Fix "Video Driver Crashed and Was Reset" in Games

Quick Answer

Disable any GPU overclock (MSI Afterburner, Precision X1), roll back to the previous driver version using DDU in Safe Mode, and increase the TDR timeout value in the registry if the error keeps happening.

Why This Happens

This error is Microsoft's Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) kicking in. Windows waits 2 seconds by default for the GPU to respond. If it doesn't — because of an unstable overclock, a buggy driver, or overheating — Windows resets the driver to keep the system from locking up. You see the black screen flicker, then get the error. Happens a lot in DirectX 12 titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, Overwatch 2, and Cyberpunk 2077. The culprit is almost always one of three things: an unstable core/memory clock, a corrupted driver, or a GPU that's running too hot. Don't bother reinstalling Windows — that's a 1% fix.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Kill all GPU overclocking software. Close MSI Afterburner, EVGA Precision X1, or AMD Adrenalin's tuning tab. Even a +50 MHz core overclock can trigger TDR in some games. Set all clocks back to stock. If the crash stops, you found it.
2. Uninstall the current driver with DDU in Safe Mode. Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU). Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart). Run DDU, select "Clean and restart" for your GPU brand (NVIDIA or AMD). This wipes out every trace of the driver — no leftover files, no registry junk.
3. Install the previous driver version, not the latest. NVIDIA and AMD both release buggy drivers now and then. Go to their driver archive (NVIDIA's is at nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx, AMD's is at amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes). Pick a version from 2–3 months ago. Install it with a "Clean Installation" checkbox if NVIDIA, or "Factory Reset" if AMD.
4. Test the game. Play for 30–60 minutes. If the error is gone, you're done. If it comes back, move to the registry fix below.

Alternative Fixes (If Above Fails)

Increase the TDR timeout

Windows 2-second timeout is too short for some games. Open Registry Editor (regedit). Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers. Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it TdrDelay. Set it to 8 (decimal). Restart your PC. This gives the GPU 8 seconds to respond before Windows resets it — enough for most transient hangs.

Lower GPU power limit or core clock manually

If you've got a factory-overclocked card (like an EVGA FTW3 or ASUS ROG Strix), it might be unstable at stock. Use MSI Afterburner to drop the core clock by 100 MHz and the power limit to 90%. Test again. Some cards ship with boost clocks too aggressive for their voltage curve.

Check temperatures and reseat GPU

If your GPU hits 85°C+ consistently, you're thermal-throttling. Clean the dust out. Reseat the GPU in the PCIe slot — bad contact can cause voltage drops. Also check that your PSU can handle the card; a 650W unit with a 3080 is asking for trouble.

Prevention Tips

• Never install a new GPU driver on launch day. Wait a week for bug reports to surface.
• Keep your GPU under 80°C under load. Adjust fan curves if needed.
• If you overclock, stress-test with OCCT or Unigine Heaven for 30 minutes before gaming. If it crashes there, it'll crash in-game.
• Disable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Windows Graphics Settings if you're on an older driver — it's known to cause TDR in some titles.

That's it. Nine times out of ten, it's the overclock or the driver. Don't chase ghosts in the registry unless you've tried these first.