How to Check if You’re Using the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

The Microsoft Basic Display Adapter is a basic backup graphics driver that Windows uses when it cannot find the right driver for your graphics card. This backup driver causes slow graphics, choppy video playback, and blocks you from changing your screen resolution.

You can check if your PC uses this generic driver in just a few clicks by opening Device Manager and looking under the Display adapters section. Finding this driver means you need to download and install the 💿 correct software from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel to make your games and apps run smoothly again.

Method 1Using Device Manager

Opening Device Manager reveals whether your system relies on the fallback driver. This management utility catalogs every piece of connected hardware, allowing quick inspection of active display adapters.

1. Open Device Manager: The fastest way is to right-click your Start button ⊞. A menu will appear. Look for ‘Device Manager’ and click it.
2. Expand Display Adapters: Once Device Manager is open, find ‘Display adapters’. Click the small arrow next to it. This will show the display adapter(s) your computer has.
3. Look for the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter: Check the names under ‘Display adapters’ carefully. If you see ‘Microsoft Basic Display Adapter’ listed, your system is using this driver for that adapter. If you see a name from your graphics card maker (like NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), that adapter is likely using its correct driver.

Method 2Using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

The DirectX Diagnostic Tool (accessed via the dxdiag command) provides a detailed hardware report for your display devices. Running this utility yields immediate insight into active display hardware.

1. Open the Run Dialog: Press the Windows key + R keys on your keyboard together. This opens the ‘Run’ dialog box. It’s a small window to open programs quickly.
   
2. Launch DirectX Diagnostic Tool: In the ‘Open:’ box, type dxdiag.exe. Then click ‘OK’ or press Enter. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool window will open.
   
3. Go to the Display Tab: In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, click the ‘Display’ tab at the top. If you have more than one graphics adapter, you might see several ‘Display’ tabs, like ‘Display 1’, ‘Display 2’, etc.
4. Check the Device Name: On the Display tab, look for the ‘Device’ section. Find the line that says ‘Name:’. If the name listed here is ‘Microsoft Basic Display Adapter,’ your system is using this generic driver for that display adapter.

Summary

Device Manager or the DirectX Diagnostic Tool both reveal whether a Windows 11 PC runs on the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.