HELP,
I run Zwift off a laptop and connect it to a UHD TV. The latest update causes my TV screen to lag or freeze for a few moments to 20 seconds as I ride. The laptop screen looks fine but the TV doesn’t. I have tried different video output settings in Zwift (HD and others plus window vs full screen) and nothing helps. I did notice a difference when I restart my laptop. This set up has been running without THIS issue for 3+ years.
Any thoughts?
Can you share details about the laptop - the CPU and GPU in it - and I would also like to know if you have an ANT+ dongle
A lot of people have had video driver issues since a recent windows update (not Zwift update) what are the specs of your laptop?
Hi @Robert_Gaudsmith_TX, welcome to the Forums! I’m Francisco from Zwift Support.
I could see you’re currently on Launcher version 1.1.14. With your setup (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti and Intel i5‑10300H), based on your logs.
I recommend following the steps in this thread: Workaround for Windows System Freeze – February 2026. Installing the special version of the Zwift Launcher described there has helped stabilize performance for other members, including those on Windows 11, as you can read here.
It’s worth checking for the last Official NVIDIA Drivers for that model as well. Currently, you’re on NVIDIA GeForce driver 595.71, but the most recent official release for the GTX 1650 Ti is 595.79 WHQL, published on March 10, 2026.
Give it a try and let us know how it goes. Thanks for posting.
Ride On.
Thanks. I was on with Nvidia last night and the chat kept dropping. I will look at your suggestions.
This is why I mean by the video freaking. I hope this works. It stops when I pull out the HDMI cord for the HDTV.
(Attachment MicrosoftTeams-video.mp4 is missing)
My video did not attach. Basically the image looks like the window size goes back and forth between two settings. The controls do not work until you pull out the HDMI cord. I followed the advice and it did not work. I confirmed both graphic drivers are updated. Please advise next steps as I am paying and not getting the service.
Nvidia driver updates generally change nothing for Zwift. The driver that ships with Windows is usually as good as any newer one. They have generic “update your drivers” advice which is really good advice for Intel graphics and usually does not help with Nvidia GPUs.
In most laptops with a discrete Nvidia GPU, the HDMI port is wired directly to the Nvidia GPU, while the built-in laptop display can use either Intel integrated graphics or the Nvidia GPU, which can be controlled in the display settings, or disabled in the system BIOS. So one thing you could try is running the game on the built-in display, not connected to the external display, and force it onto the Nvidia GPU in Windows display settings. You could also try switching between windowed mode and full screen and see if it changes anything.
Naturally I have not seen your video but one thing I would try is a different high quality (shielded) HDMI cable. I can’t say if that will help or not but it can make a difference sometimes.
Paul,
The game runs fine on the laptop screen when nothing is plugged in. However, once I plug in the HDMI it flickers. I have just discovered it does this outside of Zwift also. I guess this is not a Zwift issue???
Yes it’s unlikely to be a Zwift issue but some of the Windows or hardware suggestions I made could be relevant, and windowed vs full screen Zwift could matter as well. I doubt the driver matters at all.
Hardware tries:
Try a different HDMI cable. I am no expert but I read something about HDMI specs being different for cables. I have no idea on backwards/forwards compatibility. Could also be a loose wire in the connector.
Do you have USB-C with video capability? Could try a USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter. This is to verify the HDMI port on the laptop is good.
Try a different HDMI port on the TV. Make sure it is not the e-HDMI (e-ARC HDMI?) which is audio only to speakers/receiver.
Issue Solved
The BIOS on my 2021 laptop was not able to synch the two graphic drivers/chips like before because of a Windows update. I disabled the generic Intel and kept the Nvidia dedicated driver active. The agent said it would use more power but the laptop stays plugged in. The duplication works! However, the lagging and stalling returned. I found a restart right before riding helped. I do not know why. Just got off the bike and everything worked.
-Rob
There’s a bunch of us using Nvidia…all sorts of problems.