Utilize these Windows 11 tips to help remove drivers.

A device driver is a crucial part that gives the computer the ability to recognize and control the installed hardware. However, there are situations when the installed drivers wind up creating more problems than they fix.

On your computer, you can thankfully swiftly uninstall drivers. Here are five methods for removing drivers from Windows 11.

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When Should You Uninstall Windows Drivers?

A device driver, as noted above, is a crucial component that instructs your computer on how to communicate with the connected device. For instance, a camera driver is required to bridge the gap between the computer and the webcam and provide the results to you to connect and utilize your webcam.

Your webcam is merely a device that accomplishes nothing without the camera driver. However, certain drivers have the potential to harm your computer in several ways. These problems can lead to devise malfunctions and are one of the causes of Windows crashes.

As a result, you must remove any installed drivers that are creating issues on your system to fix the issue.

How to Uninstall Drivers in Windows 11

1. Using Device Manager to Remove Windows Drivers

One of the most often used programs on a Windows computer is Device Manager. You may use it to find unfamiliar devices, update drivers, and remove them. It can also be used to turn on or off a device.

Follow the procedures listed below to remove a driver using the Device Manager:

1. Open the Power menu using the Win + X hotkey.

2. Choose Device Manager from the menu.

3. Double-click the category with the device driver you want to remove.

4. Right-click on the device and choose Uninstall device from the context menu.

5. Click Uninstall to the confirmation that crops up.

Your system will be completely free of the chosen driver.

The procedure described here will remove all device drivers except the printer driver. By employing the various techniques described in this tutorial, you can remove a printer driver.

2. Settings App to Uninstall Windows Drivers

The main center for practically all Windows settings is the Settings program. It may be used to set up the OS, adjust settings, and manage connected devices. A device driver can also be manually uninstalled via the Settings app.

How to remove drivers from the Settings app is as follows:

1. Open the Settings app using one of the many ways to open settings on Windows 11.

2. Choose Apps from the left panel.

3. Select Installed apps Or Apps & Features. Here you will find all the applications and drivers installed on your computer.

4. Locate and click on the three dots next to the driver you want to uninstall.

5. Choose Uninstall from the context menu.

6. Click Uninstall again to the confirmation box that appears.

You are done now. To effect the modifications, restart your computer.

3. Control Panel to Uninstall Windows Drivers

An essential part of Windows that allows you to control system settings is the Control Panel. You may efficiently configure Windows the way you want it to run and look by using these options, which affect almost every aspect of how your system functions and appears.

You can control all the installed programs and drivers from the Control Panel's Programs and Features area. The procedures listed below can be used to remove a device driver using the Control Panel:

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Win + R hotkeys.

2. In the Run search bar, type Control Panel and press Enter.

3. Change the View by Category.

4. Click Programs and then click Uninstall a program.

5. Locate and right-click on the driver you want to uninstall.

6. Choose Uninstall / Change from the context menu.

7. Click Yes to the UAC that pops up.

After that, delete the driver from your computer according to the on-screen directions.

4. Command Prompt to Uninstall Windows Drivers

The command line interface on a Windows computer is called Windows Command Processor, sometimes known as Command Prompt. It is a method of giving text commands to your system.

You may delete drivers from your computer using Command Prompt, among other things. This is how:

1. Open the Start menu by pressing the Win key.

2. In the search bar, type Command Prompt and click the Run as administrator option at the right pane.

3. Type the following command and press Enter. This command will display all the third-party drivers installed on your system.

Dism /online /Get-Drivers /Format:Table {codeBox}

 

4. To view third-party drivers as well as system drivers of your computer, type the following command and press Enter.

Dism /online /Get-Drivers / all /Format:Table {codeBox}

 

5. Note down the published name of the driver you want to uninstall. For instance, if you want to uninstall the NVIDIA driver, then its published name is oem28.inf.

6. To uninstall the driver, type the following command and press Enter. Replace <published name> with the published name of the driver you want to uninstall.

pnputil /delete-driver <Published Name> /uninstall /force {codeBox}

By using these commands, you may force your computer to remove the driver.

Even drivers that are no longer installed on your computer are shown in the third-party driver list. If you attempt to remove such drivers using the instructions above, an error will appear.

5. Autoruns to Uninstall Windows Drivers

A system tool called Autoruns lists every application that is presently active on your computer. It may be used to end background processes, control services, and even remove drivers.

Follow these steps to remove drivers using Autoruns:

1. Open a browser and visit the Microsoft Autoruns page.

2. Scroll down and click on the Download Autoruns and Autorunsc link.

3. Extract the downloaded file.

4. Locate and double-click on Autoruns64.exe.

5. Choose Run from the prompt that appears. The Autoruns window will crop up.

6. Click the Drivers tab.

7. Locate and right-click on the driver you want to uninstall.

8. Choose Delete from the context menu.

9. Click Yes to the prompt that appears.

Remove Drivers Issues From Windows 11 Easley

Your workflow may be negatively impacted and you may spend the entire day troubleshooting a corrupt or malfunctioning device driver. Using the techniques listed above, you may remove all such drivers.

Downloading the most recent version of the driver might help you resolve a corrupt or troublesome driver. Each update adds additional functionality and fixes all driver problems.