To roll back an NVIDIA driver on Windows 11, right-click Start and open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your NVIDIA graphics card, and choose Properties. On the Driver tab, click Roll Back Driver, pick a reason, and click Yes. Windows switches back to the driver you had before, and the screen may flicker or go black for a few seconds. If Roll Back Driver is grayed out, Windows didn’t keep the old driver, so download the older version from NVIDIA’s website and do a clean install instead.
Below are both methods, how to stop Windows from reinstalling the newer driver, and what to do if things go wrong.
Method 1: Roll back the driver in Device Manager
- Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click your NVIDIA card (for example, “NVIDIA GeForce RTX …”) and choose Properties.
- Click the Driver tab.
- Click Roll Back Driver.
- Choose why you’re rolling back and click Yes.
- Restart your PC when it’s done.
Check the Driver Version and Driver Date on the same tab afterward to confirm the older driver is installed.
Method 2: Install an older driver from NVIDIA
Use this if Roll Back Driver is grayed out, or if you want a specific older version.
- Go to NVIDIA’s Advanced Driver Search page on nvidia.com.
- Choose your product type, series, and model, set the operating system to Windows 11, and pick Game Ready or Studio.
- Click Search and download the version you want from the list.
- Run the installer. Choose NVIDIA Graphics Driver (or driver only), then Custom (Advanced).
- Check Perform a clean installation and click Next. This removes the current driver settings and installs the older version cleanly.
- Restart your PC.
Not sure which card you have? See how to see what graphics card you have on Windows 11.
Stop Windows from reinstalling the newer driver
Windows Update sometimes installs a newer graphics driver after you roll back. To reduce that:
- Press Windows key + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
- Click the Hardware tab, then Device Installation Settings.
- Choose No (your device might not work as expected) and click Save Changes.
This stops Windows from automatically downloading device apps and some drivers. Turn it back on later so you don’t miss important fixes. You can also pause updates for a week or more in Settings > Windows Update. In the NVIDIA app, turn off automatic driver downloads so it doesn’t upgrade you again.
Which option should you use?
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Problems started right after a driver update | Roll Back Driver |
| Roll Back Driver is grayed out | Install an older driver from NVIDIA |
| A game needs a specific driver version | Install that version from NVIDIA |
| Crashes continue after a clean install | Try Display Driver Uninstaller in Safe Mode, then reinstall |
Related: how to update NVIDIA drivers on Windows 11.
Troubleshooting
- Black screen after rolling back. Wait a minute, then press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B to restart the graphics driver. If the screen stays black, restart in Safe Mode and reinstall the driver.
- Roll Back Driver is grayed out. There’s no previous driver saved. Use Method 2.
- Installer says the driver isn’t compatible. Make sure you downloaded the driver for your exact card and for Windows 11, 64-bit. Very old drivers may not support newer cards.
- Still crashing after trying several drivers. The free tool Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) removes every trace of the old driver. Run it in Safe Mode, then install the driver you want. Download it only from its official site and follow its instructions carefully.
Frequently asked questions
Will rolling back delete my NVIDIA settings?
A normal rollback usually keeps your settings. A clean installation resets NVIDIA Control Panel settings to their defaults.
Can I roll back more than one version?
Device Manager only goes back one step. To go further back, install a specific older driver from NVIDIA.
Is it safe to use an older driver?
Yes, for troubleshooting. Newer drivers can include security fixes, though, so update again once the problem you had is fixed.
Do the same steps work for AMD and Intel graphics?
Yes. Roll Back Driver works the same way for any graphics card in Device Manager.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He started on a university help desk, spent years as the IT person for small businesses, and has been writing tech guides full time since 2020. Each guide is checked on a device he owns, and re-checked when a menu moves. More about Kermit.