NVENC Encoding Not Working — Fix NVIDIA Driver & CUDA Errors (Windows)

Last updated: September 23, 2025 · A comprehensive guide to systematically resolve NVIDIA GPU driver, CUDA, and NVENC encoding errors and crashes. Written for Windows and NVIDIA environments.

Quick Fix Summary

1. Check current status: Run nvidia-smi to verify Driver Version and CUDA Version (driver-supported runtime, not necessarily Toolkit)
2. Clean reinstall: Reinstall NVIDIA drivers with 'Perform a clean installation' option
3. Verify compatibility: Check CUDA support versions for your applications and frameworks against driver compatibility
4. Stable NVENC settings: Test with conservative presets and appropriate bitrates in FFmpeg, OBS, etc.
5. Power and thermal management: Set power plan to 'High Performance' (or 'Ultimate Performance' if available) and resolve temperature and power limit issues

Common Symptoms and Issues

Watch for these symptoms that indicate GPU driver, CUDA, or NVENC-related problems:

• NVENC unavailable in FFmpeg, OBS Studio, Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or encoding fails immediately after starting
• Applications crash randomly or freeze, with nvEncodeAPI or CUDA_ERROR messages appearing in logs
• GPU detected in nvidia-smi but showing CUDA Version mismatch or outdated driver issues
• Unstable GPU utilization during video encoding or sudden temperature spikes

Root Cause Analysis

GPU driver and NVENC issues can stem from various sources. Use this table to systematically approach the troubleshooting methods.

Issue Category	Main Causes	Solution Approach
Driver Issues	Failed cumulative updates, conflicting leftover files	Perform clean reinstallation
CUDA Compatibility	Version mismatch between applications/frameworks requirements	Check compatibility matrix and align versions
NVENC Settings	Excessive encoder settings (profile, preset, bitrate)	Test with conservative presets
Power and Thermal	Power limits, throttling, overheating	Optimize power plans, check cooling systems
System Resources	VRAM shortage, too many background applications	Reduce concurrent tasks, optimize memory usage

Systematic Troubleshooting Methods

Following these methods in order should resolve most GPU driver, CUDA, and NVENC-related issues.

1) Diagnose Current System Status

The first step is to assess the current situation. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

nvidia-smi

Record the Driver Version and CUDA Version. Note: the CUDA Version shown here is the driver-supported runtime version, not necessarily the Toolkit installed separately. This info is crucial for version compatibility checking.

Example nvidia-smi output highlighting Driver/CUDA versions

Additional Diagnostic Commands (Optional)

nvidia-smi --query-gpu=name,driver_version,pstate,temperature.gpu,utilization.gpu,memory.used --format=csv

This provides GPU temperature, utilization, and memory usage, helping identify overload situations before crashes.

2) Clean NVIDIA Driver Reinstallation

Driver-related errors are often resolved through clean reinstallation:

1. Download the latest or stable driver from the official NVIDIA website
2. Run the installer, select 'Perform a clean installation'
3. Restart your system
4. Verify the version using nvidia-smi

Caution: Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) only if problems persist. Create a system restore point first.

3) CUDA Version Compatibility Check and Adjustment

Install the CUDA Toolkit only if required for deep learning or development. Check your framework’s supported CUDA versions against the driver runtime. For video encoding tasks, separate Toolkit install isn’t needed. Skip to NVENC testing.

4) NVENC Stability Testing

Excessive presets cause failures. Test with FFmpeg:

ffmpeg -y -hwaccel cuda -hwaccel_output_format cuda -i input.mp4 ^ 
  -c:v h264_nvenc -preset p5 -tune hq -cq 19 -b_ref_mode middle ^ 
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k output_nvenc.mp4

※ Windows uses ^ for line continuation. On Linux/macOS, replace with \.

For HEVC: -c:v hevc_nvenc. Start with 1080p ≤60fps.

ffmpeg -y -i input.mp4 -c:v h264_nvenc -preset p5 -cq 19 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 192k output_nvenc.mp4

※ Add -hwaccel cuda if GPU decoding is also desired.

※ If errors occur with -b_ref_mode, retry with -b_ref_mode disabled.

5) Application-Specific Settings Guide

• OBS Studio: Settings → Output → Encoder → select NVENC (H.264). Start with Preset = Quality/Performance. Enable Look-ahead and Psycho-Visual Tuning only after confirming basics.
• DaVinci Resolve: Enable NVIDIA acceleration in Preferences → System → Decode/Encode, then select NVENC on Deliver page. Free version may limit H.264/H.265 hardware encoding or resolution depending on version/OS — check the Supported Codecs list. Studio version recommended.
• Adobe Premiere Pro: In Export → Encoding Settings, set Performance to Hardware Encoding. If plugin conflicts occur, clear media cache.

6) System Power and Thermal Optimization

• Windows Power Management: Change to High Performance or Ultimate Performance (if available; increases power draw)
• Laptop Users: Always connect power adapter, enable high-performance thermal profiles
• Free up VRAM: Close tabs/programs to reduce GPU load
• Cooling Check: Clean dust, verify fan operation

7) Error Log Collection and Analysis

• OBS Studio: Help → Log Files → view recent logs for NVENC errors
• FFmpeg: Add -loglevel verbose to see detailed encoder messages
• Windows Event Viewer: Check system error/warning records

8) Final Verification and Stability Confirmation

1. Re-check Driver/CUDA via nvidia-smi
2. Encode 30–60s sample via FFmpeg
3. Stress test (3–5 min) in OBS/Resolve/Premiere

If all pass, driver, CUDA, and NVENC pipeline is stable. Proceed to tuning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use Studio Driver or Game Ready Driver?

For creative work stability (video editing, rendering), use Studio Driver. For latest game optimizations, use Game Ready Driver.

Do I need to install CUDA Toolkit separately?

No, unless your framework specifically requires it (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow). General NVENC encoding doesn’t need it.

I updated to the latest driver version but problems got worse

Do a clean rollback to the previous stable version. Always use 'Perform a clean installation'.

Why doesn't NVENC work on my laptop?

Causes: power saving, Optimus, iGPU conflict. Fix: connect adapter, enable high-performance, check GPU assignment in NVIDIA Control Panel.

Why don't I see NVENC options at all?

Possibly older GPU, Optimus, or software edition limits. See application-specific guide.

Prevention Measures to Avoid Recurrence

• Driver Management: Maintain stable versions quarterly
• System Cleanup: Reduce background/startup apps
• Temperature Monitoring: Keep below ~80°C
• Settings Backup: Save stable profiles in OBS/Resolve

Conclusion

GPU driver, CUDA, and NVENC issues can be solved systematically. Begin with Quick Fix Summary and work through step-by-step methods.

If issues persist, share error logs and specs with support communities.

References

1. NVIDIA — CUDA Compatibility Guide
2. NVIDIA — Video Codec SDK (NVENC) Documentation
3. FFmpeg — Hardware Acceleration Introduction
4. OBS Studio — Help & Logs