How to Roll Back AMD Drivers for Stability and Compatibility

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In the ever-evolving world of computer hardware, particularly with graphics cards, manufacturers like AMD regularly update their drivers to enhance performance, fix bugs, and introduce new features. However, these updates don’t always result in a seamless experience; sometimes, new drivers can cause instability or compatibility issues with certain applications or games. If you’re experiencing problems with your AMD drivers, rolling back to a previous version can often resolve these issues. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to roll back your AMD drivers for better stability and compatibility.

Why Roll Back AMD Drivers?

Before diving into the process, it’s essential to understand why you might need to roll back your drivers:

1. Stability Issues: New driver versions can introduce instability or bugs that weren’t present in previous versions.

2. Compatibility Problems: Certain software or games may not work well with the latest driver version.

3. Performance Degradation: Sometimes, updates can adversely affect performance in specific applications or games.

4. Visual Artifacts: New drivers may introduce rendering issues or graphical glitches that detract from the user experience.

Steps to Roll Back AMD Drivers

Step 1: Open Device Manager

1. Right-click on the Start Menu button.
2. Select Device Manager from the list that appears. Alternatively, you can type "Device Manager" in the Windows search bar and select it.

Step 2: Locate Your AMD Graphics Card

1. In Device Manager, find and expand the category labeled Display Adapters.
2. Locate your AMD graphics card in the list (for example, “AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT”).

Step 3: Access Driver Properties

1. Right-click on your AMD graphics card and select Properties from the context menu.
2. In the Properties window, navigate to the Driver tab.

Step 4: Roll Back the Driver

1. In the Driver tab, you’ll see a button labeled Roll Back Driver. If this option is grayed out, it means you don’t have a previous version to roll back to, and you may need to manually download an older version of the driver from AMD’s website instead.
2. Click on Roll Back Driver. Follow the prompts that appear on the screen to confirm the rollback process. You may be asked to explain why you are rolling back the driver; this information is optional.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer

After the rollback process is complete, you will need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Upon rebooting, your system will use the previous version of the AMD driver.

Step 6: Verify the Driver Version

1. Once your computer restarts, return to Device Manager.
2. Right-click on your AMD graphics card and go back to Properties.
3. In the Driver tab, you can verify that your system is now using the previous driver version.

Alternative Method: Manual Roll Back

If you’ve previously updated your driver and the Roll Back Driver option is unavailable, you can manually download an older version:

Step 1: Visit the AMD Drivers Support Page

1. Go to the official AMD Drivers and Support page.
2. Use the dropdown menus to select your graphics card model or use the automatic detection tool.

Step 2: Select Previous Driver Version

1. In the driver listing, look for the section labeled Previous Drivers or similar, where older versions are listed.
2. Download the version that you want to roll back to.

Step 3: Uninstall Current Drivers

Before installing the older version, it’s a good practice to uninstall the current driver:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features and find the AMD driver.
2. Click on it and select Uninstall, then follow the prompts.

Step 4: Install the Older Driver

1. After uninstalling, run the installer for the older driver version you downloaded.
2. Follow the installation prompts and restart your computer once the installation is complete.

Conclusion

Rolling back your AMD drivers can be a straightforward process that restores stability and compatibility to your system. If you find yourself facing issues after a driver update, don’t hesitate to revert to a previous version. Always ensure that you’re using drivers that are well-regarded for your specific applications and games. Keeping your system stable and up to date is key to enjoying a seamless computing experience.

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