To install an older NVIDIA driver in Windows, download the exact package from NVIDIA’s Advanced Driver Search, then install it over the current driver or use Windows’ built-in rollback option. You normally do not need to uninstall the current driver first.
Before starting, record your current driver version and GPU model. Installing a driver for the wrong graphics card or Windows edition can leave the display adapter unusable until Windows restores a compatible driver.
1. Check the NVIDIA driver currently installed
Knowing the installed version makes it easier to confirm that the older package was applied successfully.
Using NVIDIA Control Panel
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Open Help > System Information.
- Read the driver version at the top of the Details window.
Using Device Manager
- Search Windows for Device Manager and open it.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the NVIDIA adapter and select Properties.
- Open the Driver tab.
Windows may show a longer version string in Device Manager. NVIDIA says the last five digits are the NVIDIA driver version number.
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2. Download an older NVIDIA driver
- Open NVIDIA’s driver-download page.
- Select Advanced Driver Search. NVIDIA uses this page to search previously released Certified and Beta drivers.
- Choose the exact values for your hardware and operating system.
- Select Find Drivers.
The interactive search requires JavaScript. The selections normally include the following:
| Field | What to select |
|---|---|
| Product Type | For example, GeForce, NVIDIA RTX/Quadro, or another category matching your GPU |
| Product Series | The exact generation or laptop/Desktop series |
| Product | Your exact GPU model |
| Operating System | Your installed Windows edition and architecture where offered |
| Driver Type | DCH or Standard, if the search presents this option |
| Download Type | Game Ready, Studio, or the applicable professional/workstation branch |
| Language | Your preferred installer language |
Do not select a similar-looking model. For example, a mobile GPU, desktop GPU, and Ti variant may have different driver support even when their names look related.
Choosing DCH, Standard, Game Ready, or Studio
DCH and Standard describe different NVIDIA driver package designs. NVIDIA states that a DCH driver and a Standard driver can be installed over one another, but selecting the same type as the package already installed can reduce unnecessary variables when troubleshooting.
Game Ready Drivers are aimed at gaming releases. Studio Drivers are aimed at creative applications. Professional products may instead show options such as Production Branch/Studio or New Feature Branch (NFB)/Quadro New Feature (QNF). Select the branch that matches the software and hardware you use.
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Download the installer
Select the older release you need and download the Windows installer. Use Save rather than Run if you want to keep the installer for another attempt or use it on another PC. NVIDIA’s download guidance says Run starts the installation immediately, while Save retains the file.
Beta packages are marked Beta Release. NVIDIA warns that beta drivers can contain significant issues and are not covered by its normal warranties or support services. Use one only when you specifically need it.
3. Install the old driver over the current driver
This is NVIDIA’s normal installation route. NVIDIA recommends installing the selected package over the existing driver instead of uninstalling the current driver first. Overinstallation also preserves NVIDIA Control Panel settings and profiles.
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- Close games, video players, browsers, GPU monitoring tools, and 3D applications.
- Right-click the downloaded NVIDIA installer and select Run as administrator.
- Approve the User Account Control prompt by selecting Yes.
- Accept the default temporary-file location and select OK when prompted.
- Select NVIDIA Graphics Driver and NVIDIA App for the full installation.
- Select AGREE AND CONTINUE.
- Choose Custom (Advanced).
- Select Perform a clean installation if you want the selected package’s NVIDIA settings and components rebuilt.
- Select Next and wait for the installation to finish.
- Restart Windows.
The installer may briefly make the screen go black or change resolution. That is expected while Windows replaces the display driver.
Important limitation of a clean installation
Perform a clean installation is not a rollback-preservation feature. NVIDIA says it removes the currently installed NVIDIA driver set and cached installer packages before installing the selected package; it does not save the previous driver set.
NVIDIA’s installer cache is normally located at:
%SystemDrive%Program FilesNVIDIA CorporationInstaller2The cache can be used for reinstallations, uninstallations, and operating-system-initiated rollbacks. Express Install does not clear the Installer2 cache. Removing individual NVIDIA add-ons also may not remove cached files when the related driver package remains in the Windows Driver Store.
4. Verify that the older driver installed
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Open the NVIDIA adapter’s Properties.
- Select the Driver tab and check the driver version and date.
You can also return to NVIDIA Control Panel > Help > System Information. Compare the displayed version with the release you downloaded.
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5. Use Windows Roll Back Driver instead
If you installed a newer driver over the old one and Windows retained the earlier package, its built-in rollback is simpler than downloading the release again.
- Search for and open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the NVIDIA adapter and select Properties.
- Open the Driver tab.
- Select Roll Back Driver.
- Select Yes when Windows asks for confirmation.
- Restart the PC.
Roll Back Driver is unavailable when Windows has no previous driver available to restore. The operation requires administrator privileges. NVIDIA’s current FAQ identifies rollback as the supported route after overinstalling a newer driver over an older one.
6. Remove the NVIDIA driver before reinstalling
Use removal when the normal overinstall fails, the driver installation is corrupted, or you need to prevent the current package from being used during troubleshooting. It is not required for an ordinary older-driver installation.
Remove it from Device Manager
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the NVIDIA adapter and select Uninstall Device.
