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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/VirtualDrivers/Virtual-Display-Driver/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

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Installation Issues

This error indicates that the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable is missing or outdated.Solution:
  1. Download the latest Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft’s official page
  2. Install both x64 and x86 versions if you’re on a 64-bit system
  3. Restart your computer
  4. Reinstall the Virtual Display Driver
This is a required dependency for the driver to function properly. The installer does not bundle these redistributables.
If the driver fails to install through the Virtual Driver Control (VDC) app:Solutions:
  • Run VDC as Administrator: Right-click the VDC executable and select “Run as administrator”
  • Check Windows version: Ensure you’re running Windows 10 or Windows 11
  • Disable antivirus temporarily: Some antivirus software may block driver installation
  • Check for existing installations: Uninstall any previous versions first
  • Verify digital signature: Ensure the driver files are properly signed and not corrupted
Check installation status:
# Open Device Manager
devmgmt.msc
Look under “Display Adapters” for the Virtual Display Driver entry.
On ARM64 devices running Windows 11 24H2 or later, you may need to enable test signing.Solution:
  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  2. Enable test signing: 
    bcdedit /set testsigning on
  3. Restart your computer
  4. Install the Virtual Display Driver
Enabling test signing reduces system security. Only do this if you trust the driver source and understand the implications.

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Display Issues

After installation, the virtual monitor should appear in display settings.Troubleshooting steps:
  1. Verify driver is installed: Check Device Manager under “Display Adapters”
  2. Check monitor count: Open C:\VirtualDisplayDriver\vdd_settings.xml and verify: 
    <monitors>
  <count>1</count>
</monitors>
  3. Restart the driver: Disable and re-enable the driver in Device Manager
  4. Check Windows display settings: Press Win + P to see projection options
  5. Restart your computer: Sometimes a full restart is needed
You can manage virtual displays programmatically using the PowerShell scripts in the Community Scripts folder.
This is a known issue when updating GPU drivers while VDD is installed.Prevention:
  • Always uninstall VDD before major GPU/chipset driver updates
  • Reinstall VDD after GPU drivers are updated and stable
Recovery: See Safe Mode Recovery for detailed instructions on how to recover from this issue.
GPU driver updates can change display adapter priority, causing conflicts with virtual displays. Always uninstall VDD first to prevent issues.
Multiple displays (physical and virtual) may have incorrect priority ordering.Solutions:
  1. Use Windows display settings:
    • Open Settings > System > Display
    • Drag monitors to rearrange their positions
    • Click “Make this my main display” on your preferred monitor
  2. Use PowerShell script to set VDD as primary: 
    # From Community Scripts folder
.\primary-VDD.ps1
  3. If issues persist: Boot into Safe Mode and uninstall VDD, then reinstall
The virtual display may not show expected resolutions or refresh rates.Solutions:
  1. Check vdd_settings.xml configuration:
    • Default location: C:\VirtualDisplayDriver\vdd_settings.xml
    • Verify your desired resolution is listed in the <resolutions> section
    • Check global refresh rates in <global> section
  2. Example resolution configuration: 
    <resolutions>
  <resolution>
    <width>1920</width>
    <height>1080</height>
    <refresh_rate>60</refresh_rate>
  </resolution>
  <resolution>
    <width>2560</width>
    <height>1440</height>
    <refresh_rate>144</refresh_rate>
  </resolution>
</resolutions>
  3. Restart the driver after making changes to vdd_settings.xml
See Resolution Configuration for detailed information on configuring custom resolutions and refresh rates.
HDR support requires Windows 11 23H2 or later.Requirements:
  • Windows 11 version 23H2 or newer
  • HDR enabled in vdd_settings.xml
  • Proper GPU support
Configuration:
  1. Edit C:\VirtualDisplayDriver\vdd_settings.xml: 
    <colour>
  <HDRPlus>true</HDRPlus>
  <SDR10bit>true</SDR10bit>
</colour>
  2. Enable HDR10 static metadata: 
    <hdr_advanced>
  <hdr10_static_metadata>
    <enabled>true</enabled>
  </hdr10_static_metadata>
</hdr_advanced>
  3. Restart the driver
  4. Enable HDR in Windows Settings > System > Display > HDR
See HDR Support for comprehensive HDR configuration options.

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Multi-GPU Issues

In multi-GPU systems, the virtual display may attach to the wrong adapter.Solution - Specify GPU in vdd_settings.xml:
<gpu>
  <friendlyname>NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090</friendlyname>
</gpu>
Find your GPU name:
  1. Open Device Manager
  2. Expand “Display Adapters”
  3. Copy the exact GPU name
  4. Paste into the <friendlyname> field
For more deterministic GPU selection, you can use PCI LUID-based adapter selection. See Multi-GPU Configuration for advanced options.

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Performance Issues

If you experience high CPU usage or reduced performance:Possible causes and solutions:
  1. High refresh rates: Lower refresh rates in vdd_settings.xml if not needed
  2. Multiple virtual monitors: Reduce monitor count if you don’t need multiple displays
  3. Debug logging enabled: Disable debug logging (creates large files): 
    <logging>
  <debuglogging>false</debuglogging>
  <logging>false</logging>
</logging>
  4. Software cursor vs hardware cursor: Ensure hardware cursor is enabled: 
    <cursor>
  <HardwareCursor>true</HardwareCursor>
</cursor>
Debug logging can create very large log files and impact performance. Only enable it when actively troubleshooting issues.
Choppy performance can have several causes:Solutions:
  • Check refresh rate: Ensure it matches your use case (60Hz is standard)
  • Reduce resolution: Lower resolutions require less processing power
  • Check GPU load: Monitor GPU usage in Task Manager
  • Update GPU drivers: Ensure you have the latest drivers (after uninstalling VDD first)
  • Disable unnecessary color formats: Use RGB instead of YCbCr if not needed
<colour>
  <ColourFormat>RGB</ColourFormat>
</colour>

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Uninstallation Issues

If standard uninstallation fails:Manual uninstallation steps:
  1. Open Device Manager (devmgmt.msc)
  2. Expand “Display Adapters”
  3. Right-click Virtual Display Driver
  4. Select “Uninstall device”
  5. Check “Delete the driver software for this device”
  6. Click Uninstall
  7. Manually delete: C:\VirtualDisplayDriver\ folder
If the driver is causing system instability, you may need to uninstall from Safe Mode. See Safe Mode Recovery.

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Getting More Help

If your issue isn’t covered here:
  1. Check the logs: Enable logging and review diagnostic information. See Logging & Diagnostics
  2. Search GitHub Issues: Check the GitHub Issues page for similar problems
  3. Report a bug: If you found a new issue, create a detailed bug report on GitHub
  4. Community Scripts: Explore PowerShell automation scripts that might help with your issue

Safe Mode Recovery

Recover from black screens and critical driver issues

Logging & Diagnostics

Enable logging and collect diagnostic information

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