How to Uninstall a Driver via Command Prompt in Windows

Uninstalling a driver through the command prompt can be useful in various situations, such as when a driver is malfunctioning or needs to be updated. In this guide, we'll show you how to do it quickly and safely using Windows Command Prompt.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

To remove a driver, you'll need to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges:

  • Click Start and type cmd in the search bar.
  • Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Get a List of Installed Drivers

Before uninstalling, you need to find the exact name of the driver. To do this, enter the following command:

pnputil /enum-drivers

This command will display a list of all installed drivers. Locate the driver you want to uninstall and make note of its name or identifier.

Step 3: Uninstall the Driver

Once you've identified the driver, execute the command to uninstall it. Use the following command:

pnputil /delete-driver oemXX.inf /uninstall /force

Replace oemXX.inf with the name of the driver found in the previous step. The /uninstall and /force parameters ensure complete removal and force the process if necessary.

Notes and Tips

  • Be cautious when uninstalling drivers, as this can lead to system instability, especially if the driver is essential for certain hardware.
  • Always create backups or restore points before making changes to drivers.
  • Some drivers may require a system restart for full removal. After running the command, restart your computer to confirm the driver has been uninstalled.