Clean GPU driver install with DDU (step by step)
When and how to use Display Driver Uninstaller to completely remove NVIDIA, AMD or Intel drivers and install a fresh one.
Most of the time you can install a new GPU driver right over the old one. But when you're seeing black screens, driver crashes (“display driver stopped responding”), weird artifacts after an update, or you're switching GPU brands, a clean install with Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) is the classic fix.
Before you start
- Download the new driver first from the official page: NVIDIA, AMD or Intel. Save it to your Desktop.
- Download DDU from its official site: Wagnardsoft. It's a self-extracting archive. Extract it to a folder.
- Save your work. You'll reboot twice.
Step 1: Disconnect from the internet
Unplug Ethernet or turn off Wi-Fi. Otherwise, Windows Update may automatically install a generic (often older) driver the moment DDU finishes, which defeats the point.
Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode
Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 4 (Safe Mode). DDU can also offer to reboot into Safe Mode for you when you launch it.
Step 3: Run DDU
- Open
Display Driver Uninstaller.exe. - On the right, choose device type GPU and your vendor (NVIDIA / AMD / Intel).
- Click Clean and restart. Don't pick the “do not restart” options unless you know why you need them.
Step 4: Install the fresh driver
- After the reboot, Windows will look a bit low-res. That's expected.
- Run the driver installer you downloaded. NVIDIA: choose Custom → Perform a clean installation if offered. AMD: the default or “Minimal” install is fine.
- Reboot, then reconnect to the internet.
Step 5: Check it worked
- Open GPU-Z or your vendor app and confirm the new driver version.
- Your first game session may hitch a little while shader caches rebuild. See our shader stutter guide.
When NOT to bother
DDU isn't needed for routine updates. If a single game crashes after an update, first try that game's file verification (Steam: right-click → Properties → Installed Files → Verify), then roll back one driver version before going nuclear.
Safety: only download drivers and DDU from the official links above. “Driver updater” utilities that promise to fix everything are a common source of adware.