How to Roll Back a Driver After a Bad Update in Windows 11

A device that worked yesterday — sound, Wi-Fi, graphics, a webcam — started failing right after a driver or Windows update installed.

Why: A new driver version can be buggy or incompatible with your exact hardware. When Windows replaces a driver, it keeps a copy of the previous one, so you can roll back to the version that worked. You must be signed in as an administrator.

Fix 1: Roll back the driver in Device Manager

This restores the previously installed version of the driver for that one device.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager (or press Win + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter).
2. Expand the device’s category and right-click the affected device → Properties.
3. Open the Driver tab.
4. Click Roll Back Driver.
5. Pick a reason when prompted, click Yes, and restart the device if asked.

The older driver is now in place. Test the device. To stop Windows reinstalling the bad version, see Fix 3.

Fix 2: If “Roll Back Driver” is greyed out

The button only works when Windows has a previous driver stored. If it’s disabled, that earlier copy doesn’t exist (common after a clean install or a Device Manager driver cleanup) — pick another version manually instead.

1. In the device’s Properties → Driver tab, click Update Driver.
2. Choose Browse my computer for drivers.
3. Click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
4. If an older, compatible version is listed, select it and click Next to install it.

If no usable older version appears, download the previous driver from the device manufacturer’s support page and install it.

Fix 3: Stop Windows from reinstalling the bad driver

After rolling back, Windows Update may push the broken version again.

1. If the bad version reappears in Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates, simply leave it unchecked — Optional driver updates are never installed automatically.
2. For a driver delivered through the main update channel, use Microsoft’s “Show or hide updates” troubleshooter (wushowhide) to hide the specific driver update so it stops being offered.

Fix 4: Roll the whole system back with System Restore

If many drivers broke at once — for example after a large update — undo the change system-wide.

1. In the Start search box, type Recovery and open Recovery (Control Panel).
2. Click Open System Restore → Next.
3. Choose a restore point dated before the problem started, then click Next → Finish.

FAQ

Will rolling back delete my files? No. It only swaps the driver back to the previous version. System Restore likewise leaves your personal files alone.

The Roll Back button is still greyed out — am I stuck? No. Windows just doesn’t have the old driver saved. Use Fix 2 to pick an installed version, or grab the previous driver from the manufacturer.

Do I need to be an administrator? Yes — rolling back a driver requires administrator permissions.

Sources: Microsoft Support — Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows