How to Roll Back Device Drivers in Windows 11 Easily

Why You Might Need to Roll Back a Driver

Sometimes, a new device driver update can cause more problems than it solves. If your computer starts acting strangely after an update, you might need to roll back the device driver to a previous version. This can fix issues like new bugs, compatibility problems with your software or hardware, or even slow performance.

• 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 lets you roll back a device driver. Device Manager shows all your computer's hardware and the drivers that control the hardware. You can open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and picking Device Manager from the 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

Once Device Manager is open, you'll see a list of categories for your computer's hardware. Find the specific device that's causing problems by looking through these categories. For example, if your screen is acting up, look under 'Display adapters'; if your sound isn't working, check under 'Sound, video and game controllers.'

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

The 'Driver' tab displays all details about the driver currently installed for the found device, including the manufacturer and release date. This tab also shows important buttons, such as 'Roll Back Driver'.

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

The 'Roll Back Driver' button on the Driver tab allows you to switch back to an older version of the driver if Windows has one saved. If the 'Roll Back Driver' button is clickable, a previous driver version is available. If the 'Roll Back Driver' button is grayed out, you cannot use this driver rollback feature because no previous driver is stored.

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

When you click 'Roll Back Driver,' a small window will ask you why you're doing it. You can pick from a list of reasons like 'My computer stopped working properly' or 'The driver caused problems.' Windows uses this information to understand issues better, so choose the option that best fits 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

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

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

If a recent driver update is causing problems with your hardware in Windows 11, you can often fix it by rolling back the device driver to an older version. Simply open Device Manager, find the device, go to its Driver tab, and click 'Roll Back Driver' if the option is available. Follow the steps to choose a reason and confirm the change to restore your system's stability.