How to update or roll back a faulty Windows driver

A faulty Windows driver can make a computer freeze, restart unexpectedly, lose sound, disconnect from Wi-Fi, or display a blue-screen error. Drivers act as translators between Windows and hardware such as graphics cards, printers, network adapters, touchpads, and storage controllers, so a damaged or incompatible version can affect the whole system.

Updating the driver may restore normal operation, but the newest release is not always the right one. A recent update can introduce bugs, while an older driver may be better suited to a particular laptop or custom-built PC. The safest approach is to identify the affected device, preserve your data, and change one driver at a time.

Identify the hardware problem

Start by noting when the fault began and what changed shortly before it appeared. A Windows update, new graphics software, hardware installation, or driver package may provide a useful clue. If the problem occurs only during gaming, video calls, printing, or connection to an NBN modem, the affected component may be easier to isolate.

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it, or search for “Device Manager” from the Windows taskbar. Expand categories such as Display adapters, Network adapters, Sound, video and game controllers, Bluetooth, and Universal Serial Bus controllers. A yellow warning icon indicates that Windows has detected a problem, although a driver can still be faulty without showing an icon.

Open the device’s Properties window and check the General, Driver, and Events tabs. The error code, driver provider, driver date, and version can help distinguish a missing driver from a compatibility issue. Write down the exact hardware name before downloading anything, especially when a computer has both integrated and dedicated graphics.

Prepare Windows before changing drivers

Create a restore point before making significant driver changes. Search for “Create a restore point”, select the system drive, choose Configure if protection is disabled, and then create a restore point with a recognisable name. System Restore does not replace a personal backup, but it can reverse system files, registry settings, and installed drivers if the change causes further trouble.

Back up important documents, photographs, email data, and browser records to an external drive or trusted cloud service. This is especially important if the faulty device is connected to storage or if Windows has already shown blue-screen errors. Review the provider’s privacy policy before using any online backup, diagnostic, or remote-support service, and avoid uploading sensitive files unnecessarily.

Keep your BitLocker recovery key available if device encryption is enabled. A major repair, firmware change, or recovery process can sometimes request it. On a work computer, contact the administrator before replacing a driver because business security tools, VPN software, and managed updates may depend on a specific version.

Update through a reliable source

For a straightforward fix, open Settings, select Windows Update, and check for updates. In Windows 11, optional driver updates can be found under Advanced options and Optional updates. In Windows 10, the wording may differ slightly, but Windows Update remains a useful first step for common hardware such as network adapters and printers.

For graphics, chipset, Wi-Fi, audio, and touchpad drivers, the computer manufacturer’s support page is usually the safest source. Search by the exact model of a Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, or custom-built system, then select the correct Windows version and architecture. A laptop driver supplied by its manufacturer may include power management or hotkey support that a generic package does not.

Graphics card owners can also use the official support page for NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, provided the hardware is confirmed first. Avoid driver websites that bundle installers with advertising, registry cleaners, or unrelated programs. In Australia, retail support desks at stores such as JB Hi-Fi or Officeworks may help identify a replacement peripheral, but the driver should still come from the device maker or Microsoft.

Install a driver safely

Download the driver package and read its release notes before running it. Close games, design applications, email programs, and other software that may use the device. If the installer offers a “clean installation” option, use it only when a normal installation fails or when corrupted graphics components are suspected.

Device Manager can install a downloaded driver manually. Right-click the affected hardware, choose Update driver, select Browse my computer for drivers, and point Windows to the extracted folder. If the manufacturer provides an executable installer, run it as an administrator and restart when prompted, even if Windows does not insist on a reboot.

After restarting, test the function that previously failed. Check Wi-Fi stability, audio output, display resolution, Bluetooth pairing, printing, or USB performance rather than relying only on the absence of a warning icon. If the problem remains, record the new driver version and error details before trying another package.

Roll back a recent driver

If the problem began immediately after an update, the Roll Back Driver option may restore the previous version. In Device Manager, open the device’s Properties, select the Driver tab, and choose Roll Back Driver. Windows may ask for a reason, such as the previous version working better or the current version causing instability.

The option can be unavailable when Windows has removed the previous package or when the driver was installed for the first time. In that case, obtain an older, compatible version from the computer or hardware manufacturer. Do not download an unknown “old driver” from a file-sharing site, because modified packages can contain malware or lack a valid digital signature.

After a rollback, pause optional driver updates temporarily if Windows keeps reinstalling the troublesome release. Windows Update settings can help control optional packages, while manufacturer update utilities may have their own automatic-installation settings. Keep security updates active, since pausing every Windows update can expose the computer to avoidable risks.

Remove and reinstall a damaged driver

When updating or rolling back does not help, uninstalling the device and allowing Windows to detect it again can repair a corrupted installation. In Device Manager, right-click the device, choose Uninstall device, and restart the computer. Use the option to remove the driver package only when you have a known-good replacement available and understand the consequences.

Be careful with network adapters, storage controllers, and input devices. Removing the only working Wi-Fi driver can leave a laptop offline, so download the replacement first or keep an Ethernet cable available. For a desktop in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or another Australian city, a local technician may be able to transfer the correct installer using a USB drive if internet access has been lost.

Advanced users can inspect installed packages with Windows tools such as pnputil, but deleting driver-store files manually is risky. A damaged driver may be a symptom of malware, failing hardware, overheating, or a corrupted Windows installation rather than the original cause. Repeated graphics failures can also point to a defective GPU or inadequate power supply.

Verify stability after the repair

Use the computer normally for a period after the change. Run the applications that previously triggered the fault, reconnect peripherals, and check Event Viewer for recurring errors. Windows Security should remain active, and a reputable malware scan is worthwhile when unexplained crashes are accompanied by pop-ups, browser redirects, or unusual background activity.

If Windows cannot start normally, enter the Windows Recovery Environment through Advanced startup and try Startup Settings, System Restore, or Safe Mode. Safe Mode loads a limited set of drivers, which can confirm whether a third-party driver is involved. From there, the recent driver can be removed or the system can be returned to the restore point created earlier.

Keep a record of the working driver version, installation date, and hardware model. This makes future repairs faster and helps prevent an unsuitable package from being installed again. With a verified driver, a current backup, and careful testing, Windows hardware problems can usually be resolved without replacing the entire computer.