Before you begin
- The affected output or input identified in Windows Sound settings
- An administrator account if Windows requests permission
- A note of the current driver provider, version, and date
- A working alternative output if audio access is important during recovery
Important Cautions
- Rollback can affect only the selected device; it may not change a separate display-audio, USB, Bluetooth, or microphone component.
- Do not roll back an entry merely because its name contains an audio brand; match it to the endpoint and timing of the problem.
- Keep the current official package available when possible, because Windows may not retain a rollback choice indefinitely.
Use rollback only when the timeline supports it
Rollback returns a selected device to the previous driver package when Windows has one available. It is worth checking when an identified audio endpoint or controller worked before a recent driver change and then failed immediately afterward. It is not a general repair button for sound that gradually disappeared or for a device that has never appeared in Windows.
First confirm the failed route. A display selected as the output, a muted headset, or a USB device without power can look like a driver failure. In Settings > System > Sound, choose the output that used to work, check its volume, and test it before opening Device Manager.
Find the device and inspect its Driver tab
Open Device Manager from the Start menu search. Expand Sound, video and game controllers to find a hardware controller or audio device; Audio inputs and outputs can show individual endpoints. Names vary, so compare them with the selected device in Sound settings rather than assuming the first entry is responsible.
Open the suspected device’s Properties and select the Driver tab. Record Driver Provider, Driver Date, and Driver Version. If Roll Back Driver is unavailable or dimmed, Windows does not currently offer a previous driver for that device through this control. That result is information, not a reason to substitute a package from a different model.
- Select the specific device, not every audio entry, then open Properties.
- On the Driver tab, write down the provider, date, and version.
- If Roll Back Driver is available, select it and describe the reason accurately if Windows asks.
- Restart when prompted, then return to Sound settings and select the intended endpoint.
Confirm the returned driver and audio result
After restart, revisit the Driver tab to see whether the version or date changed. Then test the original problem: play a known local sound through the expected speakers or headphones, and test microphone input separately if that was affected. A changed version with no usable output means the rollback did not settle the problem.
If the button was unavailable, if rollback fails, or if the device remains absent, keep the recorded details. The next bounded action is usually a reinstall with the exact computer or device manufacturer package, not repeated rollback attempts. If the problem started with a wider Windows update and affects more than audio, use the broader recovery options Microsoft documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does rollback remove Windows updates?
No. This Device Manager action concerns the selected device driver. It does not reverse a full Windows update or change unrelated devices.
Can I use a driver from an older laptop model?
No. Similar model names and audio controller brands are not enough to establish compatibility. Use the support package for the exact model and Windows version.