How to Remove NVIDIA Drivers Completely

Why and when to remove your NVIDIA driver

You remove an NVIDIA driver when you're switching to a different graphics card, troubleshooting display problems that the driver itself is causing, or preparing to install a fresh version. A partial uninstall—deleting the software but leaving driver files behind—often causes crashes, stuttering, or the new driver to fail during installation. A complete removal clears out the old driver files so your system starts fresh.

The process differs depending on your operating system and whether you want to keep your driver settings or wipe them entirely. On Windows, NVIDIA's own uninstaller usually leaves some files behind; the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) tool removes everything. On Linux and Mac, the steps are simpler because driver management works differently.

Key Takeaways

Windows users should use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode to remove all NVIDIA driver files, not the standard uninstall from Control Panel.
DDU is a free third-party tool that removes driver files the NVIDIA uninstaller leaves behind, preventing conflicts when you install a new driver.
You must restart your computer in Safe Mode before running DDU, and you should disconnect from the internet during the process.
On Linux, use your package manager (apt, dnf, or pacman depending on your distribution) to remove the driver cleanly.
Mac users can delete the NVIDIA driver folder directly from Applications, then restart the computer.

Removing the driver on Windows using DDU

Start by downloading Display Driver Uninstaller from the official Guru3D website. Save it to your desktop or a folder you can find easily. Do not run it yet—you need to restart your computer in Safe Mode first.

Restart your computer and enter Safe Mode. On Windows 10 and 11, hold Shift while clicking the restart button in the Start menu, then select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. When the menu appears, press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode. On Windows 7, restart and press F8 repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears, then select Safe Mode.

Once in Safe Mode, open DDU. Select NVIDIA as the vendor and your graphics card model from the dropdown menus. Click "Uninstall and shutdown"—the tool will remove all driver files and restart your computer automatically. Do not interrupt this process. When your computer restarts, it will boot normally, and Windows will detect your graphics card as a generic display adapter.

If you plan to install a new NVIDIA driver, read it before restarting in Safe Mode so you have it ready when ready after DDU finishes. If you're switching to a different manufacturer's card, install that driver before restarting normally.

Removing the driver on Windows without DDU

If you cannot use DDU, you can uninstall through Control Panel, though this method leaves some driver files behind. Open Control Panel, go to Programs > Programs and Features, find NVIDIA Graphics Driver in the list, and click Uninstall. Follow the prompts and restart when prompted.

After restarting, open Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select Device Manager). Expand Display adapters, right-click your NVIDIA graphics card, and select Uninstall device. Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" and click Uninstall. Restart your computer again.

This method is slower and less thorough than DDU, and you may still see driver-related errors if you install a new driver when ready afterward. If you experience problems, use DDU instead.

Removing the driver on Linux

The process depends on which Linux distribution you use and how you installed the driver. If you installed NVIDIA's driver directly from their website (a .run file), open a terminal and navigate to the folder where you downloaded it. Run the command sudo ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-[version].run --uninstall, replacing [version] with your driver version number. Restart your computer when finished.

If you installed the driver through your package manager, use the appropriate command for your distribution. On Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, run sudo apt remove nvidia-driver-[version]. On Fedora, run sudo dnf remove akmod-nvidia. On Arch, run sudo pacman -R nvidia. Replace [version] with your driver version if needed. Restart after uninstalling.

After removal, your system will fall back to the open-source Nouveau driver, which provides basic display functionality. If you see a black screen or resolution problems, you may need to reinstall the NVIDIA driver or switch to Nouveau explicitly.

Removing the driver on Mac

NVIDIA drivers on Mac are less common because most modern Macs use Apple Silicon or integrated Intel graphics. If you have an older Mac with an NVIDIA GPU and installed a driver, open Finder and navigate to Applications > NVIDIA Driver Manager. Double-click the uninstaller and follow the prompts, or look for an NVIDIA folder in Applications and drag it to Trash.

After moving the driver folder to Trash, empty the Trash and restart your Mac. Your system will revert to the default graphics driver. If you cannot find an NVIDIA folder in Applications, the driver may not be installed, or it may be part of your system in a way that does not require manual removal.

What to do if the driver won't uninstall

If the uninstaller hangs or fails, restart your computer in Safe Mode (Windows) or Recovery Mode (Mac) and try again. On Windows, make sure no other programs are running—close all browser windows, email clients, and background applications before starting the uninstall.

If DDU crashes or freezes, disconnect your internet connection before running it. Some antivirus software interferes with DDU; temporarily disable it before uninstalling. If you still cannot remove the driver, restart in Safe Mode again and try the standard Control Panel uninstall method instead.

On Linux, if the uninstall command returns an error, check that you have the correct driver version number by running nvidia-smi in the terminal. If the command does not work, the driver may not be installed. If you installed from a .run file and cannot find it, try the package manager uninstall command for your distribution instead.

After removing the driver: what happens next

Once the driver is gone, your graphics card will work with a generic or open-source driver that provides basic display output. You may notice lower performance, missing display options, or resolution problems. This is normal and expected.

If you are installing a new NVIDIA driver, read it from NVIDIA's website before you remove the old one. After removal, restart your computer, then run the new installer. If you are switching to a different graphics card manufacturer, install their driver before restarting normally so your display works correctly when ready.

If you see a black screen or cannot boot after removal, restart in Safe Mode, reinstall the NVIDIA driver, and restart normally. This usually fixes display problems caused by incomplete driver removal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to remove the old driver before installing a new NVIDIA driver?

Not always, but it is safer to do so. NVIDIA's installer can usually overwrite an older version without problems. However, if you are upgrading from a very old driver or switching between driver branches (like from Game Ready to Studio), a clean removal first prevents crashes and performance issues.

Will removing the driver delete my game settings or graphics preferences?

The standard uninstall preserves your NVIDIA Control Panel settings. DDU removes everything, including saved settings. If you want to keep your preferences, use the Control Panel uninstall method instead. You can also export your settings from NVIDIA Control Panel before uninstalling if you want to back them up.

Can I remove just part of the NVIDIA driver, like PhysX or GFXBench?

The uninstaller lets you deselect optional components during installation, but once installed, you cannot remove individual parts cleanly. If you want to remove only certain features, uninstall the entire driver and reinstall it, deselecting the components you do not want.

What if my computer will not start after I remove the driver?

Restart in Safe Mode, reinstall the NVIDIA driver, and restart normally. If Safe Mode does not work, restart again and try the standard Control Panel uninstall instead of DDU. If you still cannot boot, you may need to use Windows Recovery or a Linux live USB to fix the problem.

Is it safe to delete NVIDIA files manually from the Windows folder?

No. Manual deletion often leaves registry entries and system files behind, causing worse problems than the original driver issue. Always use the uninstaller or DDU. If you delete files manually, you may need to reinstall Windows to fix the resulting errors.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.