How to Uninstall Intel Drivers in Safe Mode

Uninstalling Intel drivers in Safe Mode in Windows is similar to uninstalling drivers from other manufacturers. Here are the steps to follow:

Boot Into Safe Mode:

Windows 10/11:
- Click the Start button and select the Power icon.
- Hold the Shift key and click “Restart” to enter the Windows Recovery Environment.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup Settings.
- Click “Restart,” and after your PC restarts, you can press the appropriate function key to enable Safe Mode (usually F4 for Safe Mode or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking).
Windows 7:
- Restart your computer.
- Press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
- Use the arrow keys to select “Safe Mode” or “Safe Mode with Networking” and press Enter.

Uninstall Intel Drivers:

Using Device Manager:
- Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager” from the menu, or press Win + X and then press M.
- Expand the category for the Intel drivers you wish to uninstall (this could be “Display adapters” for graphics drivers, “Network adapters” for wireless drivers, etc.).
- Right-click on the Intel device whose driver you wish to remove.
- Select “Uninstall device.”
- If prompted, check the box that says “Delete the driver software for this device.”
- Click “Uninstall” to confirm.
Using Programs and Features:
- If you’re trying to uninstall an Intel software package, you’ll want to use the Programs and Features control panel.
- Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.
- Look for the Intel software you want to uninstall (e.g., Intel Graphics Driver, Intel PROSet/Wireless Software).
- Click on it and select “Uninstall.”

Using Intel Driver & Support Assistant:

Before entering Safe Mode, you can download the Intel Driver & Support Assistant to help identify and remove Intel drivers. This is more straightforward if you’re not sure which specific drivers you need to uninstall.

After Uninstalling Drivers:

Reboot: After completing the uninstallation, reboot your computer. Windows will use default drivers if necessary.
Reinstall: If you’re planning to reinstall drivers, have the latest driver installer ready or know where to get it (preferably have it downloaded beforehand).

Note:

Backup: Always have a current backup of your system before making changes like uninstalling drivers.
Restore Point: It’s a good practice to create a system restore point before making changes so you can revert back if needed.
Windows Restore: If you encounter any issues, you can use Windows System Restore to revert your system to a previous state when everything was working fine.

Uninstalling drivers in Safe Mode is often a troubleshooting step to resolve driver conflicts, remove corrupted drivers, or prepare for a clean installation of new drivers. After uninstalling the Intel drivers, Windows may automatically install generic drivers upon restart, or you may need to install the specific drivers manually.