Windows Update Installs Faulty AMD Driver Causing Crashes, Users Urged to Revert Manually

Windows users with AMD graphics cards are experiencing system crashes and black screens after an auto-installed update via Windows Update pushed driver version 25.10.6. Affected users report that the display fails during gaming or normal use, with the installed driver labeled as Microsoft’s version instead of AMD’s native driver built into Radeon Software Adrenalin.

The issue arises when Windows automatically installs the Microsoft-branded 25.10.6 display driver, which appears incompatible with many AMD GPUs. Users note crashes during gameplay, system freezes, or even full shutdowns, while the latest version of AMD’s own Adrenalin software refuses to work correctly. Many mention that gaming, especially on systems with anti-cheat software, becomes unstable immediately after the update.

Affected users across forums share similar stories: the driver installs silently through Windows Update overnight or during boot, and the next time they launch a game or graphics-intensive app, the system crashes, sometimes with a black screen and reboot loop.

A widely recommended solution is to roll back or uninstall the faulty driver and reinstall AMD’s official display driver. Using tools like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode to completely wipe existing drivers, then rebooting and installing the latest AMD Adrenalin release, resolves many of the crashes. Disabling automatic driver updates in Windows’ settings or via Group Policy or registry changes helps prevent the defective driver from reinstalling.

Additional troubleshooting steps include pausing Windows Update temporarily, disabling hardware acceleration in conflicting software like Discord, and updating the motherboard BIOS to the latest version. In some cases, limiting GPU clock speeds in AMD Adrenalin (e.g., to 97–98%) improved stability for gaming applications.

Official support documents advise rolling back drivers or reinstalling specific versions. Microsoft support and AMD community responses emphasize that forcing updates can lead to incompatibility, particularly when driver versions shift unexpectedly.

Until a patched or corrected driver is delivered to users, the following steps are advised:

• Disconnect from the internet temporarily to stop Windows Update before driver removal.
• Boot into Safe Mode and use DDU to fully remove the Microsoft driver.
• Install the official latest AMD Adrenalin driver manually.
• Disable automatic driver updates via Windows settings, Group Policy editor, or registry tweaks.
• Monitor optional updates in Windows and decline or avoid installing version 25.10.6.
• Update system BIOS and chipset firmware where applicable.

This incident highlights the fragile balance between Windows’ automated update system and third-party driver compatibility. While only some AMD setups are impacted, the unpredictable installation of a problematic driver has disrupted performance and reshuffled control over graphics updates. Until Microsoft or AMD provides an official fix, users will need to manage their drivers manually to maintain stability.

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