Since installing the NVIDIA Game Ready 621.01 driver (released on October 21, 2026), do your videos freeze or show only a black screen during playback? If your graphics card is a GeForce RTX 50 Series (or an RTX Spark PC), NVIDIA has acknowledged this issue and fixed it in a hotfix driver 621.12. This guide helps you confirm that you are affected, then choose between the hotfix, waiting for the next official driver, or going back to the previous driver.
Problem
- Video playback freezes.
- The video area turns black during playback.
- The problem appeared right after updating to driver 621.01.
- Your graphics card is a GeForce RTX 50 (for example RTX 5060, 5070, 5080 or 5090) or your PC is an RTX Spark.
What NVIDIA says
On October 27, 2026, NVIDIA released hotfix driver 621.12, based on Game Ready driver 621.01. Among the listed fixes: "video playback may freeze or black screen on some GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs/RTX Spark after updating to GRD 621.01" (NVIDIA reference 6979343).
NVIDIA also states that its hotfix drivers are beta, optional versions that go through a much abbreviated QA process. According to NVIDIA, the safest option is to wait for the next official WHQL-certified driver, which will include these fixes. At that point, the hotfix will be taken down.
Step 1: check that you are affected
When to use it: before doing anything, so you do not install a beta driver for nothing.
Suggested solution
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys), Performance tab, then select GPU: the graphics card name is shown at the top right.
- To find the driver version, open Command Prompt and type:
nvidia-smiThe version is shown on the Driver Version line. You can also read it in the NVIDIA app, Drivers section.
- You are in the case described by NVIDIA if the card is an RTX 50 Series (or an RTX Spark) and the version is 621.01.
Expected result: you know whether the problem matches the bug acknowledged by NVIDIA. If your card is not an RTX 50, or your version is not 621.01, this fix does not concern you: see the special cases below.
Step 2: choose the right option
When to use it: you are affected according to step 1.
| Your situation | Recommended option |
|---|---|
| The problem is a real nuisance and you accept a beta driver | Step 3: install hotfix 621.12 |
| You prefer to stay on certified drivers | Step 4: wait for the next WHQL driver, or go back to the previous driver in the meantime |
| You do not need what 621.01 adds (support for Phantom Blade Zero and Modern Warfare 4) | Step 4: go back to the previous driver |
Step 3: install hotfix 621.12
When to use it: you accept a beta driver to fix the problem right away.
Suggested solution
- Open NVIDIA's hotfix 621.12 page (link in the sources).
- Download the version that matches your PC: Windows 10 / Windows 11 (x64) for a standard PC with a GeForce card, or Windows 11 (ARM64) for an RTX Spark PC.
- Close your games and video players, run the downloaded file and follow the installation.
- Restart the PC, then check the version with
nvidia-smi: it should show 621.12.
- Play the video that was causing problems again.
Expected result: the video plays without freezing and without a black screen.
Good to know: this hotfix also fixes an Unreal Engine 5.8 crash when Ray Lighting Mode is set to Hit Lighting, intermittent flickering on the MSI N16 Flip, and corruption on an HDMI monitor connected through the StarTech Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI 2.0 adapter (RTX Spark).
Step 4: go back to the previous driver while waiting for a WHQL driver
When to use it: you do not want a beta driver.
In the 621.01 driver release notes, NVIDIA advises against using the Windows driver rollback feature: it does not reliably restore all the files. NVIDIA also states that uninstalling through Device Manager is not supported.
Suggested solution
- On the NVIDIA driver search page, choose your card and download the previous Game Ready driver (the one you were using before 621.01).
- Open
Settings > Apps > Installed appsand uninstall the NVIDIA Graphics Driver.
- Run the installer of the previous driver you downloaded.
- Restart, then check the version with
nvidia-smi.
- Keep an eye on NVIDIA's driver page: when a new WHQL-certified Game Ready driver is released after 621.01, it will include the fix for this issue according to NVIDIA.
Expected result: videos play normally with the older driver while you wait for the next official driver.
If Windows Update reinstalls another driver: see Graphics driver replaced by Windows Update: causes and solutions (French guide).
Special cases
| Situation | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Your card is not an RTX 50 | NVIDIA's fix only targets RTX 50 and RTX Spark. For a video problem in VLC, see Video stuttering or no picture in VLC (French guide). |
| The whole screen goes black, not just the video | See Black screen after a graphics driver update (French guide). |
| "Display driver stopped responding and has recovered" message | See the guide dedicated to this message (French guide). |
| Installing the hotfix or the older driver fails | See NVIDIA driver that refuses to install (French guide). |
| The hotfix is no longer available | NVIDIA takes its hotfixes down when the next official driver is released: install that new WHQL driver instead. |
Final check
- ☐ The card is indeed an RTX 50 (or an RTX Spark) and the driver was version 621.01.
- ☐ You have chosen between hotfix 621.12 and going back to the previous driver.
- ☐ The new version is shown by nvidia-smi.
- ☐ The video that was causing problems plays normally.
- ☐ You are watching for the next WHQL driver.
Sources
- NVIDIA: GeForce/RTX Spark Hotfix Display Driver version 621.12 (updated October 27, 2026)
- NVIDIA: GeForce Game Ready Driver 621.01 (October 21, 2026)
- NVIDIA: Driver 621.01 release notes (sections 5.12 and 5.13)
- NVIDIA: Driver search
Still having the problem?
Reply in this topic with the exact model of your graphics card, the driver version shown by nvidia-smi, the software used for the video (browser, player, app) and whether the problem affects all videos or only some. Never post login details or passwords.