How to Uninstall NVIDIA and AMD Drivers Using DDU

Display Driver Uninstaller, or DDU for short, wipes every trace of a video driver, including registry keys and files that a standard uninstallation leaves behind. You should use it when something goes wrong: a black screen, stuttering after an update, or changing your graphics card. It shouldn’t be used for every driver update, as is often claimed in forums: it’s meant for troubleshooting, not routine maintenance.

It is free, developed by Wagnardsoft, and works with NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel cards. It can also remove Realtek and Sound Blaster audio drivers using the same process.

When to use it and when not to #

When you need it:

when switching from a card of one brand to another;
after an update that causes instability, black screens, or performance drops;
when a driver installation freezes halfway through and won’t restart;
when the graphics card control panel won’t open or doesn’t recognize your card.

When you don’t need it:

to move from one driver version to the next, which the installer handles perfectly fine on its own;
as a “periodic cleanup”: if your system is working correctly, there is nothing to clean;
before every new game, regardless of what people say in forums.

Before you start #

Download the driver you plan to install next beforehand. Once finished, your computer will have a generic driver with low resolution, so it’s much better to have the file ready on your disk than to try searching for it under those conditions. Official drivers can be found on the NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel pages. On a branded laptop (HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.), it’s sometimes better to use the driver from the computer manufacturer’s website, as it may contain customizations for that specific model.
Download DDU from the official Wagnardsoft website. Because this program is so popular, modified copies often circulate on sites using its name.
Create a system restore point. DDU can do this automatically through its options, and it only takes thirty seconds.

Disconnect your internet or block automatic driver updates. As soon as Windows restarts without video drivers, Windows Update will try to install one on its own—often the exact version you were trying to remove. You have two choices: unplug the Ethernet cable and turn off Wi-Fi before restarting, or check the box in DDU’s options that prevents Windows from downloading drivers automatically.

DDU Options window showing General options, NVIDIA/AMD/Intel options, and Advanced options at the bottom — At the bottom, under Advanced options, there is a checkbox to prevent Windows Update from reinstalling the driver

In the same options window, make sure Remove C:\NVIDIA driver folders and Remove C:\AMD driver folders are checked: these are the folders where installers unpack files, and they can take up several gigabytes.

The procedure #

1. Restart in Safe Mode #

This is the step that DDU itself recommends, yet it’s the one most often skipped. In Safe Mode, Windows loads only the bare essentials: driver files are not in use and can be truly deleted instead of being locked and reappearing after a restart.

On Windows 10 and 11, the fastest way is to hold down Shift while clicking Restart from the Start menu. Alternatively: Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup. Then go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, and finally press the number for Safe Mode (usually 4).

The blue Windows Startup Settings screen with the numbered list of Safe Modes — The number to press to enter Safe Mode

2. Extract and run DDU #

DDU is delivered as a self-extracting archive: extract it to a folder on your local disk, not a network drive, and run Display Driver Uninstaller.exe. Upon opening, it will show you the options and warn you if you are not in Safe Mode.

3. Select the device #

In the menus on the right, select the device type (GPU) and the brand: NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. Be careful to choose the correct one, otherwise you’ll be removing a driver that isn’t relevant.

DDU interface showing the device type and manufacturer menus and the three cleanup buttons — The device type and manufacturer are on the right; the three actions are on the left

4. Clean #

The three buttons perform different tasks:

Button	Action	When to use it
Clean and restart	Removes everything and restarts	In most cases
Clean and shut down	Removes everything and shuts down the PC	When you need to physically install a new card
Clean and do not restart	Removes without restarting	When removing drivers from two different brands in succession

If you have changed cards by switching from AMD to NVIDIA (or vice versa) without reinstalling Windows, perform two cleanups: first select the old brand and press Clean and do not restart, then select the new one and press Clean and restart. Intel integrated graphics drivers, however, usually coexist with dedicated GPU drivers without any issues.

During the cleanup process, your screen may flicker, change resolution, or go black for a few seconds: this is normal.

5. Install the new driver #

Upon restarting, everything will appear in low resolution because Windows is using the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. Run the installer you downloaded earlier, restart again when finished, and reconnect your internet if you disconnected it.

Choose a clean installation if the installer offers it (this option is available in the NVIDIA app and AMD Adrenalin software). While not strictly necessary after using DDU, it doesn’t hurt and also resets any settings for applications linked to the driver.

If something goes wrong #

The screen stays black after restarting. Power it off by holding down the power button, turn it back on and enter Safe Mode: from there, reinstall the driver. If your computer also has integrated graphics, connect the monitor to the motherboard output and take your time.

Windows automatically reinstalls the old driver. The block wasn’t active: redo everything with your internet disconnected and the block checkbox checked.

The new driver won’t install. Make sure you have downloaded the correct version for your card and your Windows, and ensure that no graphics control panel is still open.

The resolution is wrong. This will be fixed by installing the correct driver. If it remains incorrect even after that, the problem lies with the installed driver, not DDU.

FAQ #

Is DDU safe? #

Yes, it is a well-known program used for years, even by technicians. There are two precautions: download it from the official website and only use it when necessary, because it removes everything without distinction.

Do I need to use it for every driver update? #

No. NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel installers transition from one version to another without issues. A clean wipe is only needed when you have a problem to solve or when you are switching brands of graphics cards.

Does it work with integrated Intel graphics too? #

Yes, Intel is among the selectable brands. On a laptop, however, if the only video output is the integrated one, you will be working with the generic driver after the cleanup until you install the new one: make sure to have it downloaded beforehand.

Is Safe Mode strictly necessary? #

It is highly recommended because it’s the only way to remove everything cleanly. Outside of Safe Mode, some files remain in use and can survive the cleanup—which is exactly the problem you are using DDU to fix. If you absolutely cannot use it, at least close all open programs, including browsers, Steam, and your graphics control panels.

Does it delete my games or my files? #

No. DDU only touches driver files and registry keys. Your games, documents, and save files stay exactly where they are. However, you will lose your graphics control panel settings, such as individual game profiles, color adjustments, and custom resolutions, which will need to be set up again afterward.