A new NVIDIA Linux x64 Display Driver, version 580.126.18, was released on February 17, 2026, to fix a critical issue that caused module load failures after upgrading to Linux 6.19. The problem occurred because subtle changes in the kernel module-loading infrastructure broke the build script, resulting in "undefined symbol" messages and preventing the driver from starting on newer kernels. Users who upgraded from an earlier version without reinstalling the NVIDIA package are likely affected, particularly those running rolling-release distributions like Arch or Fedora Rawhide. To fix this issue, users can download and install the new driver by unpacking it with root privileges and rebuilding the kernel module.
NVIDIA Linux x64 Display Driver 580.126.18 – What’s Fixed and Why It Matters
The new NVIDIA Linux x64 Display Driver 580.126.18 drops on February 17, 2026 and promises a single, but important, fix: the kernel module now builds cleanly against Linux 6.19. If you’ve been wrestling with “module load failed” errors after a recent distro upgrade, this release is worth a quick install.
Why the Kernel‑Module Glitch Stopped Working
NVIDIA’s driver includes a kernel‑space component that must be compiled for each running kernel version. When Linux 6.19 landed, subtle changes to the module‑loading infrastructure broke the build script – the compilation would abort with cryptic “undefined symbol” messages. The result was a driver that installed fine on older kernels but refused to start on the newest releases, leaving users stuck with the fallback nouveau driver or an unusable X server.
Who Is Likely Affected
Anyone who upgraded from 6.19 without first reinstalling the NVIDIA package will see the problem. In practice that means rolling‑release distro fans – Arch, Fedora Rawhide, openSUSE Tumbleweed – and anyone who follows the “always be on the latest kernel” mantra.
How to Install the Fixed Driver
First, download the 580.126.18 package from NVIDIA’s Linux x64 page. The installer is a self‑extracting script; running it with root privileges will unpack the files into /usr/src/nvidia-xxxx and start the build process automatically. Because the fix lives in the source tree, there’s no extra flag to enable – the driver simply compiles against whatever kernel headers are present. After the build finishes, reboot or reload the nvidia module with modprobe -r nvidia && modprobe nvidia. If the module loads cleanly and nvidia-smi shows your GPU, you’re good to go.
Should You Skip This Update?
If you’re still on a kernel older than 6.19, the new driver isn’t a must‑have; it adds nothing but the fix for a problem you don’t have. The package size is nearly 400 MB and pulls in a handful of optional libraries that most users never touch, so installing just to be “up‑to‑date” can feel wasteful on low‑bandwidth connections. On the other hand, if your system already runs 6.19 or you plan to upgrade soon, skipping this patch means you’ll likely hit the same module‑load failure that dozens of forum posts have documented.
Quick Checklist After Installing
After the reboot, verify that the X server starts without falling back to the open‑source driver. Run glxinfo | grep OpenGL – it should list “NVIDIA” as the renderer. Finally, keep an eye on dmesg for any lingering warnings about firmware; they’re unrelated to this release but can indicate a missing microcode package.
Linux x64 (AMD64/EM64T) Display Driver 580.126.18 | Linux 64-bit
Driver Version: 580.126.18 Release Date: Tue Feb 17, 2026 Operating System: Linux 64-bit Language: English (US) File Size: 396.86 MB
