Update or Roll Back a GPU Driver: NVIDIA, AMD and Intel on Windows

Choose your symptom

• Unsure which GPU or driver you have — Record every display adapter and the PC model.
• Ready to install an official update — Choose the matching vendor or OEM route.
• New crashes or display issues after updating — Record the regression and check rollback options.

STEP 1: Record the GPU, driver version and original symptom

1. Close the game. Right-click Start → Device Manager → Display adapters. Open the relevant adapter’s Properties → Driver and record its name, driver version and date. If two adapters appear, record both; a CPU brand alone does not identify the GPU running the game.
2. Write down the computer manufacturer and model, Windows version, affected game and repeatable scene. Record the current graphics settings and whether the symptom is a crash, visual corruption or low FPS. Preserve saves before comparing a crash-prone scene.
3. For a laptop, handheld or prebuilt PC, check the product support page for its supported driver and any model-specific instructions. Hybrid graphics and custom display features can depend on the manufacturer’s package. Ask your administrator about managed computers rather than overriding policy.

Result and next action: If the hardware or compatible package is unclear, stop and use the PC maker’s support. Otherwise choose one matching route in STEP 2; do not update every adapter and change game settings at the same time.

STEP 2: Use one official update route for your hardware

1. NVIDIA: open the NVIDIA app’s Drivers page, review the offered driver and supported hardware, then follow its download and installation prompts. Alternatively use NVIDIA’s official driver search with the exact product and operating system. Do not get packages from download mirrors or search advertisements.
2. AMD: in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, open its system/software information and Manage Updates. AMD’s current guide opens AMD Install Manager and lists available software there. Review the matching package before downloading and follow its installer. Screens differ by installed edition and supported hardware.
3. Intel: use Intel Driver & Support Assistant from Intel’s official site, or the matching graphics package in Intel Download Center. Review the detected GPU and Windows compatibility. Intel also directs users to computer-manufacturer drivers; prefer the supported OEM package when your PC maker specifies one.
4. Save other work, close games, keep a laptop on reliable power and follow the installer’s restart instructions. Do not select a driver-cleaning tool or AMD Factory Reset for a routine comparison. AMD warns that Factory Reset removes prior packages and prevents rollback to the previous driver.

Result and next action: When installation completes, restart if you have not already done so, then continue to STEP 3. If installation fails, retain the exact message and consult the relevant vendor; do not force an incompatible package.

STEP 3: Compare the result and roll back only when appropriate

1. After restarting, recheck the adapter’s installed version. Repeat the same scene with the same graphics settings and duration. Separate first-run preparation from repeat runs; record whether the original symptom improved, stayed the same or was replaced by a new one.
2. For Intel DCH packages, first check Intel’s matching rollback guidance and never bypass its installer with a legacy procedure. If an update introduced a new problem, open Device Manager → Display adapters → the GPU’s Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver, if available. Follow the confirmation and restart instructions. This option requires a retained previous driver and suitable permissions; a grey button is not a reason to delete driver files manually.
3. If rollback is unavailable, check the PC maker or GPU vendor for the previously recorded compatible version. NVIDIA’s app can offer Reinstall for a previously installed driver through its three-dot menu when that version is available. Do not assume an old package is available on every PC or for every GPU.
4. After any rollback, verify the installed version and repeat the same comparison. If problems persist across games, give official support the versions and tests. A repeated crash or loss of display needs investigation beyond an FPS setting; back up important data before further repair.

Result and next action: Keep a version and symptom record if the comparison improves. If unchanged, use the matching black-screen, crash or performance guide below. Avoid cycling through drivers without a reproducible test.

Protect saves and keep changes reversible

• Do not disable antivirus, use third-party driver cleaners or select a destructive reset as the default update procedure.
• Do not overwrite your only save while testing a configuration known to crash.
• For Intel DCH drivers, follow Intel’s matching installer guidance; do not use a legacy-driver procedure to bypass the DCH installer.
• Do not bypass an OEM compatibility warning or an administrator’s policy; an installation that completes is not proof every laptop feature works.