How to Update or Roll Back a Driver in Windows 11

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🖥️ How to Update or Roll Back a Driver in Windows 11
Keep your hardware running smoothly by updating device drivers — or roll back to a previous version if a new driver causes issues on your Windows 11 device.
⏱ Estimated time: 5–15 minutes🖥 Applies to: Windows 11👤 Audience: All NEO Users
📋 Before You Begin
  • You must be signed in to an account with local administrator rights. On managed NEO devices, contact the IT Help Desk if you do not have admin access.
  • Save all open work before proceeding — driver installations may require a system restart.
  • Make sure your device is connected to the internet before updating a driver via Windows Update.
  • Note the make and model of the device whose driver you want to update (e.g., graphics card, network adapter, printer).
  • If rolling back a driver, the previous version must still be stored on your device — the Roll Back Driver button will be greyed out if no previous version is available.

🔧 Section 1 — Update a Driver via Device Manager⏱ ~5 min

Device Manager is the fastest way to search for and install an updated driver for a specific piece of hardware.

  1. Right-click the Start button (or press Windows + X) and select Device Manager from the menu.
  2. In Device Manager, expand the category for the device you want to update (e.g., Display adapters, Network adapters, Sound, video and game controllers).
  3. Right-click the specific device and select Update driver.
  4. In the dialog that appears, click Search automatically for drivers. Windows will search your computer and the internet for the best available driver.
  5. If a new driver is found, Windows will download and install it automatically. Follow any on-screen prompts.
  6. If prompted, click Restart now to complete the installation, or Restart later to apply it at a more convenient time.
💡 Tip: You can also open Device Manager by pressing Windows + R, typing devmgmt.msc, and pressing Enter.
⚠️ Note: If Windows says the best drivers are already installed, a newer version may still be available on the manufacturer's website. See Section 2 for an alternative approach.

🔄 Section 2 — Update a Driver via Windows Update⏱ ~5 min

Windows Update also distributes optional driver updates — particularly for common hardware like display adapters, Bluetooth, and network cards.

  1. Click the Start button and open Settings (gear icon), or press Windows + I.
  2. Select Windows Update from the left-hand menu.
  3. Click Advanced options.
  4. Under Additional options, click Optional updates.
  5. Expand the Driver updates section. Check the box next to any driver updates you want to install.
  6. Click Download & install.
  7. Restart your device when prompted to complete the installation.
💡 Tip: If you do not see a Driver updates section under Optional updates, there are no driver updates currently available through Windows Update for your device.

⏪ Section 3 — Roll Back a Driver⏱ ~5 min

If a newly installed driver is causing problems — such as display glitches, audio issues, or a device not being recognized — you can roll back to the previously installed version.

  1. Right-click the Start button (or press Windows + X) and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand the relevant device category and right-click the device, then select Properties.
  3. In the Properties window, click the Driver tab.
  4. Click Roll Back Driver. If the button is greyed out, no previous driver version is stored on this device and rollback is not available.
  5. Select a reason for rolling back when prompted, then click Yes to confirm.
  6. Windows will reinstall the previous driver version. Restart your device when prompted.
⚠️ Warning: Rolling back a driver is a temporary fix. If the device continues to malfunction after rolling back, contact the NEO IT Help Desk for further assistance.
💡 Tip: After rolling back, go to Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options and toggle off Receive updates for other Microsoft products temporarily to prevent re-installation.

🔧 Section 4 — Troubleshooting Tips⏱ ~5–10 min
⚠️ Warning: Do not force-stop your device during a driver installation. This can leave your device unstable and may require IT support to recover.
Problem Resolution
Roll Back Driver button is greyed out No previous driver version is saved. Download the older version manually from the manufacturer's website.
Device not recognized after driver update Uninstall the driver in Device Manager (right-click → Uninstall device), then restart. Windows will attempt to reinstall it automatically.
"Windows encountered a problem installing the driver" Ensure you have admin rights. Run Device Manager as administrator (right-click → Run as administrator) or contact the IT Help Desk.
Driver update causes BSOD or instability Boot into Safe Mode and roll back the driver (Section 3), or use System Restore to revert before the update. Contact the IT Help Desk for assistance.
No updates found but device is malfunctioning Visit the manufacturer's support site directly (e.g., Intel, NVIDIA, Realtek) to download the latest driver manually.

🙋 Still Need Help?

If you experience any issues with updating or rolling back a driver, our IT Help Desk is here to assist you.

📞 Phone: (918) 540-6099
📧 Email: neosuport@neo.edu
🚶 Walk-in: IT Department, Library Administration, 2nd Floor, Room 216
🕐 Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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