How to Remove Video Drivers From Your Computer

Why and when to delete video drivers

You delete video drivers when they are causing problems — screen flickering, games crashing, or display settings not working — and you want to start fresh. Removing the driver completely forces Windows or Mac to use a basic fallback driver, which lets you test whether the problem is actually the driver itself or something else. You might also delete a driver before installing a newer version, though most modern systems handle this automatically during an update.

Deleting a video driver is different from simply disabling it. When you delete it, the driver files are removed from your system. When you disable it, the files stay but the driver does not load. Deletion is more thorough and is the right choice if you are troubleshooting a corrupted or conflicting driver, or if you are switching to a completely different graphics card.

The process differs significantly between Windows and Mac, and within Windows it depends on whether you have an NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics card. The steps below cover the most common scenarios.

Key Takeaways

On Windows, you can delete video drivers through Device Manager by right-clicking the graphics card and selecting the uninstall option, then restarting your computer.
Checking the box to delete the driver software during uninstall ensures the files are completely removed, not just disabled.
NVIDIA and AMD also provide their own uninstaller programs that remove drivers more thoroughly than Device Manager alone.
On Mac, video drivers are part of the operating system and cannot be deleted separately, but you can reset graphics settings or reinstall macOS if the display is malfunctioning.
After deletion, Windows will automatically install a basic generic driver so your display continues to work.

Deleting video drivers on Windows using Device Manager

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager, or by typing "Device Manager" into the Windows search box. Expand the "Display adapters" category — this is where your graphics card appears. Right-click on your graphics card (it will say NVIDIA GeForce, AMD Radeon, or Intel UHD Graphics, depending on what you have) and select "Uninstall device."

A dialog box will appear asking whether you want to delete the driver software. Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" — this is the critical step. Without this box checked, Windows only disables the driver but leaves the files in place. Click "Uninstall" and wait for the process to finish. Restart your computer when prompted.

After restart, Windows will detect that no driver is loaded for your graphics card and will install a generic Microsoft display driver automatically. Your screen should work, though performance may be noticeably slower and some display options may be unavailable. This is normal and expected. Once you confirm the problem is solved or you have installed a new driver, you can move forward.

Using manufacturer uninstallers for NVIDIA and AMD

NVIDIA and AMD both provide dedicated uninstaller programs that remove drivers more completely than Device Manager does. These are useful if Device Manager removal did not fully solve your problem, or if you are switching between NVIDIA and AMD cards.

For NVIDIA, download the NVIDIA Display Driver Uninstaller from NVIDIA's support website. Run the program, select "Clean install" or "Express uninstall," and follow the prompts. The tool will remove NVIDIA driver files that Device Manager might miss. Restart when finished.

For AMD, use AMD Radeon Software Uninstall Utility, available from AMD's support page. Run it and select the option to completely remove the driver. Some users also use a third-party tool called Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU), which boots Windows into Safe Mode and removes graphics drivers in an environment where they cannot be in use. DDU is more aggressive and is useful when a driver is severely corrupted, but it requires more technical steps.

Deleting video drivers on Mac

Mac handles graphics drivers differently than Windows. On most Macs, the video driver is part of the operating system itself and cannot be deleted separately. If you are experiencing graphics problems on a Mac, you cannot remove the driver the way you would on Windows.

Instead, you can reset the graphics settings by restarting your Mac and holding Command + Option + P + R until you hear the startup sound twice. This resets the NVRAM, which stores graphics preferences. If that does not help, you can reinstall macOS while keeping your files and settings intact — this replaces the graphics driver as part of the system update. Go to System Settings, select General, then Software Update, and follow the prompts to reinstall the current version of macOS.

What happens after you delete the driver

Once you restart after deletion, Windows installs a basic generic display driver automatically. Your monitor will work, but you will likely notice slower performance, especially in games or graphics-heavy applications. Some display settings — like custom refresh rates or color profiles — may not be available with the generic driver.

If the problem you were experiencing (flickering, crashes, or display corruption) goes away with the generic driver, the issue was almost certainly the original driver itself. At that point, you can download and install a fresh copy of the correct driver from your graphics card manufacturer's website. If the problem persists even with the generic driver, the issue is likely hardware-related and not something a driver change will fix.

Reinstalling a fresh driver after deletion

Once you have confirmed that deletion solved your problem, or you are ready to install a new driver, visit the manufacturer's website. For NVIDIA, go to nvidia.com/Download/driverDetails.aspx. For AMD, go to amd.com/en/support. For Intel integrated graphics, go to intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/products/80939/graphics.html. Download the driver that matches your graphics card model and Windows version (32-bit or 64-bit).

Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Most installers will automatically detect your hardware and install the correct version. Restart your computer when the installation finishes. Your display should return to normal performance, and all display settings should be available again.

Troubleshooting if deletion does not work

If you deleted the driver through Device Manager but the problem persists, or if Windows will not let you delete it, try restarting in Safe Mode. Press F8 or Shift + F8 during startup (timing varies by Windows version) and select Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, Device Manager may allow deletion that was blocked in normal mode. After deletion and restart, Windows will load the generic driver in Safe Mode as well, which is normal.

If you still cannot delete the driver, or if deletion causes your display to stop working entirely, restart your computer again. Windows will automatically load the generic driver on the next boot. If your screen is completely black, restart again and Windows should recover. If you installed a third-party uninstaller like DDU and something went wrong, you may need to boot into Safe Mode and reinstall a driver from the manufacturer's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my computer work without a video driver?

Yes. Windows includes a basic generic display driver that works with almost all graphics cards. Your monitor will display an image, but performance will be slower and some features will not be available. The generic driver is meant as a temporary fallback while you troubleshoot or install a proper driver.

Do I need to delete the driver before installing a new one?

No. Modern driver installers automatically replace the old driver with the new one. You only need to delete manually if the old driver is corrupted, causing conflicts, or if you are switching between different brands of graphics cards (like NVIDIA to AMD).

What is the difference between disabling and deleting a driver?

Disabling a driver stops it from loading but leaves the files on your computer. Deleting removes the files entirely. Deletion is more thorough for troubleshooting, but disabling is faster if you just want to test whether the driver is the problem without fully removing it.

Can I delete my graphics driver if I have an integrated graphics card?

Yes, but integrated graphics (Intel UHD, AMD Radeon integrated) are part of your processor, so you cannot remove them completely. You can delete the driver software through Device Manager, and Windows will use a basic fallback. Reinstalling is the same process as with a dedicated graphics card.

What should I do if my screen goes black after deleting the driver?

Restart your computer. Windows will automatically detect the missing driver and load the generic fallback driver on the next boot. Your display should return. If it does not, restart again in Safe Mode and reinstall a driver from the manufacturer's website.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.