right-click the game, select Properties, and add under Launch Options:

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib32 %command%

If games still crash at launch, ensure 32-bit NVIDIA libraries match the driver branch you installed earlier (replace <version> accordingly):

sudo apt install libnvidia-gl-<version>:i386 libgl1:i386 libglx0:i386

Laptop GPU Switching Issues

Laptops with hybrid graphics (Intel integrated GPU plus NVIDIA discrete GPU) often struggle with power management and GPU switching on Linux Mint. Common symptoms include the discrete GPU staying active constantly (draining battery), applications refusing to use the NVIDIA GPU, or system freezes when switching between GPUs.

Check current GPU power state and active processes:

nvidia-smi

If the GPU shows persistent power draw with no applications listed, NVIDIA’s persistence daemon might be keeping it active. For laptops, you typically want on-demand GPU activation rather than always-on behavior to preserve battery life. Check the current power management mode:

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/params | grep "RegistryDwords"

Next, install and configure NVIDIA Prime for proper GPU switching on your laptop:

sudo apt install nvidia-prime

Switch to on-demand mode where the integrated GPU handles desktop rendering and NVIDIA GPU activates only when needed:

sudo prime-select on-demand

After switching modes, reboot and verify the active profile:

prime-select query

Launch applications with the NVIDIA GPU explicitly when needed:

prime-run application-name

For more aggressive power management, enable runtime power management for the GPU. Create or edit /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-pm.conf:

echo "options nvidia NVreg_DynamicPowerManagement=0x02" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-pm.conf

Then rebuild initramfs and reboot:

sudo update-initramfs -u && sudo reboot

Wayland Session Performance Problems

Linux Mint defaults to X11 (Xorg), but some users experiment with Wayland sessions for better multi-monitor support or modern display features. NVIDIA’s Wayland support improved significantly in recent drivers, though issues still occur with older driver versions or specific desktop environments. Common symptoms include screen tearing, stuttering animations, applications refusing to launch, or the session falling back to software rendering.

First, verify you’re actually running a Wayland session:

echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

If the output shows wayland and you’re experiencing issues, the easiest solution is switching back to X11 for better stability. Log out, click the settings gear icon at the login screen, and select “Linux Mint (X11)” or “Cinnamon (X11)” instead of the Wayland option. X11 provides more stable NVIDIA support on Linux Mint.

If you need Wayland for specific features, ensure you’re running a recent driver version (565 or newer) with proper Wayland support. Check your current driver:

nvidia-smi --query-gpu=driver_version --format=csv,noheader

Enable NVIDIA’s DRM kernel mode setting, which Wayland requires. Edit /etc/default/grub and add nvidia-drm.modeset=1 to the kernel parameters:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Find the line starting with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT and add the parameter inside the quotes:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nvidia-drm.modeset=1"

Update GRUB and rebuild initramfs:

sudo update-grub
sudo update-initramfs -u

Reboot and verify DRM mode setting is active:

cat /sys/module/nvidia_drm/parameters/modeset

The output should show Y to confirm DRM mode setting is active. If Wayland still performs poorly or applications crash, switch back to X11 permanently. NVIDIA’s X11 support remains more mature and stable than Wayland integration on Linux Mint.

Conclusion

NVIDIA drivers are now installed and working on your Linux Mint system, unlocking GPU acceleration for gaming, rendering, and compute workloads. Monitor GPU health and optimize power management through NVIDIA Settings. Use the CUDA Toolkit for GPU computing or install Steam for Vulkan gaming support.