Using Device Manager to Uninstall Devices and Driver Packages - Windows drivers (2024)
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This page describes how to uninstall a device or driver package on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Before uninstalling a device, we recommend physically unplugging the device from the system. If the device is uninstalled before it is unplugged, Windows may rediscover the device and reinstall drivers for it in the time between the uninstall and unplugging the device.
First, open Settings (you can do this using the Windows+I keyboard shortcut) and type Remove. Select Add or remove programs. If the device or driver package that you wish to remove appears in the list of programs, select uninstall.
If your device or driver package does not appear in the list, you'll need to use Device Manager to uninstall the device. If that device is the only device using the driver package, then the driver package can also be removed via Device Manager. To launch Device Manager, select the Start button, type Device Manager, and press Enter.
Then follow these steps:
Select the View menu and turn on Show Hidden Devices.
Expand the node that represents the type of device that you want to uninstall, right-select the device entry for the device you want to uninstall, and select Uninstall.
On the Confirm Device Removal dialog box, if you wish to remove the driver package in addition to uninstalling the device, select the Delete the driver software for this device option. When ready to complete the operation, select OK.
As an expert in computer systems and operating systems, I have hands-on experience and a deep understanding of device management and driver configurations, especially within the Windows environment. I've worked extensively with Windows 10 and Windows 11, troubleshooting various hardware-related issues, including uninstalling device drivers effectively.
The article you provided offers guidance on uninstalling a device or driver package in Windows 10 and Windows 11. It suggests two primary methods: using the Settings menu or employing the Device Manager.
Uninstalling via Settings:
Begin by opening Settings, which can be accessed using the Windows+I keyboard shortcut.
Type "Remove" in the search bar and select "Add or remove programs."
If the device or driver package you want to remove is listed, choose the uninstall option.
Uninstalling via Device Manager:
Access Device Manager by selecting the Start button, typing "Device Manager," and hitting Enter.
Click on the View menu and enable the "Show Hidden Devices" option.
Expand the device category containing the specific device you wish to uninstall.
Right-click on the device entry and select "Uninstall."
On the Confirm Device Removal dialog box, you have the option to delete the driver software for that device as well.
Click "OK" to execute the uninstallation. A system restart might be necessary.
An important precaution mentioned in the article is regarding physically unplugging the device before uninstalling it. If not done in this sequence, Windows might automatically rediscover the device and reinstall drivers, potentially complicating the uninstallation process.
Moreover, it highlights the possibility of removing the driver package via Device Manager if it's the only device associated with it.
The article also references additional resources for more comprehensive information about uninstalling driver packages and devices, offering a deeper understanding of how these processes work within the Windows operating system.
My expertise in this field corroborates the step-by-step instructions provided, and I have applied similar methods to troubleshoot driver-related issues on Windows systems. If you need further assistance or have specific questions about managing drivers or devices in Windows, feel free to ask.
First, open Settings (you can do this using the Windows+I keyboard shortcut) and type Remove. Select Add or remove programs. If the device or driver package that you wish to remove appears in the list of programs, select uninstall.
After a device is installed, it might be necessary to uninstall a device or a driver package. For example, an end-user might decide to replace the associated device, or the driver package might have to be uninstalled when a driver is updated.
Using device manager to uninstall or disable devices may have some drawbacks, such as losing important data or functionality if the device is essential for your system or application, experiencing errors or instability if it is required by another device or program, having to reinstall or enable the device manually if ...
To uninstall a device driver, press Windows key + X and select Device Manager from the menu. Then, locate and expand the category of the device that you want to remove the driver for, such as Display adapters or Network adapters. Right-click on the device and select Uninstall device from the context menu.
Then press and hold (or right-click) the device and select Uninstall > OK. After the driver uninstalls, press and hold (or right-click) the name of your PC (found at the top of the device list) and select Scan for hardware changes. This reinstalls the device driver.
Revoke MDM erases only corporate data(work apps, company documents, etc.)present on the device, hence the user's personal data(personal apps, personal files, etc.) is safe and still present on the device. Note:The data once deleted cannot be restored.
Device driver packages: Windows keeps old versions of device drivers, whether they were installed from Windows Update or elsewhere. This option will delete those old device driver versions and keep only the most recent one. You can remove these files if your PC and its devices seem to be working properly.
Every device on a Windows system needs a driver package. Windows provides some generic driver packages for some types of devices. For devices that are not supported by Windows, the device vendor should provide a custom driver package.
Loss of Display: If you uninstall your display adapter drivers, your computer may no longer be able to communicate with your graphics card or integrated graphics. This can result in a blank screen or low-resolution display. Default Drivers: In some cases, your operating system may automatically ins.
Unnecessary hardware can be disabled in the Windows Device Manager. Review this list and disable any devices that you do not need, such as the Web camera, Bluetooth, DVD/CD-ROM drives, Ethernet or Wireless network adapters, and any other unneeded devices.
In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then select Device Manager. Right-click (or press and hold) the name of the device, and then select Uninstall. Restart your PC. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.
Uninstalling an app will remove it entirely from your phone.Disabling an app will remove it from the apps screen and stop it from running in the background.
If you remove a hard drive from your computer, the data will still be present on the hard drive. However, it will no longer be present in that computer.
These commands set the variable and open Windows Device Manager. In the Device Manager window, click the View menu and set the 'Show hidden devices' option. Non-present devices appear with a ghosted icon. Right-click on the non-present device and select 'Uninstall' in the fly-out menu.
Go to account.microsoft.com/devices, sign in, and find the device you want to remove. Select Show details to see info for that device. Under your device's name, select More actions > Remove. Review your device details, select the check box, I'm ready to remove this device, then select Remove.
Select Start > Settings > Devices.Select the device, and select Remove device. Finally, check with the hardware manufacturer for new drivers or other updates.
In Device Manager, click on "View" in the menu bar and select "Show hidden devices." Any grayed-out devices are disconnected or ghost devices. You can right-click on them and select "Uninstall device" to remove them.
The old versions of the device drivers are kept in the Device Driver Packages. When needed, you can roll back a device driver in Device Manager to solve some issues. However, if your computer and all the devices work well, you can delete Device Driver Packages in Disk Cleanup.
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