Microsoft has learned over the years that many of the common Windows errors and issues are due to out-dated drivers. Since most users never attempt to download and install the latest drivers, Microsoft has automated the job of updating popular hardware drivers in Windows 10.
Unlike previous Windows versions, the new Windows 10 automatically downloads the latest hardware drivers via Windows Update and tries to keep installed drivers up-to-date.
While this is an excellent move by Microsoft, considering that most users never bother to manually update drivers, which are essential for optimal performance, at times, new drivers do come with their own share of problems.
At times, after updating a driver, your hardware might not function as it is supposed to. For instance, your touchpad might stop responding after installing the latest driver via Windows Update or manual method.
If you’re experiencing issues after installing a newer version of a specific driver, you can always roll back to the previous version of the driver with a few clicks without having to manually download the previous version of the driver.
Rollback to the previous version of a driver
Complete the given below directions to restore or roll back to the earlier version of a driver in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7.
Method 1 of 2
Step 1: Type Device Manager in the Start menu search box and hit the Enter key to open the Device Manager window. Alternatively, you can type devmgmt.msc in Start menu search box or Run command box and then press Enter key to open the same.
Step 2: Once Device Manager is launched, right-click on the device you want to roll back the driver of, and click Properties. We are rolling back Synaptics driver in this guide.
Step 3: Switch to the Driver tab.
Step 4: Click the button labeled Roll Back Driver and click the Yes button when you see the confirmation dialog to restore the previous version of the driver.
And if the Roll Back Driver button is greyed out, it means that the previous version of the driver has been removed from your PC or the driver has not been updated. Please check Method 2 to manually install the last version.
In most cases, the rollback will be done in a couple of seconds. If you’re asked to reboot, please do so once.
Step 5: Once the previous version of the driver is restored, be sure to stop Windows 10 from automatically downloading the newer version of the driver (which is causing issues on your PC) again by disabling automatic driver updates. Please refer to our turn off automatic driver updates in Windows 10 for step-by-step directions.
Method 2 of 2
Uninstall new and reinstall the old driver
If the previous version of the driver is not available on your PC and the option Roll Back Driver button is greyed-out, you need to manually uninstall the current version of the driver, and then download and install the previous version of the driver.
Step 1: Open Device Manager by typing its name in the search box, and then press the Enter key.
Step 2: Right-click on the device you want to uninstall the driver of, click Properties to open the same, switch to Driver tab, and then note down the version number of the driver.
Step 3: Right-click on the device you want to uninstall the driver of, and then click the Uninstall option. Please make sure that you have selected the right device.
Step 4: Click OK or Yes button when you see the confirmation dialog. If the dialog is offering to Delete the driver software for this device option, check the same before clicking the OK button.
If you’re asked to reboot your PC, please do so.
Step 5: Once the current version of the driver is uninstalled, head over to the manufacturer’s website, and download the previous version of the driver.
If the hardware manufacturer is not offering previous versions, a quick web search should help you in finding the download link from third-party websites. If you’re downloading from websites other than popular sites, please use the service of VirusTotal to make sure that the link and file are safe.
Step 6: Run the downloaded driver setup, follow on-screen instructions to get it installed. That’s it!
