When and why you might uninstall a driver

You uninstall a driver when a piece of hardware stops working properly, when you're replacing a device, or when a driver update causes problems. A driver is the software that lets your operating system talk to physical hardware — your printer, graphics card, network adapter, or keyboard. Sometimes removing the old driver and reinstalling it fresh fixes glitches. Sometimes you need to remove it because you're selling the computer or the hardware is no longer connected.

The process differs slightly between Windows and Mac, and the steps depend on what kind of device you're removing the driver for. This guide covers the most common scenarios: removing drivers for printers, graphics cards, and other external or internal hardware.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, you can uninstall most drivers through Device Manager by right-clicking the device and selecting uninstall.
  • Some manufacturers like NVIDIA and Canon provide their own uninstall programs that remove drivers more completely than Device Manager alone.
  • On Mac, most drivers are built into the system and cannot be uninstalled, but third-party drivers can be removed through System Settings or by deleting files from the Library folder.
  • After uninstalling a driver, restart your computer before reinstalling or using the device again.
  • If uninstalling a driver causes problems, you can roll back to a previous version through Device Manager on Windows.

Uninstalling drivers on Windows using Device Manager

Device Manager is the built-in Windows tool for managing hardware and drivers. To open it, right-click the Start button and select "Device Manager," or search for "Device Manager" in the Windows search box. You'll see a list of hardware categories like "Printers," "Network adapters," and "Display adapters."

Expand the category that contains the device you want to uninstall. Right-click the device name and select "Uninstall device." A dialog box will appear asking whether to delete the driver files. Check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" if you want Windows to delete the driver files completely. Click "Uninstall" to confirm. After the process finishes, restart your computer.

If you don't see the device in Device Manager, it may already be uninstalled, or it may be listed under a different category name. Look for anything labeled "Unknown device" or check under "Other devices" — these sometimes contain hardware with missing or corrupted drivers.

Using manufacturer uninstall programs for complete removal

Some hardware manufacturers provide their own uninstall utilities that remove drivers more thoroughly than Device Manager. NVIDIA (graphics cards), AMD (graphics cards and processors), Canon (printers), and Logitech (keyboards, mice, and other peripherals) all offer dedicated uninstall tools. These programs remove not just the driver but also related software and settings that Device Manager might leave behind.

To find the manufacturer's uninstall tool, go to the manufacturer's website, download the latest driver package for your device, and look for an "Uninstall" or "Setup" option in the installer. Alternatively, open Control Panel, go to "Programs and Features," search for the manufacturer's name, and uninstall any software related to that device. After using the manufacturer's tool, restart your computer and then use Device Manager to confirm the driver is gone.

Uninstalling drivers on Mac

Most drivers on Mac are built into the operating system and cannot be uninstalled. However, if you've installed a third-party driver — for example, for an older printer or a specialized graphics card — you can remove it. First, check System Settings: click the Apple menu, select "System Settings," go to "General," then "Software Update" to see if the driver appears as an installed update. If it does, you may be able to remove it by clicking the information icon next to it.

For drivers that don't appear in System Settings, you'll need to navigate to the Library folder. Open Finder, press Command+Shift+G to open "Go to Folder," and type /Library/Extensions. Look for files with names matching your device manufacturer. Drag these files to the Trash. You may need to enter your password. After moving files to Trash, restart your Mac and empty the Trash.

If you're unsure which files belong to the driver you want to remove, check the manufacturer's website or the documentation that came with the driver. Removing the wrong files can cause system problems.

What to do if uninstalling a driver causes problems

If your computer stops working properly after uninstalling a driver, you have options. On Windows, open Device Manager, right-click the device, and select "Properties." Click the "Driver" tab, then click "Roll Back Driver." This restores the previous version of the driver. This option only appears if a driver was recently updated, so it won't work if you uninstalled the driver completely.

If rolling back isn't possible, restart your computer in Safe Mode. On Windows 10 and 11, hold Shift while clicking the power button, select "Restart," then choose "Troubleshoot" and "Startup Settings." Restart again and select "Safe Mode." In Safe Mode, you can reinstall the correct driver or use System Restore to revert your computer to an earlier point before the uninstall. On Mac, restart and hold Command+R to enter Recovery Mode, then use Disk Utility or reinstall macOS if needed.

Reinstalling a driver after uninstall

After uninstalling a driver, you'll usually need to reinstall it for the hardware to work again. Restart your computer first — this gives Windows or Mac time to detect the hardware and sometimes automatically install a basic driver. Then visit the manufacturer's website, find the driver download page for your specific device model and operating system, and download the latest driver.

Run the installer file and follow the on-screen instructions. Most installers will guide you through the process automatically. After installation finishes, restart your computer again. The hardware should now work with the new driver. If it doesn't, check the manufacturer's support page or documentation for troubleshooting steps specific to that device.

Uninstalling drivers for devices you no longer use

If you've removed a piece of hardware permanently — sold an old printer, replaced a graphics card, or disconnected a USB device — you can clean up the drivers to keep your system organized. In Device Manager on Windows, you can safely uninstall drivers for hardware that's no longer connected. The driver files won't affect your computer's performance if the hardware isn't present, but removing them prevents confusion later.

On Mac, you don't need to do anything. The system doesn't store unused drivers the way Windows does, so removing hardware doesn't leave behind driver files that need cleanup. If you installed a third-party driver for that hardware, you can follow the steps in the Mac section above to remove it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling a driver delete my files or settings?

No. Uninstalling a driver only removes the software that controls the hardware. Your personal files, documents, photos, and system settings remain untouched. The hardware itself may stop working until you reinstall the driver, but nothing on your computer is deleted.

What's the difference between uninstalling and disabling a driver?

Disabling a driver keeps the driver files on your computer but tells the system not to use them. Uninstalling removes the driver files. Disabling is useful if you want to test whether a driver is causing problems without fully removing it. In Device Manager, right-click a device and select "Disable device" to try this first.

Can I uninstall a driver for hardware that's still connected?

Yes, but the hardware won't work until you reinstall the driver. If you uninstall a driver for your keyboard or mouse while they're still plugged in, they'll stop responding immediately. Restart your computer and reinstall the driver right away, or you may have trouble using your computer.

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

Not always. Most driver installers will replace the old driver automatically. However, if you're updating a graphics card driver or switching to a different manufacturer, uninstalling the old driver first can prevent conflicts. Check the manufacturer's instructions for your specific device.

What if Device Manager shows "Unknown device"?

An unknown device usually means the driver is missing or corrupted. Right-click it and select "Uninstall device," then restart your computer. Windows will try to find and install the correct driver automatically. If that doesn't work, visit the manufacturer's website, download the driver manually, and run the installer.