How to Install NVIDIA GPU Drivers on Ubuntu 22.04: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

How to Install NVIDIA GPU Drivers on Ubuntu 22.04

1. Preparation

Update the system sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y Disable the open‑source Nouveau driver Edit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf and add:

blacklist nouveau
options nouveau modeset=0

Then run:

sudo update-initramfs -u
sudo reboot

Verify with lsmod | grep nouveau (no output means disabled).

Remove old NVIDIA drivers

sudo apt purge nvidia-*
sudo apt autoremove

2. Install NVIDIA Driver (Two Methods)

Method 1 – GUI

Open “Software & Updates”, go to the “Additional Drivers” tab, select the recommended proprietary driver, click “Apply Changes”, and reboot.

Method 2 – Command Line

Add the official PPA and update:

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

List available drivers and pick the one marked “recommended” (e.g., nvidia-driver-535): ubuntu-drivers devices Install the chosen driver: sudo apt install nvidia-driver-535 Reboot the system:

sudo reboot

3. Verify Installation

Run nvidia-smi to display GPU model, driver version and CUDA version.

Check that the graphical desktop works without black screens or flickering.

4. Manual Installation (Optional)

Download the .run installer from the NVIDIA website.

Stop the display manager: sudo systemctl stop gdm3 # or lightdm Make the installer executable and run it without OpenGL or Nouveau checks:

sudo chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-*.run
sudo ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-*.run --no-opengl-files --no-x-check --no-nouveau-check

Reboot:

sudo reboot

5. Common Issues and Fixes

Black screen or no GUI : Ensure the monitor is connected to the discrete GPU, disable Secure Boot in BIOS, or switch the display manager (e.g., sudo apt install lightdm && sudo dpkg-reconfigure lightdm).

Driver/kernel version conflict : Install build tools and kernel headers:

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

Driver stops working after a system update : Reinstall the driver or run sudo apt install --reinstall nvidia-driver-535.

6. Precautions

Prefer the driver version recommended by Ubuntu to avoid compatibility problems.

Avoid running sudo apt upgrade after driver installation, as kernel upgrades may invalidate the driver.

Dual‑GPU users can switch modes with prime-select nvidia or prime-select intel.