Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo switch GPU vendors on a Windows PC, download the correct driver for the new card from its manufacturer, uninstall the old graphics software, restart, install the new driver, and restart again. Start with the normal Windows uninstall; use a vendor cleanup option or AMD Cleanup Utility only when appropriate. Then check which driver Windows actually loaded, because Windows can reinstall a missing one.
Before you change drivers
Confirm the destination graphics card model and Windows version, then download its driver from the manufacturer’s official site before removing the existing package. Use AMD’s Radeon software installation guidance or NVIDIA’s GeForce driver finder and match the product and operating system. NVIDIA offers Game Ready drivers for gamers who prioritize support around game launches and Studio drivers for creative workflows; choose the track that fits your use.
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Save open work before uninstalling or running a cleanup utility. A graphics-driver removal can briefly interrupt the display, and some cleanup or installation options require a restart.
Use the least disruptive cleanup method first
Uninstall the old software normally
If the previous vendor’s software appears in Windows Installed apps, begin there. AMD’s current Windows instructions use Installed apps to remove AMD Software; restart Windows to complete the removal. AMD also recommends uninstalling existing Radeon software before installing another graphics driver to help avoid file conflicts. See AMD’s uninstall steps and its additional Windows uninstall guidance.
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After restarting, run the destination driver installer you downloaded. This is the appropriate starting point for a routine card change; do not begin with an aggressive cleanup utility if ordinary removal works.
Use a destination installer’s cleanup option if offered
Some AMD Radeon Software installers may offer Clean Install when they detect an existing version. AMD says this option attempts to remove detected Radeon software and AMD drivers before installing the selected components. It forces a restart and removes the ability to roll back to the earlier driver through Device Manager. The option and its exact controls depend on the package and system; consult AMD’s installation instructions.
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AMD also documents Factory Reset as a separate installer option. It removes prior AMD Software packages, temporarily pauses Windows Update, restarts the PC, and continues the installation. It also removes the ability to roll back to previous drivers. Use it only when that fuller reset is needed, and account for the lost rollback option.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For NVIDIA, select the current driver through NVIDIA’s official driver page and follow the installer shown for that package. An older NVIDIA guide describes choosing Custom (Advanced) and checking Perform a clean installation to clear old profiles, settings, and driver files. Because that procedure is from a legacy guide, treat it as an example of the clean-install approach, not a promise that every current NVIDIA installer has identical screens: NVIDIA’s legacy installation guide.
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Escalate to AMD Cleanup Utility only for AMD cleanup problems
If normal removal does not resolve a conflict involving AMD graphics software, AMD’s AMD Cleanup Utility is designed to remove AMD graphics and audio drivers and software in preparation for a new graphics-software installation. It does not remove AMD chipset drivers.
AMD recommends running the utility in Windows Safe Mode for best results. It creates a restore point; changes take effect after a reboot. The display may flicker or go blank briefly during cleanup, so leave the computer undisturbed until it completes. Save work first and follow AMD’s utility instructions rather than treating it as a routine first step.
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Install the new vendor’s driver
- Download: Get the driver for the destination GPU and your Windows version from the relevant official AMD or NVIDIA driver page. Do this before uninstalling the old package.
- Remove the old package: Use Windows Installed apps for ordinary removal. If AMD software conflicts remain, use AMD Cleanup Utility as described above.
- Restart: Allow the uninstall or cleanup to finish and restart when prompted.
- Install: Run the downloaded destination-vendor installer. Review any offered clean-install or reset option before selecting it, especially if it removes rollback capability.
- Restart again if prompted: Complete the installation’s required restart before evaluating the result.
Verify the active driver after reboot
Open Windows Device Manager, expand Display adapters, and check that the expected graphics adapter appears. Open its properties and inspect the driver details or version, then compare that information with the package you installed. If the old or a generic driver appears, check the vendor installer’s status and restart requirements.
Removal does not guarantee that Windows will leave the driver absent: Windows can rediscover a device and reinstall its driver immediately or after reboot, and Windows Update may install a detected missing driver. Microsoft documents this behavior in its guidance for uninstalling devices and driver packages. Verify the active adapter and version rather than assuming the uninstall alone settled the issue.
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What to do if conflicts remain
- AMD software remains or installation still conflicts: Try AMD Cleanup Utility, preferably in Safe Mode, and restart afterward. It addresses AMD graphics and audio software, not chipset drivers.
- A startup app or service may be interfering: Microsoft’s clean boot starts Windows with essential drivers and startup programs to help isolate app or service conflicts. It is a troubleshooting mode, not a GPU-driver removal tool and not the same as Safe Mode. Follow Microsoft’s clean-boot procedure.
- The expected driver seems to disappear after installation: Check Device Manager and the driver version after reboot. Windows may have installed a detected driver; use the official vendor installer again if needed, then verify what is active.
Linux users: follow the distribution’s driver guidance
The steps above describe Windows procedures and should not be applied unmodified to Linux. NVIDIA notes that Linux users may get better integration from their distribution’s driver packages. Follow the instructions for your distribution and installation method; the Windows vendor-removal and installer steps here do not provide a Linux procedure. See NVIDIA’s official driver page.
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