Roll Back NVIDIA Drivers on Windows 10
If a recent NVIDIA graphics driver caused crashes, display issues, or poor performance, you can roll back to a stable version using Windows 10 tools or a clean install of a previous driver. This guide shows both methods and the precautions to take before and after rolling back.
Create a Restore Point (Recommended)
Before changing drivers, open Control Panel > System > System Protection and create a restore point. This lets you revert system changes if something goes wrong.
Roll Back with Device Manager
1) Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2) Expand Display adapters, right-click your NVIDIA GPU, and choose Properties.
3) Go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver if available. Select a reason and confirm. Windows will restore the previously installed driver version and prompt for a reboot.
If the button is grayed out, use the clean-install method below.
Download a Previous Driver
Visit NVIDIA's driver download page and choose your GPU model and Windows 10. Under Beta and Older Drivers, pick a prior WHQL version known to be stable. Download the installer and save it locally.
Clean Install the Previous Driver
1) Disconnect from the internet temporarily to prevent Windows Update from pushing a newer driver mid-install.
2) Run the downloaded NVIDIA installer and choose Custom (Advanced).
3) Check Perform a clean installation. This removes current components and installs the selected version fresh.
4) Restart when prompted.
Optional: Use DDU for a Thorough Clean
For persistent driver conflicts, use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU):
- Download DDU from the official Wagnardsoft site.
- Boot into Safe Mode.
- Run DDU, select Clean and restart for NVIDIA.
- After restart, install the desired older driver with the clean installation option.
DDU is powerful—use it only if standard rollback/clean install does not resolve the issue.
Block Automatic Driver Updates (Optional)
To keep Windows Update from reinstalling the problematic driver, you can pause driver updates: run gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Do not include drivers with Windows Updates and set to Enabled (Pro/Enterprise). For Home, use the Show or Hide Updates troubleshooter to hide the specific NVIDIA update.
Verify the Rollback
After installation, open Device Manager > Display adapters > NVIDIA GPU > Properties > Driver to confirm the driver version matches the one you installed. Test games or apps that were crashing. If stability returns, re-enable your internet connection and monitor future updates cautiously.
Troubleshooting
Installer fails: Run it as administrator and disable antivirus temporarily. Black screen after install: Boot into Safe Mode, uninstall with DDU, and reinstall the previous working driver. Roll Back button still grayed: Use the clean-install method; Windows may not have a previous version stored.
Re-enable Updates Carefully
After stabilizing on an older driver, keep Windows Update paused for drivers until NVIDIA posts a newer, confirmed-stable release. When you do update, create a restore point first. If the new driver misbehaves, repeat the rollback steps. For long-term stability, avoid “Game Ready” beta releases if you don't need the latest optimizations.\n
Quick Checklist
- Create a restore point before changes.
- Try Device Manager’s Roll Back Driver first.
- Download a stable older driver and perform a clean install.
- Use DDU in Safe Mode if conflicts persist.
- Optionally block automatic driver updates for stability.
- Verify the installed version and test affected apps.
With these steps, you can safely roll back NVIDIA drivers on Windows 10 and restore stability to your system.