Complete Guide: How to Uninstall a Driver in Windows

Drivers are critical software components that allow Windows to communicate with your hardware devices. A driver becoming outdated, corrupt, or incompatible can lead to system instability or hardware malfunctions. In many cases, uninstalling and reinstalling a driver is a crucial troubleshooting step.

Removing a problematic driver can resolve persistent errors, crashes, or hardware issues. Sometimes, rolling back to a previously stable version may be a better alternative. You can also prevent unwanted automatic reinstalls using Group Policy settings or by adjusting Windows Update preferences.

If you’re wondering, “How do I uninstall a driver in Windows?” This guide provides proven methods, from basic to advanced.

How to uninstall a driver on Windows

Before uninstalling a driver in Windows, take the following precautions to ensure a safe and smooth process:

• Sign in with Administrator privileges.
• Back up your system or create a restore point.
• Have a replacement driver ready.
• Confirm the target device and its driver are no longer in use.

Method 1: Uninstall a driver via Device Manager

This is the most common and user-friendly method. Here’s how to use Windows Device Manager to uninstall a driver:

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the category related to the driver you want to uninstall (e.g., Display Adapters, Sound, Network)
3. Right-click the target device and choose Uninstall device.
4. In the confirmation dialog box, check Delete the driver software for this device (if available) option.
5. Click Uninstall to proceed.
6. Restart your PC to complete the uninstallation process and apply the changes.

💡Note: This method works the same in both Windows 10 and 11.

Selecting the Delete the driver software for this device option ensures the package is also removed from the Windows driver store, preventing automatic reinstallation.

Method 2: Uninstall a driver using Command Prompt (pnputil)

This method is ideal for entirely removing unused or problematic drivers, especially those left behind by disconnected or uninstalled hardware.

💡Note: The pnputil command is supported in Windows 10 (version 1803 and later) and Windows 11. The syntax and functionality are the same across both versions.

1. Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) to open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. To list all installed third-party driver packages, run the following: pnputil /enum-drivers
3. Review the output and find the driver you want to remove. Note the Published Name (e.g., oem24.inf)
4. To uninstall and delete the driver from the system, run the following: pnputil /delete-driver oem24.inf /uninstall /force

⚠️ Warning: Deleting a driver is permanent and cannot be undone. Ensure you have identified the correct driver before proceeding.

Method 3: Remove a driver via PowerShell

This method is ideal for scripting driver cleanup or deployment tasks. While it doesn’t natively uninstall drivers, you can list driver info in PowerShell and remove drivers using the pnputil command within the same session.

💡Note: PowerShell (version 5.1 or later) commands shown here work the same on both Windows 10 and 11.

1. Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. To list all third-party driver packages installed on your system, run the following: Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Select DeviceName, DriverVersion, InfName
3. Review the output and identify the correct driver by checking the DeviceName or Manufacturer.
4. Once you’ve found the appropriate InfName (e.g., oem35.inf), remove the driver by running: pnputil /delete-driver <InfName> /uninstall

⚠️ Important: Ensure you have selected the correct InfName, as removing the wrong driver may cause system instability.

Additional considerations when uninstalling a driver

Before uninstalling a driver, remember the following points to avoid unintended issues and ensure a smooth recovery path.

Windows update reinstalls

When you uninstall a driver, Windows may automatically reinstall it, especially if the system detects missing essential drivers. To prevent this behavior:

Use Group Policy Editor (available in Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education except from Home):

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and click Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation Restrictions
4. Enable the policy that blocks the installation of devices matching specific hardware IDs.

If you’re using Windows Home, you can:

1. Set your network connection as metered to limit automatic updates.
2. Use Windows Update settings to disable driver updates.

Driver Store cleanup

To remove unused or outdated driver packages, use a trusted third-party tool like DriverStoreExplorer. This reliable tool provides a clear view of all driver entries and allows you to safely delete those that are no longer in use.

System integrity

Avoid uninstalling drivers critical to your system’s operation (chipsets, storage controllers, or input devices like keyboard/mouse). These are tightly integrated with Windows. Removing them may disable certain security features, which can cause instability or boot failures.

Driver rollback

If a newly installed driver is causing issues, consider using the Roll Back Driver option in Device Manager instead of uninstalling it. This will revert the device to its prior version without deleting anything, making it a safe first step in troubleshooting.

Also Read: How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers | NinjaOne

Uninstall unwanted drivers and keep Windows in top shape

Uninstalling a driver in Windows can resolve hardware conflicts and help maintain stable system performance. For most users, the easiest and safest method is through Device Manager, especially when handling routine or quick removals. For advanced cleanup, you may fall back to pnputil or PowerShell. These tools offer greater control and are ideal for scripted or manual deep clean operations.

To prevent Windows from automatically reinstalling a driver, tick the Delete the driver software checkbox during uninstallation. You may also adjust settings via Group Policy Editor or configure Windows Update to limit driver updates and further stop reinstallation.