How devices and driver packages are uninstalled

This article describes options for uninstalling a device and removing a driver package from the driver store.

Uninstall a device or multiple devices

You can remove the device node (devnode) that represents a physical device by using one of the following procedures:

• Uninstall a specific device only: Use a device installation application that calls the SetupAPI interface SetupDiCallClassInstaller function with the DIF_REMOVE request.

• Uninstall a device and any devices below the specific node in the device tree: Use a device installation application that calls the DiUninstallDevice function.

When you uninstall a device, the Plug and Play (PnP) manager removes the association between the driver binary files and the device. The device remains in the kernel PnP tree and the driver package remains in the driver store.

If the PnP manager re-enumerates the device, the PnP manager handles the device as a new instance and installs the driver package from the driver store. A common scenario is when you unplug a device and then plug it back in.

For information on how an end user can uninstall a device, see Using Device Manager to uninstall devices and driver packages.

Delete a driver package from the driver store

The process of deleting a driver package from the driver store involves two tasks:

1. Ensure no devices are installed with the driver package.

2. Remove the driver package from the driver store.

You can complete both tasks in a single step by using one of the following procedures:

• Windows 10 version 1607 and later: Run the pnputil /delete-driver <example.inf> /uninstall command in a Command Prompt window. For more information, see PnPUtil command syntax.

• Windows 10 version 1703 and later: The device installation application can call the DiUninstallDriverW function.

• Windows 10 version 1511 and earlier: Identify all devices currently installed with the driver package and update them so they don't depend on the driver package. Complete the task by using one of the following procedures:

  • Install a different driver package on the device.

  • Use the DiInstallDevice function with the DIIDFLAG_INSTALLNULLDRIVER flag and install the null driver on the device.

  • Uninstall the device, as described in this article.

  After you update all installed devices, the device installation application calls the SetupUninstallOEMInf function and removes the driver package.

The delete process removes associated metadata from the PnP manager's internal database and deletes related INF files (.inf) from the system INF directory.

After the driver package is removed, the package is no longer available for installation on a device. If you want to reinstall the package, download the driver package again from the original source, such as Windows Update.

Caution

If you manually delete the driver package from the driver store, the system might display unpredictable behavior.