STATUS_GRAPHICS_INVALID_VIDEO_PRESENT_SOURCE (0xC01E0304) Fix

Quick answer: Open Device Manager, disable your GPU, wait 10 seconds, re-enable it—that resets the video present source.

This error—STATUS_GRAPHICS_INVALID_VIDEO_PRESENT_SOURCE (0xC01E0304)—happens when the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) loses track of a valid video output. I've seen it most often when you plug in an external monitor on a laptop that's waking from sleep, or when switching between integrated and discrete GPUs on a hybrid graphics system. The driver thinks the source is gone, but Windows still expects it. The result? A black screen, a crash, or that error code in an app log.

Let's fix it.

1. Hard Reset the GPU Driver

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click your GPU (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, AMD Radeon RX 6800, or Intel UHD Graphics) and choose Disable device.
4. Wait a full 10 seconds. I know it feels like forever, but that gives the WDDM time to flush the invalid source.
5. Right-click the same GPU and select Enable device.

Your screen might flicker or go black for a moment—that's normal. The error should be gone after this.

2. Restart the Windows Display Driver Service

If the hard reset didn't cut it, the service itself might be stuck. Here's how to kick it:

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Scroll to Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) Service (it's often labeled Display or GraphicsBackend in newer builds).
3. Right-click it and choose Restart.
4. If that service isn't listed, look for Plug and Play and restart that instead—it triggers a driver re-enumeration.

3. Clear the GPU Driver Cache

Sometimes a corrupt driver cache keeps the invalid source alive. Do this:

1. Open File Explorer and paste this into the address bar: %systemroot%\system32\DriverStore\FileRepository
2. Sort by date modified.
3. Look for folders named nv_dispig.inf_* (NVIDIA), u0369821.inf_* (AMD), or igdlh64.inf_* (Intel). Delete the newest one—only the newest, because that's the one Windows might be choking on.
4. Reboot. Windows will reinstall the driver from the backup in the store.

Warning: Don't delete folders you're not sure about. Stick to the newest GPU-related folder only.

4. Alternative Fix: Use the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

If the error keeps coming back, your GPU driver might be the root cause. Force Windows to fall back to the basic driver:

1. In Device Manager, right-click your GPU and choose Update driver.
2. Select Browse my computer for drivers.
3. Choose Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
4. Select Microsoft Basic Display Adapter and click Next.
5. Reboot. This bypasses your GPU vendor's driver entirely. If the error vanishes, you know the problem is in your GPU driver version.

Then, go install the latest stable driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel—not a beta one. I've seen beta drivers cause this error on Windows 11 22H2 regularly.

Prevention Tip

To avoid this going forward, stop relying on Windows Update for GPU drivers. It often pushes older or buggy versions. Instead, grab the driver straight from your GPU maker's site. Also, if you use multiple monitors, set the primary display in your GPU control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Adrenalin) before connecting the second screen. That forces the WDDM to register the correct source order upfront.