How to Fix Device Drivers Breaking After Windows Updates
Hardware not working after a Windows update? Here's how to fix broken drivers and prevent Windows from overwriting them in the future.
What's Happening
After installing a Windows update, one or more of your devices stopped working properly. Maybe your graphics card is running at lower resolution, your printer disappeared, your WiFi adapter isn't detected, your sound stopped working, or your touchpad is behaving strangely. This happens because Windows updates sometimes install generic or incompatible drivers that replace your properly working ones.
This is one of the most common and frustrating post-update problems, but it's also one of the most fixable. Let's get your hardware working again.
Quick Checks
Before diving into fixes, try these quick steps:
- Restart your computer - Sometimes driver changes need a reboot to take effect properly
- Check Device Manager - Press
Windows + Xand select Device Manager. Look for yellow warning icons next to devices—this indicates driver problems. - Test the device - Make sure the issue is actually the driver and not a physical problem. Try different ports, cables, or check if the device works on another computer.
- Note the device name - Right-click the problematic device in Device Manager and select Properties to see its exact name and model for later reference.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Fix 1: Roll Back the Driver
Windows keeps previous driver versions for a short time, allowing you to restore the old, working driver.
- Press
Windows + Xand select Device Manager - Find your problematic device (it might have a yellow warning icon)
- Right-click it and select Properties
- Go to the Driver tab
- Click Roll Back Driver (if this button is grayed out, the previous driver isn't available and you'll need to try Fix 2)
- Select a reason when prompted and click Yes
- Restart your computer
- Test if the device works again
Fix 2: Uninstall and Reinstall the Driver
If rollback isn't available, removing and reinstalling the driver often fixes corruption issues.
- In Device Manager, right-click the problematic device
- Select Uninstall device
- Check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device if it appears
- Click Uninstall
- Restart your computer
- Windows will automatically reinstall the driver on startup
- If it doesn't, click Action > Scan for hardware changes in Device Manager
Fix 3: Manually Install the Correct Driver
For the best results, download the latest driver directly from the manufacturer rather than relying on Windows Update.
- Identify your exact device model (check Device Manager > Properties > Details tab > Hardware IDs)
- Visit the manufacturer's website:
- Download the driver for your specific model and Windows version
- Run the installer and follow the prompts
- Restart your computer
Fix 4: Prevent Windows from Overwriting Drivers
Once you have working drivers, prevent Windows Update from replacing them again.
- Press
Windows + Ito open Settings - Go to Windows Update > Advanced options
- Scroll down and click Additional options
- Turn off Receive updates for other Microsoft products
- For more control, you can use the "Show or hide updates" troubleshooter:
- Download it from Microsoft's support site
- Run it and select "Hide updates"
- Choose the driver updates you want to block
If Nothing Worked
If your device still isn't working after trying the above:
- Check for Windows updates - Ironically, sometimes a newer Windows update fixes driver issues introduced by a previous one. Check Settings > Windows Update for any available patches.
- Try generic drivers - For some devices, using Windows' basic drivers works better than manufacturer-specific ones. In Device Manager, right-click the device, select "Update driver," then "Browse my computer" > "Let me pick" and choose a generic option.
- Use System Restore - If the driver broke after a specific update, restore your system to before that update using System Restore.
- Check compatibility - Very old devices might not have drivers compatible with the latest Windows versions. Check the manufacturer's site to see if your device is officially supported.
When to Call a Pro
Seek professional help if:
- Multiple devices stopped working after an update
- You can't find the correct drivers for your device anywhere
- Driver installations keep failing with error messages
- You're getting Blue Screen errors related to drivers (like "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL")
- The device works in Safe Mode but not in normal Windows (indicates driver conflict)
- You've tried everything and the hardware still isn't recognized
A technician can identify obscure driver conflicts, use specialized tools to extract and install drivers, test whether the problem is hardware failure versus driver issues, and configure your system to prevent future driver problems from Windows updates.
Need Professional Help?
If you're in the Tampa Bay area and need hands-on assistance, Geeks in Sneaks provides friendly, on-site tech support in Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, and Dunedin.
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