What is NVIDIA GeForce Experience Error Code 0x0003?

Error Code 0x0003 indicates that the GeForce Experience application has failed to communicate with its essential background services. This is a common software issue, not a hardware problem, that prevents the app from launching or updating drivers.

What is the most common cause of error 0x0003?

The most common cause is that one or more critical NVIDIA services have stopped running in the background. This often includes the "NVIDIA Display Container LS" or "NVIDIA Telemetry Container." When these services fail to start with Windows, GeForce Experience cannot function and returns this error.

How do I fix error 0x0003 on Windows 11?

The solutions in this guide work for Windows 11, starting with checking the NVIDIA services in services.msc. Additionally, Windows 11 users should go to Settings > Windows Update and install all pending patches. Ensuring your .NET Framework is updated via "Optional features" is also a key step.

Why are the NVIDIA services (like Telemetry Container) not running?

These services can fail to run for several reasons. Their "Startup type" might have been accidentally set to "Manual" instead of "Automatic," or a recent Windows Update or driver conflict may be preventing them from launching correctly.

Do I need to be in Safe Mode to use DDU?

Yes, this is a critical step and not just a recommendation. Running DDU in Safe Mode ensures that Windows does not have the driver files "in use," allowing the tool to completely remove all traces without interference.

Will reinstalling NVIDIA drivers delete my games or game settings?

No, your games are safe and will not be deleted. However, choosing the "Perform a clean installation" option during the driver setup will reset your specific NVIDIA Control Panel settings (like 3D profiles) and any custom optimizations you've saved within GeForce Experience.

Is Error Code 0x0003 a problem with my graphics card (GPU) hardware?

It is very unlikely to be a hardware problem with your GPU. This error is almost always a software issue related to services, driver corruption, or system-level conflicts within your Windows installation.

Does this guide also fix GeForce error code 0x0002 and 0x0001?

Yes. Error codes 0x0002 and 0x0001 are part of the same family and are caused by the exact same service-level failures. The solutions in this guide, particularly checking and restarting the NVIDIA services, will also resolve those errors.

Can I just install the new "NVIDIA App" to fix this?

The new NVIDIA App is the official replacement for GeForce Experience and installing it may fix the problem by replacing the corrupt software. However, if the root cause is a stopped service (Solution 1) or a driver conflict, you may still need to follow the steps in this guide. We recommend trying the service check first.

How to Fix GeForce Experience Error Code 0x0003

Seeing "Error Code 0x0003" when you try to open GeForce Experience is frustrating, but it's almost always fixable. This error simply means the application can't communicate with the core NVIDIA services running on your system. This guide will walk you through every solution, from the simplest service restart to a full clean install, to get you back up and running.

Quick Fixes: Try These 3 Steps First

Let's try the three fastest solutions.

Restart Your Computer: This sounds simple, but it frequently works by clearing temporary system conflicts that may be blocking the services.
Run GeForce Experience as an Administrator: Right-click the app icon and select "Run as administrator." This is a quick way to rule out permissions issues.
Check Your NVIDIA Account: This is a fix many users (myself included) have found helpful. Open the application, log out of your NVIDIA account, and then log back in. This can sometimes re-establish a broken connection.

Solution 1: Check and Restart NVIDIA Services (The Most Common Fix)

This is the most frequent cause of Error 0x0003. The background services that GeForce Experience depends on have either stopped or failed to start with Windows.

How to Check Your NVIDIA Services

Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the "Run" dialog.
Type services.msc and press Enter.

The Windows services.msc window opening and showing a list of services.

The 4 Key Services to Check

In the Services list, scroll down and find these four services. It is critical that all four are active and show "Running" in the Status column:

NVIDIA Display Container LS
NVIDIA LocalSystem Container
NVIDIA NetworkService Container
NVIDIA Telemetry Container

How to Restart and Set Services to 'Automatic'

If any of those services are not marked as "Running," follow these steps:

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Right-click on the stopped service and select Start.
For a permanent fix, right-click each of the four services one by one and select Properties.
In the Properties window, find the "Startup type" dropdown menu.
Set the "Startup type" to Automatic.
Click Apply.

The Properties window for an NVIDIA service, with the Startup type dropdown menu set to Automatic clearly highlighted.

After you have done this for all four services, restart your PC and check if the error is gone.

Solution 2: Fix Network Configuration and Driver Conflicts

If the services were already running, the next step is to check for network or driver-level conflicts.

Reset Your Network Configuration (Winsock Reset)

A network configuration conflict can sometimes block the NVIDIA services from authenticating properly.

Open your Start Menu and type "cmd".
Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator".
In the black window, type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
You must restart your computer for this to take effect.

Command Prompt after a successful netsh winsock reset command.

Reinstall or Update Your Graphics Driver

The error might be caused by a corrupted driver installation.

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Go to the official NVIDIA Drivers website.
Manually select your graphics card model and download the latest driver.
Run the installer. When given the choice, select Custom (Advanced).
On the next screen, check the box that says "Perform a clean installation."

This process is essential as it removes old, conflicting profiles and settings that a standard update might leave behind.

Solution 3: The "Last Resort" Fix (Using DDU for a Full Clean Install)

If all the solutions above fail, the problem is likely a deeply corrupted driver or registry entry. This "nuclear" option involves using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU), a tool that completely wipes every trace of NVIDIA from your system.

Warning: Only follow these steps if you are comfortable with advanced troubleshooting. This is a powerful tool.

Download the latest driver from NVIDIA's site, but do not install it yet. Save it to your desktop.
Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from its official website (guru3d.com).
Restart your computer in Safe Mode. This is a critical step; DDU will not work correctly otherwise.
Run DDU. Select "GPU" as the device type and "NVIDIA" as the manufacturer.
Click the "Clean and restart" button.
Your computer will restart in normal mode. It may be in a low resolution, which is normal.
Now, run the new driver installer you downloaded in Step 1.

Specific Fixes for Windows 11 & Related Errors

For Windows 11 Users

Many Windows 11 users report this error appearing after a major OS update. If you are on Windows 11, try these two steps in addition to the solutions above:

First, go to Settings > Windows Update and check for any pending updates or patches. Install them and restart.
Second, ensure your .NET Framework is updated. Go to Settings > Apps > Optional features and ensure the latest .NET versions are installed and enabled.

What About Error Code 0x0002 or 0x0001?

These errors (0x0002, 0x0001) are part of the same family as 0x0003. They are all related to the same NVIDIA service failures. The solutions in this guide, especially Solution 1 (Checking Services) and Solution 3 (DDU), will also fix these related error codes.

How to Fix NVIDIA GeForce Experience Error Code 0x0003 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Quick Fixes: Try These 3 Steps First