How To Block Graphics Driver Updates On Windows 10
Windows 10 updates often cause bugs but this is a problem that’s usually reserved for large, feature updates. That said, as part of its regular updates, Windows 10 downloads and installs driver updates as well.
Often, the graphics driver will be updated and the new version may not work well. These are mostly generic drivers and if you know for a fact that the newer one isn’t going to work for you, you need to block graphics driver updates on Windows 10.
Block Graphics Driver Updates
We should warn you that driver updates, or updates of any kind, should only be blocked if they make your system unstable.
In order to block graphics driver updates, you can turn to third-party apps built for blocking updates on Windows 10 however, a better, safer option is to use this troubleshooting tool from Microsoft. It is built specifically for blocking updates.
The first thing you need to do is uninstall the problematic graphics driver. To uninstall the driver, open the Device Manager and expand Display Adapters. Right-click the graphics card that was updated and select Properties from the context menu. In the Properties window, go to the Driver tab, and select the roll back option.
Once you’ve done that, Windows 10 will try and install the driver again. This is when you run the troubleshooting tool.
Click the Next button on the start screen, and select the ‘Hide Updates’ option. The tool will search for and list all the available updates. Select the ones you want to hide, and click Next.
Hiding updates will prevent Windows 10 from downloading, and subsequently installing them. If you ever need to unhide the updates, run this same tool again, but click the Show hidden updates option. From the list of hidden updates, you can choose which updates to unhide.
Since this is your graphics driver that we’re talking about, it might be a good idea to check if your system has an app from your GPU manufacturer installed on it. Both Nvidia and AMD have dedicated apps that can download and install drivers. It’s possible that these apps are updating the driver and not Windows 10. If the troubleshooting utility fails to find any graphics drivers after you roll one back, check the permissions your GPU’s application has. If auto-updates are enabled, disable them.
Lastly, if your GPU has begun to cause problems after a major Windows 10 update, check forums and other online help portals, particularly any forums hosted by the manufacturer of your GPU for known bugs, and available solutions.
