Updating drivers in Windows 11 is important for performance, security, and hardware compatibility, but sometimes a new driver update causes unexpected problems — crashes, glitches, or even hardware not working properly. That’s when the Roll Back Driver feature comes in handy.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about rolling back drivers in Windows 11, step by step.
🔍 What Does “Roll Back Driver” Mean?
Rolling back a driver means reverting your hardware driver to the previous version that was installed before the update.
It’s useful when:
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A driver update causes system instability or errors.
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Your hardware stops functioning correctly after updating.
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A new driver introduces compatibility issues with certain apps or games.
Think of it as an “undo button” for drivers.
⚠️ Before You Start: Things to Know
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You must be signed in as an administrator.
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Rollback works only if Windows has kept the previous driver files.
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Not all drivers support rollback — the option may be grayed out if there’s no older version.
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Always try rollback before attempting a full driver uninstall/reinstall.
🛠 Method 1: Roll Back a Driver via Device Manager
This is the most common and direct way.
Steps:
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Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
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Locate the device causing issues (for example: Display adapters for graphics cards, or Sound, video and game controllers for audio drivers).
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Right-click the device → select Properties.
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Go to the Driver tab.
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Click Roll Back Driver.
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Choose a reason for rollback (Windows will ask why).
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Click Yes to confirm.
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Restart your PC.
👉 Your PC will now use the previous driver version.
🛠 Method 2: Roll Back Graphics Driver (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)
Graphics driver updates are the most common source of issues.
Steps:
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Open Device Manager.
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Expand Display adapters.
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Right-click your GPU (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) → Properties.
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Go to the Driver tab → click Roll Back Driver.
If the option is grayed out, you can manually uninstall the current driver and reinstall the older version from the manufacturer’s website.
🛠 Method 3: Use Advanced Startup (Safe Mode)
If your system becomes unstable or won’t boot properly, use Safe Mode.
Steps:
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Press Win + I → go to System > Recovery.
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Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
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After reboot, go to:
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Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
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Press 4 or F4 to boot into Safe Mode.
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Open Device Manager and follow Method 1 to roll back the driver.
🛠 Method 4: Use System Restore
If rollback doesn’t work, you can use a restore point to revert the system to a state before the driver update.
Steps:
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Press Win + S, type Create a restore point, and open it.
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Click System Restore.
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Select a restore point dated before the driver update.
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Follow on-screen instructions to restore.
🛠 Method 5: Reinstall Previous Driver Manually
If the rollback button is unavailable, download the older driver version from your device manufacturer’s website and install it manually.
Steps:
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Go to the official support page for your device (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, Realtek, etc.).
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Find the driver section → download the previous stable version.
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In Device Manager, right-click the device → Uninstall device.
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Restart your PC.
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Install the downloaded older driver manually.
📋 Quick Comparison of Methods
| Method | When to Use | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Device Manager Rollback | Most common, quick fix | Easy |
| Graphics Driver Rollback | GPU-specific issues | Easy |
| Safe Mode | PC won’t boot properly | Medium |
| System Restore | Rollback not available | Medium |
| Manual Driver Reinstall | No rollback option | Advanced |
✅ Conclusion
Rolling back drivers in Windows 11 is a powerful troubleshooting tool when updates cause problems.
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First, try Device Manager rollback.
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If that fails, consider System Restore or manual reinstallation.
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Always download drivers from official sources to avoid compatibility issues.
With these methods, you can quickly get your hardware working properly again.
❓ FAQs
1. Why is the Roll Back Driver button grayed out?
Because Windows doesn’t have a previous version stored. You’ll need to manually reinstall an older driver.
2. Can I roll back drivers for all devices?
Yes, but only if a previous version exists. Common devices include GPUs, sound cards, and network adapters.
3. Does rolling back a driver delete the newer one?
Yes, it reverts to the older version, but Windows Update may try to reinstall the newer one unless blocked.
4. How do I stop Windows 11 from reinstalling the same bad driver?
Use Group Policy or Device Installation Settings to prevent automatic updates for that device.
5. Is it safe to roll back drivers?
Yes, it’s completely safe and often the best fix for hardware issues after an update.