Ultimate Guide: How To Downgrade Amd Drivers For Enhanced Stability And Performance
What To Know
- Scroll down to the “Previous Drivers” section and select the version you want to downgrade to.
- By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully downgrade your drivers and restore the stability and functionality of your system.
- The “Roll Back Driver” option may not be available if a previous driver version is not stored on your computer.
Are you experiencing issues with your AMD graphics card drivers? Downgrading to an earlier version can sometimes resolve these problems. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to downgrade AMD drivers, ensuring a smooth and successful process.
Why Downgrade AMD Drivers?
There are several reasons why you might want to downgrade your AMD drivers:
- Resolve compatibility issues: New driver versions may not be compatible with older software or hardware, leading to crashes or performance problems.
- Fix bugs: Updates can sometimes introduce new bugs that can affect the stability of your system.
- Revert overclocking settings: If you have overclocked your graphics card and it becomes unstable, downgrading the drivers can help restore the default settings.
- Performance optimization: In some cases, downgrading to an earlier driver version can improve performance in specific games or applications.
Step-by-Step Downgrade Instructions
1. Uninstall Existing Drivers
- Open the “Device Manager” from the Windows Start menu.
- Expand the “Display adapters” category.
- Right-click on your AMD graphics card and select “Uninstall device.”
- Check the box to delete the driver software and click “Uninstall.”
2. Download Previous Driver Version
- Visit the AMD website and navigate to the “Support” section.
- Enter your graphics card model number in the search bar.
- Select the “Drivers and Support” tab.
- Scroll down to the “Previous Drivers” section and select the version you want to downgrade to.
- Click the “Download” button.
3. Disable Automatic Driver Updates
- Open the “Windows Update Settings” from the Settings menu.
- Click on “Advanced options.”
- Under “Choose how updates are installed,” select “Notify to schedule restart.”
- Turn off the toggle for “Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows.”
4. Install Downgraded Driver
- Run the downloaded driver installer.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.
- Restart your computer when prompted.
5. Verify Downgrade
- Open the “Device Manager” and expand the “Display adapters” category.
- Right-click on your AMD graphics card and select “Properties.”
- Click on the “Driver” tab and check the “Driver Version” field to ensure the downgrade was successful.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you encounter any issues during the downgrade process, try the following troubleshooting tips:
- Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller): Download and run DDU to remove all traces of previous drivers before installing the downgraded version.
- Disable antivirus software: Antivirus software can sometimes interfere with driver installations. Temporarily disable it before downgrading.
- Restart in Safe Mode: Boot your computer into Safe Mode to ensure no other programs are interfering with the installation.
- Check BIOS settings: Make sure that the “Secure Boot” option is disabled in your BIOS settings.
Advanced Downgrade Methods
1. Using Device Manager
- Open the “Device Manager” and expand the “Display adapters” category.
- Right-click on your AMD graphics card and select “Properties.”
- Click on the “Driver” tab and select “Roll Back Driver.”
- If the option is available, select the previous driver version and click “Yes.”
2. Using Command Prompt
- Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
- Run the following command:
“`
pnputil -d “PCIVEN_1002&DEV_**”
“`
- Replace “**” with the device ID of your AMD graphics card.
- Restart your computer and install the downgraded driver manually.
How to Find Your AMD Graphics Card Model Number
- Open the “Device Manager” and expand the “Display adapters” category.
- Right-click on your AMD graphics card and select “Properties.”
- Click on the “Details” tab and select “Hardware Ids” from the drop-down menu.
- The model number will be listed in the “Value” field.
Wrap-Up: Downgrading AMD Drivers for Optimal Performance
Downgrading AMD drivers can be a useful troubleshooting technique to resolve issues and optimize performance. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully downgrade your drivers and restore the stability and functionality of your system. Remember to use caution and troubleshoot any potential issues that may arise during the process.
Answers to Your Questions
Q1. Can I downgrade AMD drivers on Windows 11?
A1. Yes, the downgrade process is similar for Windows 11. Follow the steps outlined in this guide and ensure you disable Secure Boot in your BIOS settings.
Q2. What if I don’t see the “Roll Back Driver” option in Device Manager?
A2. The “Roll Back Driver” option may not be available if a previous driver version is not stored on your computer. You can manually install the downgraded driver using the steps provided in this guide.
Q3. How do I know if my AMD drivers are outdated?
A3. You can check for outdated drivers by opening the “Device Manager” and expanding the “Display adapters” category. Right-click on your AMD graphics card and select “Properties.” Click on the “Driver” tab and check the “Driver Version” field. Compare it to the latest driver version available on the AMD website.