How to Roll Back Device Drivers in Windows 11 Easily

Why You Might Need to Roll Back a Driver

You might need to roll back device drivers when a recent software update causes hardware issues like screen glitches, audio failures, or poor performance. Reverting to an older driver removes new bugs and restores stability if the latest manufacturer update is incompatible with your system.

• New Bugs: Sometimes, new driver versions can introduce unexpected glitches or problems that weren’t there before.
• Compatibility Issues: A newer driver might not work well with other software or hardware you have.
• Performance Problems: A new driver can sometimes make your device run slower or less reliably.
• Feature Removal: Occasionally, a new driver might remove a feature you used to rely on.

If a recent driver update caused trouble, rolling back is often the quickest fix. You can then wait for a future update to resolve the issues or investigate the problem further.

How to Roll Back a Device Driver in 🪟 Windows 11

Here’s how to do it, step by step:

Step 1Open Device Manager

Device Manager is a built-in Windows tool that displays every hardware component connected to your computer along with its software. You can open Device Manager quickly by right-clicking the Start button ⊞ on your taskbar 🖥️ and choosing it from the pop-up menu.

Here are a few ways to access it:

• Quickest Way: Right-click the Start button (the Windows icon on your taskbar) and choose Device Manager from the menu.
• Using Search: Click the search icon on your taskbar, type "Device Manager," and then click on the Device Manager app when it appears.
• Keyboard Shortcut: Press the Windows key + X together, then select Device Manager from the menu.

Step 2Find the Device with the Problematic Driver

Locate the problematic hardware in Device Manager by expanding the category list for your computer components. For example, look under Display adapters if your graphics card is failing, or check Sound, video and game controllers if your audio is not working.

For example:

• If your graphics card is acting up, look under "Display adapters."
• If your webcam isn't working, look under "Cameras" or "Imaging devices."
• If your sound is distorted, check "Sound, video and game controllers."

Click the small arrow next to a category name to reveal the specific hardware listed there.

Step 3Open the Device's Properties

The device's properties window contains all details about that hardware, including the driver.

Here's how:

• Double-click the device name.
• Or, right-click the device name and select "Properties" from the menu.

A new window will appear for that device.

Step 4Access the Driver Settings

Click the Driver tab to view installed software details. This menu shows the driver provider, release date, version number, and the button you need to roll back device drivers.

You'll see details like the driver provider, its publication date, and the driver version. Buttons for "Update Driver," "Roll Back Driver," and "Uninstall Device" will also be visible.

Step 5Click the "Roll Back Driver" Button

Click the Roll Back Driver button on the Driver tab to switch to an older version of the software if Windows has a backup saved. If the button is grayed out, Windows does not have a previous version stored, and you cannot use this feature.

If the Roll Back Driver button is grayed out, no previous driver version is available. This typically occurs if the device was recently installed or if the driver updated during a major Windows update without retaining the previous version. In this scenario, you might need to uninstall the device and let Windows reinstall it, or find an older driver manually on the manufacturer's website.

Click the "Roll Back Driver" button if it's available.

Step 6Explain Why You're Rolling Back

Select an option from the pop-up window explaining why you need to roll back device drivers, such as your computer stopped working properly or the update caused problems. Windows uses this feedback to track software issues, so pick the choice that best matches your situation.

You'll see options such as:

• "My computer stopped working properly."
• "The driver caused problems."
• "I don't like this driver."
• "Other"

Choose the option that best suits your situation. You can also enter a brief explanation in the text box if you select "Other" or wish to provide additional detail.

Click "Yes" to confirm that you want to proceed with rolling back the driver.

Step 7Wait for the Rollback to Complete

Wait a minute or two for Windows to uninstall the current software and reinstall the older version after you confirm the prompt. Leave your computer turned on and do not close the window while the system finishes replacing the driver.

Allow Windows to complete this process without interruption.

Once finished, you'll likely see a confirmation message that the driver was rolled back successfully, or the confirmation window will close on its own.

Step 8Close Device Manager

You're almost done. After the rollback is complete, close the device's Properties window. Then, close Device Manager by clicking the 'X' in the top-right corner of its window.

Summary

Roll back device drivers in Windows 11 to fix hardware issues caused by faulty updates by using Device Manager. Open the tool, find your hardware, open its properties, and click the roll back button to restore your system stability.