NVIDIA

Check your graphics card

These steps are for Debian 13 (Trixie) on a 64-bit Intel or AMD computer, using Debian’s standard kernel.

They install NVIDIA Open for GTX 16 series and RTX 20, 30, 40, and 50 series cards.

GTX 900, GTX 10, and older cards need different instructions. Follow the Debian NVIDIA guide (opens in a new tab) for those instead.

Before you start

This uses NVIDIA’s software source to get a current driver. Debian 13’s older 550 package has unresolved security issues.

If another NVIDIA driver is already installed, follow the Debian guide’s removal instructions (opens in a new tab) before switching sources.

Enable contrib in your Debian software sources (opens in a new tab), then refresh the package list:

sudo apt update

Install the kernel headers and download tool:

sudo apt install linux-headers-amd64 wget

Add NVIDIA’s software source

Download NVIDIA’s repository setup package:

wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/debian13/x86_64/cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb

Install it, then refresh the package list:

sudo dpkg -i cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb

sudo apt update

Install the driver

sudo apt install nvidia-open

Debian builds the driver for your kernel. Wait for installation to finish without errors before restarting.

Restart and check

Restart your computer, then run:

nvidia-smi

You should see your NVIDIA card and driver version. If it can’t connect to the driver, follow the Debian NVIDIA troubleshooting guide (opens in a new tab).

See NVIDIA’s Debian installation instructions (opens in a new tab) for the full setup guide.