Table of Contents
Installing the correct NVIDIA driver on Ubuntu 25.04 ensures your graphics card works efficiently, supports the latest features, and maintains system stability.
Step 1: Update Your System
Before installing any drivers, it’s crucial to ensure your system is up-to-date. This avoids conflicts and ensures compatibility with the latest kernel and packages.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Step 2: Identify Your NVIDIA GPU
Knowing your GPU model helps you install the recommended driver version. Use the following command to list your NVIDIA hardware.
lspci | grep -i nvidia
Step 3: Add the Graphics Drivers PPA
Ubuntu’s official repositories may not always have the latest NVIDIA drivers. Adding the official graphics PPA ensures access to the latest stable drivers.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt update
Step 4: Install the Recommended NVIDIA Driver
Ubuntu can automatically detect and suggest the optimal driver for your GPU. Installing the recommended driver ensures stability and performance.
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
Step 5: Blacklist Nouveau (If Required)
The open-source Nouveau driver can conflict with NVIDIA’s proprietary drivers. Blacklisting it ensures the system uses the correct driver.
echo "blacklist nouveau" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u
Step 6: Reboot Your System
After installing the driver, a system reboot is necessary to load the NVIDIA kernel modules properly.
sudo reboot
Step 7: Verify NVIDIA Driver Installation
Once the system is back online, confirm that the NVIDIA driver is active and working. This ensures your GPU is recognized and functioning correctly.
nvidia-smi
Step 8: Troubleshoot Common Issues
If the NVIDIA driver does not load correctly, check for conflicting drivers, missing kernel modules, or dependency issues. Common troubleshooting commands include:
dmesg | grep -i nvidia
