How to Remove a Graphics Driver From Your Computer

Why and when to uninstall a graphics driver

You uninstall a graphics driver when it's causing problems — crashes, display glitches, games running poorly, or conflicts with new hardware. Sometimes a driver update goes wrong and you need to roll back to the version that worked. Other times you're switching to a different graphics card and the old driver interferes with the new one.

The process differs depending on whether you're using an NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics card, and whether you're on Windows or Mac. The basic idea is the same: remove the driver software so your system falls back to a generic display driver, then install a fresh or different version.

Before you start, back up any important files. Uninstalling a driver shouldn't delete your documents, but it's good practice. Also, know which graphics card you have — you'll need this information if something goes wrong and you need to read a replacement driver.

Key Takeaways

Windows users can uninstall through Device Manager by right-clicking the graphics card and selecting uninstall, then restarting the computer.
NVIDIA and AMD both offer uninstaller programs in their driver packages that remove the software more completely than Device Manager alone.
After uninstalling, your computer will use a basic display driver and may look pixelated or run slowly until you install a new driver.
If uninstalling breaks your display, restart in Safe Mode and try again, or use a previous Windows restore point to undo the change.

Uninstalling on Windows using Device Manager

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager," or by typing "Device Manager" into the Windows search box. Look for "Display adapters" in the list and click the arrow next to it to expand the category.

Right-click your graphics card — it will be named something like "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660" or "AMD Radeon RX 6600" — and select "Uninstall device." A dialog box will appear asking whether to delete the driver software. Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" if you want a complete removal, then click "Uninstall."

Windows will remove the driver and may ask you to restart. Do restart — this is when Windows installs a basic generic display driver so your screen still works. After restart, your display may look different (lower resolution, fewer colors) until you install a new driver.

Using manufacturer uninstallers for a cleaner removal

NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel all include uninstaller programs with their driver packages. These remove more completely than Device Manager does, clearing out leftover files and settings that can sometimes cause problems if you're switching to a different card or driver version.

For NVIDIA: Go to Control Panel, find "NVIDIA Control Panel," right-click it, and select "Uninstall." Or search your computer for "NVIDIA Uninstaller" in the Start menu. For AMD: Open the AMD Radeon Settings app, go to the menu (three horizontal lines), select "Preferences," then "Uninstall Driver." For Intel: Search for "Intel Graphics Command Center" in Settings, click it, then look for an uninstall option in the app itself, or use Control Panel to uninstall "Intel Graphics."

After running the manufacturer's uninstaller, restart your computer. Windows will again fall back to a generic driver. This method is more thorough and is recommended if you're having persistent driver problems or switching to a different graphics card.

What to do if your display breaks after uninstalling

If your screen goes black, becomes unreadable, or shows only a low-resolution display that won't change, you've likely uninstalled the driver but the generic driver didn't load correctly. This is fixable.

Restart your computer in 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," and "Safe Mode." In Safe Mode, Windows uses only basic drivers and networking. Open Device Manager again, find your graphics card, right-click it, and select "Update driver," then "Search automatically for updated driver software." Windows will reinstall a working generic driver.

If Safe Mode doesn't work, use Windows Restore Point. Restart and press F8 repeatedly before the Windows logo appears (timing varies by computer). Select "Repair Your Computer," then "System Restore," and choose a restore point from before you uninstalled the driver. This rolls back your entire system to that date, undoing the uninstall.

Reinstalling a driver after uninstall

Once the generic driver is working and your display is stable, you can install a new driver. Visit the manufacturer's website — nvidia.com/read/driverDetails, amd.com/en/support, or intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html — and read the driver for your specific card and Windows version.

Run the installer and follow the prompts. Most installers will ask whether you want to do a clean install (which removes old driver files first) or a standard install. Choose clean install if you had problems with the old driver. The installer will restart your computer when done.

After restart, your graphics card should be working with the new driver. Check Device Manager to confirm the driver is installed — there should be no yellow warning triangle next to your graphics card name.

Uninstalling on Mac

Mac computers with integrated Intel or Apple graphics don't have separate driver software to uninstall — the drivers are part of macOS itself. If you have an external AMD graphics card, AMD provides an uninstaller. read it from amd.com/en/support, run the uninstaller process, restart your Mac, and the card will fall back to integrated graphics.

NVIDIA no longer supports Mac, so if you have an older NVIDIA card, you cannot uninstall the driver through normal means. Contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider for help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling my graphics driver delete my files or programs?

No. Uninstalling the driver removes only the software that controls your graphics card, not your documents, photos, games, or other programs. Your files stay on your computer.

Can I uninstall a driver if my screen is already broken?

Yes. Restart in Safe Mode (hold Shift while restarting, then select Troubleshoot and Safe Mode), and uninstall from there. Safe Mode uses a basic driver that usually works even when the main driver is broken.

What's the difference between uninstalling and updating a driver?

Uninstalling removes the driver completely, and Windows falls back to a generic one. Updating replaces the old driver with a newer version without a full removal. Use uninstall if the driver is broken; use update if you want a newer version of the same driver.

How long does it take to uninstall a graphics driver?

The uninstall itself takes a few minutes. The restart that follows may take longer if Windows is installing a replacement generic driver. Total time is usually under 10 minutes.

Do I need to uninstall before installing a new driver from the same manufacturer?

Not always. Most driver installers have a "clean install" option that removes the old version automatically. But if you're having problems, uninstalling first and restarting before installing new software can help.

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.