How to Roll Back a Driver in Windows 10 or 11

A new graphics, audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other hardware driver can occasionally introduce a problem that was not present with the previous version. If the issue started immediately after a driver update, Windows can often restore the previous driver from Device Manager.

Before you roll back

A rollback makes the most sense when:

the device worked correctly before a recent driver update;
the problem began immediately after that update; and
the device is still detected in Device Manager.

For laptops, keep the PC connected to power and save your work before changing drivers.

Roll back the driver in Device Manager

You need administrator permissions.

Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
Expand the category that contains the affected device.
Right-click the device and select Properties.
Open the Driver tab.
Select Roll Back Driver.
Follow the prompts, then restart the PC if Windows asks you to.

Microsoft specifically recommends driver rollback when a problem began after a recent update.

If Roll Back Driver is grayed out

The button is unavailable when Windows does not have a previous driver package available for that device.

In that case:

Identify the laptop manufacturer and exact model.
Download the appropriate driver from the PC manufacturer’s support site or, where appropriate, the hardware vendor.
In Device Manager, uninstall or update the current driver only after you have the replacement installer available.
Restart if required, then install the known-good driver.

Avoid random third-party driver-download sites. Laptop manufacturers often customize drivers for power management, hotkeys, graphics switching, audio, and networking.

If the problem started after Windows Update

Driver updates can arrive through Windows Update. Rolling back the affected device driver can be a reasonable first step. You can also check Settings > Windows Update for a newer corrective update or optional driver update.

Does rolling back a driver delete files?

No. A driver rollback changes device-driver software; it does not remove personal documents or photos. Even so, keeping a normal backup is always recommended before system-level troubleshooting.