By default, Windows 11 automatically updates device drivers in the background to keep them up to date.
Device driver updates undergo extensive testing before release. So, generally, device driver updates do not cause issues. However, at times, the latest driver version may not work correctly, leading to issues.
PC manufacturers generally do not offer the older versions of device drivers for download once the newest version is released. Hence, you cannot manually download an older driver version from the manufacturer or a trusted source. So, how do we go back to or reinstall the previous version of a driver in Windows 11?
Luckily, Windows 11 does not automatically delete older versions of drivers even after installing the newest version, so that users can go back to the previous version of drivers if required.
A feature in Windows 11 lets you restore a driver to its previous version with ease. All it takes is a couple of clicks!
Method 1 of 2
Install an older version of a driver in Windows 11
Step 1: Right-click the Windows logo icon on the taskbar and then click Device Manager to open the Device Manager window.
Step 2: Once opened, find the device from the list that is not working correctly after installing the latest driver version.
Step 3: Right-click the device entry and then click Properties. In this guide, we are restoring the previous version of the trackpad driver.
Step 4: In the Properties dialog, click the Driver tab.
Step 5: Finally, click the Roll Back Driver button. When asked for confirmation, select a reason and click the Yes button. If the Roll Back Driver button is grayed out, it means that the previous version of the driver is not available.
Step 6: If asked for a reboot, please restart your PC once to install the previous version of the driver. That’s it!
If the older version of the driver is working without any issues, we recommend turning off the automatic driver updates feature to prevent Windows 11 from automatically installing the latest driver updates.
Method 2 of 2
Use System Restore to install/restore the previous version of a driver in Windows 11
We can also use the System Restore feature to install or restore the previous version of a device driver. However, when you restore Windows 11 to an earlier date, it restores several other things, such as apps and settings, in addition to device drivers.
You can refer to our how to restore Windows 11 to a previous date guide for directions.
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