Fixed! Windows Update Replaced AMD Graphics Driver (Adrenalin Warning)

Did AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition show the warning “Windows Update may have automatically replaced your AMD graphics driver”, and now Adrenalin won’t open? This happens when Windows Update installs its own version of the display driver over the one you installed from AMD. In this guide I show you the quick fix (roll back the driver) and four ways to stop Windows from replacing your GPU drivers again.

The same steps also work for NVIDIA graphics cards, and they work on Windows 10 as well as Windows 11.

In this article

1. What causes the Adrenalin warning
2. Download the registry files
3. Quick fix: roll back the AMD graphics driver
4. How to stop Windows from replacing your GPU drivers
   1. Method 1: Skip driver updates in Windows Update
   2. Method 2: Change the device installation settings
   3. Method 3: Turn off driver searching in the registry
   4. Method 4: Use the Group Policy Editor
5. FAQ
   1. Does this fix work for NVIDIA graphics cards?
   2. How do I undo these changes?

What causes the Adrenalin warning

When Windows updates, it sometimes replaces third-party drivers with its own versions. In my case, I already had the latest AMD driver installed (version 23.4.2 when I made the video), but Windows Update still tried to install Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. – Display on top of it. After that, Adrenalin stopped working.

Typical symptoms:

• Adrenalin shows the “Windows Update may have automatically replaced your AMD graphics driver” warning.
• AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition does not open at all.
• Some display options are missing, or performance drops in games and other graphics-heavy apps.

Download the registry files

To save you time, I made two small registry files. The ZIP file contains:

• SearchOrderConfig OFF.reg: stops Windows from searching for and installing drivers automatically (sets the value to 0).
• SearchOrderConfig ON.reg: turns automatic driver installation back on (sets the value to 1).

Download SearchOrderConfig Registry Files (ZIP)

Direct link: AMD Drivers Repair Registry Tools (ZIP)

You will use these files in Method 3 below.

Quick fix: roll back the AMD graphics driver

This brings back the driver you had before Windows replaced it.

1. Right-click This PC. On Windows 11, click Show more options, then click Manage.
2. In Computer Management, click Device Manager.
3. Expand Display adapters.
4. Right-click your AMD graphics card and click Properties.
5. Open the Driver tab.
6. Click Roll Back Driver and confirm.
7. Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition again. It should work normally now.

Note: If the Roll Back Driver button is greyed out, there is no older driver to go back to. In that case, download the latest driver for your graphics card from AMD’s official driver page and install it again from the beginning.

How to stop Windows from replacing your GPU drivers

Rolling back fixes the problem today, but Windows Update can replace the driver again later. Use one or more of the methods below to stop it. All of them work on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Warning: Methods 2, 3 and 4 stop Windows from updating all your hardware drivers automatically, not only the graphics driver. After this, update your drivers yourself from the manufacturer’s website.

Method 1: Skip driver updates in Windows Update

1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
2. Click Optional updates.
3. Open Driver updates and leave the drivers you don’t want unchecked, especially the AMD display driver.

Method 2: Change the device installation settings

1. Open Settings > System > About.
2. Click Advanced system settings.
3. Open the Hardware tab and click Device Installation Settings.
4. When Windows asks “Do you want to automatically download manufacturers’ apps and custom icons available for your devices?”, select No.
5. Click Save Changes, then OK.

Method 3: Turn off driver searching in the registry

The easy way: extract the ZIP file you downloaded above, double-click SearchOrderConfig OFF.reg and click Yes to add it to the registry. If you ever want Windows to search for drivers again, double-click SearchOrderConfig ON.reg.

To make the same change by hand:

1. Click Start, type Registry Editor and open it.
2. Go to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching
3. Double-click SearchOrderConfig.
4. Change Value data to 0 and click OK.

This is exactly what the OFF file contains:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching]
"SearchOrderConfig"=dword:00000000

Method 4: Use the Group Policy Editor

The Group Policy Editor is available in Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education. Windows Home does not include it, so on Home use Methods 2 and 3.

1. Click Start, search for Edit group policy and open it.
2. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update.
3. Double-click Do not include drivers with Windows Updates.
4. Select Enabled, click Apply, then click OK.

From now on, Windows Update will not offer driver updates. On Windows 10 the folder names under Windows Update can be a little different, but the policy has the same name.

FAQ

Does this fix work for NVIDIA graphics cards?

Yes. Windows Update can replace NVIDIA drivers in the same way. Roll back the driver in Device Manager, then use the methods above to stop Windows from replacing it again.

How do I undo these changes?

Double-click SearchOrderConfig ON.reg, select Yes again in Device Installation Settings, and set the Group Policy back to Not Configured.

For a newer, more detailed walkthrough, read my guide on how to fix Windows 11 replacing GPU drivers permanently. You can watch every step in the video at the top of this post.