Efficient and Easy Steps to Remove Drivers in Windows 10: A Comprehensive Guide

Efficient and Easy Steps to Remove Drivers in Windows 10: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Overview

Welcome to the comprehensive guide on how to efficiently remove drivers in Windows 10. This manual will provide you with easy-to-follow steps to uninstall device drivers and remove old and unused drivers from your system. By following these instructions, you can ensure a smooth and optimized performance of your Windows 10 computer.

Table of Contents

Uninstalling Device Drivers

Follow these steps to uninstall device drivers in Windows 10:

Step 1: Open Device Manager

To open Device Manager, right-click on the Start button and select "Device Manager" from the context menu. Alternatively, you can press the Windows key + X and choose "Device Manager" from the list.

Step 2: Locate the Device

In the Device Manager window, expand the category that corresponds to the device whose driver you want to uninstall. Right-click on the device and select "Uninstall device" from the context menu.

Step 3: Uninstall the Driver

A confirmation dialog will appear. Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" and click on the "Uninstall" button. Windows will now uninstall the driver for the selected device.

Step 4: Restart Your Computer

After the driver is uninstalled, it is recommended to restart your computer to complete the process. Once your computer restarts, the device driver will be completely removed from your system.

Removing Old and Unused Drivers

Follow these steps to remove old and unused drivers in Windows 10:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

To open Command Prompt, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type "cmd" and press Enter or click on the "OK" button. The Command Prompt window will open.

Step 2: Run the Command

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

pnputil /enum-drivers

This command will display a list of all the drivers installed on your system.

Step 3: Identify the Driver

Scroll through the list of drivers and identify the driver you want to remove. Take note of the published name and the driver package provider.

Step 4: Remove the Driver

To remove the driver, type the following command in the Command Prompt window and press Enter:

pnputil /delete-driver <published name>

Replace <published name> with the published name of the driver you want to remove. For example, if the published name is oem123.inf, the command would be:

pnputil /delete-driver oem123.inf

Windows will now remove the specified driver from your system.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to uninstall device drivers and remove old and unused drivers in Windows 10. By following these efficient and easy steps, you can keep your system optimized and free from unnecessary drivers. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please refer to the official Windows 10 documentation or contact your device manufacturer.