What does driver rollback mean?
Driver rollback is a way to return a device to a previous driver package after a change. In Windows, Roll Back Driver may be available in Device Manager's device properties if a previous version is retained. It is not guaranteed to appear for every device or after every update.
Rollback is a focused test when a specific driver change immediately precedes a new reproducible symptom. It differs from uninstalling the device, installing a known-good maker package, or using a system restore point. These methods have different scopes and prerequisites. Record the current version and the problem before choosing one.
Example in context
A laptop touchpad stops responding after a model-specific input package update, while an external mouse still works. If a previous driver is available, returning to it and repeating the same touchpad gestures can test whether the new package is involved. The result does not prove that the touchpad hardware is perfect or that a later supported fix cannot work.
A common misunderstanding
A greyed-out Roll Back Driver button is not an error you should overcome by installing a random old package; it often means Windows has no previous version available through that option. Nor is rollback always safe for boot-critical storage or essential input without a recovery route. Managed systems may require an administrator.
How to use this term
The most informative rollback test compares the same action before and after restoring a prior package. If a Wi-Fi failure occurs only after waking from sleep, test wake again; merely seeing an older number does not show recovery. Reversal can also remove a fix introduced by the new release, so check other essential functions. If symptoms persist, re-examine connection, settings, hardware, and other recent changes instead of assuming another arbitrary version will help.
Read [driver version](/glossary/driver-version) and [driver package](/glossary/driver-package). For preparation, see [plan driver recovery](/driver-compatibility-and-recovery/plan-driver-recovery); for evaluating the result, see [test and recover after an update](/how-to-update-device-drivers/test-and-recover-after-an-update).