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10 Tech How-To

Reinstall Graphics Driver on Windows 10

Guide 10-4831 · Updated · Step by step

Reinstalling your graphics driver can fix display glitches, black screens, poor gaming performance, and driver corruption. This guide walks you through removing the current driver and installing a fresh copy, either automatically via Windows or manually from the manufacturer. You’ll need administrator access to your PC and, ideally, a stable internet connection.

What You’ll Need

  • Administrator account on Windows 10
  • Internet connection (unless you already have the driver installer downloaded)
  • Optional: a USB drive or secondary display if your screen goes black during the process

Step-by-Step

  1. Identify your graphics hardware. Press Win + X and select Device Manager. Expand Display adapters. Note the exact model name (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, Intel UHD Graphics 630).
  2. Download the correct driver (optional but recommended). Go to the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest driver for your exact model and Windows 10 64-bit. Save it to a folder you can find easily, like C:\Drivers. If you prefer to let Windows find it, you can skip this step.
  3. Uninstall the current driver. In Device Manager, right-click your graphics adapter and select Uninstall device. In the dialog that appears, check the box Delete the driver software for this device if it’s available. This removes the driver files, not just the device entry. Click Uninstall.
  4. Restart your PC. After uninstalling, restart your computer. Windows will either use a basic display adapter or reinstall a generic driver automatically. If you see a black screen after restart, don’t panic—proceed to the Troubleshooting section below.
  5. Install the new driver. If you downloaded a driver, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Choose Clean Installation if offered (NVIDIA and AMD usually provide this option). If you didn’t download one, right-click your adapter in Device Manager and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. Let Windows search online.
  6. Restart again. After the installation completes, restart your PC once more to finalize the driver setup.
  7. Verify the installation. Open Device Manager and check that your graphics adapter appears without a yellow warning icon. Right-click the adapter, select Properties, and under the Driver tab, check the driver version and date. You can also run dxdiag (press Win + R, type dxdiag, Enter) to see the display driver details.

Common Mistakes

  • Skipping the uninstall step. Installing a new driver over a corrupted one often leaves remnants that cause the same issues. Always uninstall first.
  • Not checking the “Delete driver softwareâ€� box. If you don’t delete the old driver files, the new installation may not actually replace them.
  • Downloading the wrong driver. Make sure you select the correct model and Windows version. A mismatched driver can cause instability or a black screen.
  • Using a driver from a third-party site. Always download from the manufacturer’s official site or use Windows Update to avoid malware or corrupted files.
  • Not restarting after uninstall. Windows needs a clean restart to load the basic display adapter before installing the new driver.

Tips

  • Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) for stubborn issues. If you’re upgrading from an old GPU or facing persistent problems, DDU (a free tool) can completely remove all traces of previous drivers. Run it in Safe Mode for best results.
  • Create a system restore point before starting, so you can roll back if something goes wrong.
  • If you’re a gamer, consider using GeForce Experience or AMD Software to keep your driver up to date automatically, but still do a clean install when major updates arrive.
  • For laptops with hybrid graphics (e.g., Intel + NVIDIA), install the Intel driver first, then the discrete GPU driver.
  • Keep your Windows 10 fully updated—some driver issues are resolved by cumulative updates.

Troubleshooting

Black screen after uninstall or install: This is the most common issue. If you see nothing after restarting, try these in order:

  1. Wait 1–2 minutes—Windows may be installing a basic driver.
  2. Boot into Safe Mode: restart your PC, and as soon as it starts, press the power button again to interrupt it. Do this 3 times until you see the Advanced startup screen. Then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, and press 4 for Safe Mode.
  3. In Safe Mode, open Device Manager, right-click your display adapter, and select Update driver. If that fails, uninstall it again and restart normally.
  4. If you have a second display output (e.g., HDMI on motherboard), try plugging your monitor into that port—it may use a different GPU.
  5. If nothing works, use the System Restore option from Advanced startup to revert to before you started.

Driver installation fails with an error: Run the installer as administrator (right-click > Run as administrator). If it still fails, download the driver again—the file may be corrupted. Temporarily disable your antivirus, as it can block driver installation.

Performance still poor after reinstall: Check that the correct driver is actually loaded (Device Manager > Driver tab). If you have an older GPU, the latest driver may not be optimized—try an older, stable version from the manufacturer’s “previous driversâ€� section.

Windows keeps reverting to a generic driver: This often happens when Windows Update overrides your manual install. To prevent it, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options > View update history > Uninstall updates, and remove any recent graphics driver updates. Then use the manufacturer’s installer to reinstall.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my graphics driver is outdated?

Common signs include screen flickering, artifacts (visual glitches), poor frame rates in games, and error messages in Device Manager (yellow triangle). You can also compare your driver version with the latest one on the manufacturer’s website.

Is it safe to reinstall the graphics driver?

Yes, it’s a standard maintenance task. As long as you download the correct driver from an official source and follow the steps, the risk is minimal. Always create a restore point first.

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

Yes, especially if you’re having issues. Uninstalling ensures no leftover files conflict with the new driver. If you’re just updating normally, you can often install over the old one, but a clean uninstall is safer.

What is the difference between a clean install and a normal install?

A clean install removes all previous driver settings and files before installing the new one. It’s recommended when you’re upgrading from an old GPU or troubleshooting persistent problems. Normal install keeps your settings, which is fine for routine updates.

Can I reinstall the driver without an internet connection?

Yes, if you have already downloaded the driver installer to a USB drive or local folder. Otherwise, you’ll need internet access to download it from the manufacturer or via Windows Update.

Why does my screen resolution revert after reinstall?

This is normal immediately after uninstalling, as Windows uses a basic display adapter. Once you install the correct driver, your resolution and refresh rate should return to normal. If not, right-click on the desktop, select Display settings, and set the recommended resolution.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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