- Enable Attempt to remove the driver for this device.
- Select OK and restart Windows.
On Windows 10, the checkbox may instead be labelled Delete the driver software for this device. If the checkbox is missing, Microsoft recommends starting Windows in Safe Mode and trying again. The deletion option may also be unavailable without administrator privileges.
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Device Manager removal does not always delete the package from the Windows Driver Store. Windows can rediscover the adapter after a restart and reuse or reinstall that package.
Remove the package from the Driver Store
For a fuller removal, first identify the NVIDIA package’s published name, such as oem42.inf, in Device Manager or the installed-driver information. Then open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
pnputil /delete-driver oem42.inf /uninstallReplace oem42.inf with the actual published name. This uninstalls the package from devices using it and deletes it from the Driver Store.
Warning: Removing the only matching display-driver package can leave the GPU without a functioning driver. Windows may reinstall a necessary driver through Windows Update when it detects that one is missing.
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Before running the installer again, check the common causes NVIDIA lists:
- Windows Update is active. Wait for updates to finish and restart Windows before retrying.
- GPU utilities are open. Exit monitoring and tuning tools such as MSI Afterburner and Corsair iCUE.
- Other applications are using the GPU. Close browsers, video players, games, and 3D-accelerated software.
- Third-party security software is interfering. Temporarily adjust aggressive antivirus or anti-malware real-time monitoring if your security policy permits. Microsoft Defender can remain running.
- The wrong package was downloaded. Return to Advanced Driver Search and verify the exact GPU, Windows version, driver type, and download type.
Run the installer as administrator after closing the interfering applications. If the normal installer still fails, remove the applicable device and driver package, restart, and install the saved package again.
8. Optional: install or remove the display driver from Command Prompt
NVIDIA documents silent installation for its Windows display-driver package. Open an elevated Command Prompt in the folder containing setup.exe and run:
setup.exe -s -n Display.DriverTo install silently and write logs to C:logs, use:
setup.exe -s -n Display.Driver -log:c:logs -loglevel:6NVIDIA documents silent uninstallation with:
"C:WindowsSysWOW64RunDll32.EXE" "C:Program FilesNVIDIA CorporationInstaller2InstallerCoreNVI2.DLL",UninstallPackage Display.Driver -silent -nThe -n switch suppresses the reboot prompt. For the silent installer, exit code 0 means success, 1 means success with a reboot required, and any other value means failure.
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9. Stop Windows from immediately replacing the driver
Windows can obtain display drivers through Windows Update when a driver is missing or removed. Consequently, Device Manager removal alone may not leave the system without that package for long. If Windows reinstalls a newer driver before you can test the older one, disconnecting from the internet during the removal-and-install sequence can prevent an immediate download; reconnect after the older package is installed and tested.
Keep in mind that Windows 10 reached its Microsoft support end date on October 14, 2025. Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date, so use a driver package that explicitly supports your Windows release.
Which method should you use?
| Situation | Best method |
|---|---|
| You simply need a specific older release | Download it through Advanced Driver Search and install it over the current driver |
| A newer driver was just installed and the old one is available | Use Device Manager’s Roll Back Driver |
| The installation is corrupted or repeatedly fails | Remove the device and package, restart, then install the saved package |
| You need the package gone from Windows’ Driver Store | Use pnputil /delete-driver <Published Name> /uninstall |
| You need a repeatable scripted deployment | Use NVIDIA’s silent installation command and inspect its exit code and logs |
FAQ
Do I need to uninstall my current NVIDIA driver before installing an older one?
No. NVIDIA recommends installing the selected driver over the existing one for the normal installation path. Uninstall first only when troubleshooting a failed or corrupted installation.
Does NVIDIA’s clean installation save the old driver for rollback?
No. NVIDIA says Perform a clean installation removes the current NVIDIA driver set and cached installer packages and does not save the previous driver set. Use Windows Roll Back Driver when a previous package is available.
Why is Roll Back Driver greyed out?
Windows has no previous driver package available to restore. Download the required release through NVIDIA’s Advanced Driver Search and install it manually instead.
What is the difference between DCH and Standard NVIDIA drivers?
They are different NVIDIA driver package designs. NVIDIA states that DCH and Standard drivers can be installed over one another. Select the package that matches your GPU and Windows configuration.
Will Device Manager uninstall remove every NVIDIA driver file?
Not necessarily. Device Manager can remove the device while leaving the package in the Windows Driver Store. To remove a published package from the store, use PnPUtil with its actual oem##.inf name.
Can Windows reinstall the newer driver after I remove it?
Yes. Windows can rediscover the graphics adapter and obtain a display driver through Windows Update. This is why removing the device alone is not a permanent package-removal method.
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Should I choose Game Ready or Studio Driver?
Choose Game Ready for gaming-focused use and Studio for creative-application-focused use. Professional/workstation products may show Production Branch/Studio or NFB/QNF options instead.
The Bottom Line
For most systems, the safest route is: check the installed version, use NVIDIA Advanced Driver Search to select the exact GPU and Windows package, save the installer, and install it over the current driver. Use Roll Back Driver when Windows has retained the previous version. Reserve Device Manager removal and pnputil for failed installations or cases where the old package must be removed from the Driver Store.
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