If you’re a Windows user who relies on AMD graphics drivers for tasks like gaming or video editing, then you might have encountered an issue where Windows Update automatically replaces your AMD graphics driver with a generic one. Besides causing performance issues, outdated graphics drivers can cause some serious stability issues. Luckily, fixing this issue is a relatively straightforward process.

1. Disable automatic driver updates

The first step to preventing Windows Update from replacing your AMD graphics driver is to disable automatic driver updates. Here’s how to do it:

– Open the Start menu and type “System” in the search bar.
– Click on “System” from the results and select “Advanced system settings” from the left-hand pane.
– In the “System Properties” window, click on the “Hardware” tab, then click on “Device Installation Settings.”
– In the new window that opens, select “No (your device might not work as expected)” and click “Save Changes.”

2. Manually update your drivers

Now that you’ve disabled automatic driver updates, it’s time to update your AMD graphics driver manually. Here’s how to do it:

– Visit the AMD support page and select your product.
– Navigate to the “Drivers and Support” tab.
– Choose whether you need to update your graphics driver, chipset driver, or BIOS, and navigate to the corresponding download page.
– Follow the instructions to download and install the appropriate drivers.

3. Block automatic driver updates permanently

To ensure that Windows Update never replaces your AMD graphics driver again, you can permanently block automatic driver updates using the Group Policy Editor. Here’s how to do it:

– Open the Start menu and type “gpedit.msc” in the search bar.
– In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
– Double-click on “Do not include drivers with Windows Update” and select “Enabled.”
– Click “Apply” and then “OK.”

Final thoughts

Fixing this issue shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes, and it’s well worth it to prevent Windows Update from interfering with your graphics drivers. Always remember to keep your drivers up to date, and if you encounter any further issues, don’t hesitate to seek support from the AMD support team.