![]() We’ll link to each one and briefly cover each of them below.ĭisplay Driver Uninstaller (DDU) is a tool that’s been around for many years, and is a staple in any device administrator’s toolbox. This is why there are a few different trusted third-party tools you can use to completely uninstall graphics drivers. In fact, uninstalling drivers through the built-in features on Windows can leave a lot of leftovers behind that can sometimes cause issues when installing a new graphics card. While Windows offers built-in solutions for uninstalling graphics drivers, they aren’t the most complete solutions. Uninstalling Graphics Drivers Through Third-party Software Highlight the driver, then click on Uninstall/Change at the top to get started, and follow the instructions in the uninstall wizard. On the Programs and Features window, scroll down to find your graphics card drivers. To start, open the Run box ( Windows key + R), type in control panel. You can also uninstall graphics card drivers through the control panel, along with any other software that may come with your graphics card (such as NVIDIA GeForce Experience). Uninstalling Graphics Drivers Through the Control Panel On the Uninstall Device window, check the box next to Delete the driver software for this device., then click the Uninstall button. Now click on Display adapters to expand the list, and right-click the graphics card that you’re uninstalling the drivers for. To start, first right-click on the Start menu and click on Device Manager. The first and quickest way to uninstall old graphics drivers is through the device manager. Uninstalling Graphics Drivers Through the Device Manager We’ll show you how to do that within Windows, as well as cover some helpful and trusted third-party tools to help do a more complete job to cleanly uninstall your old graphics drivers. There are a few different ways that you can uninstall your old graphics drivers. That’s why when swapping cards, you should uninstall the old graphics drivers first, to avoid any potential issues and save yourself the headache later. And that could mean you’ll need to uninstall both your old and new drivers, and start over fresh. However, if you find your new card is under-performing, or you’re running into strange issues that only started after swapping in your new card, then you might have a conflict between the old drivers and the new ones. While it’s generally best practice to uninstall old drivers before swapping in a new graphics card, it clearly isn’t the end of the world if you don’t. ![]() If you’ve already installed your new GPU without uninstalling the old drivers, and you aren’t facing any issues, then there’s nothing to worry about. What If I’ve Already Installed My New GPU? Meanwhile, if you’re sticking with the same card manufacturer (e.g., swapping an older NVIDIA card for a newer one), this tends to be less of an issue. These issues are particularly relevant if you’re switching from a card made by a different manufacturer than the one you’re putting into your system (so, from NVIDIA to AMD, or AMD to NVIDIA). But sometimes pieces of the old driver software can conflict with newer driver software. In principle, when you swap cards, Windows Plug n Play manager should create a new profile of the new card, allowing for a seamless transition. And these instructions are stored in a multitude of locations, from files scattered across your hard drive to a plethora of registry entries. The crux of the issue lies in the intricacies of how drivers work.ĭrivers are pieces of software that allow the operating system to communicate with the hardware that’s in your computer. However, just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should. From there, you can download the latest drivers for your new card from the manufacturer’s website, and you’re off to the races. Thanks to the plug and play nature of modern iterations of Windows, you can easily turn your computer off, swap cards, reboot, and it will detect the new card and install basic display drivers. The quick answer to this question is: in principle, no. Is It Necessary to Uninstall Old Graphics Drivers Before Installing a New Card? We’ll go over this age-old question and figure out if it’s actually necessary to uninstall your old graphics drivers before installing a new graphics card. If you’re confused on whether you should or not, then keep reading. If you look online, you’ll find conflicting answers-some say it’s imperative, while others say it’s unnecessary with today’s tech. If you’re new to computer hardware, and you’re swapping out an old graphics card for a new one, then you might be wondering if you need to uninstall your old graphics drivers first.
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