There’s a common issue for folks using AMD graphics cards with Windows 11 or 10, where they might see a warning message from AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. This message pops up saying that Windows Update has gone ahead and replaced the AMD Graphics driver on its own. Because of this, the AMD Software you’ve got isn’t happy with the current driver and won’t work. This message usually shows up when you start Windows or try to open AMD Software. It goes something like this:
AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition Warning
Windows Update may have automatically replaced your AMD Graphics driver. Hence, the version of AMD Software you have launched is not compatible with your currently installed AMD Graphics driver.
For information on how to resolve this, please go to:
https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/pa-300
After you close this message, AMD Software won’t start, which can be annoying if you need it for tweaking your graphics settings. This article will guide you through fixing this issue step by step.
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How about using the AMD Software Compatibility Tool?
When you bump into this warning, AMD suggests going to their support page and running the AMD Software Compatibility Tool. This tool is pretty handy—it looks for and installs an AMD Software version that gets along with your current AMD graphics driver. This can quickly fix the issue and get your AMD Software working again.
But, keep in mind, this might only fix things until the next Windows Update. Windows Update has a habit of automatically updating your AMD graphics driver, which might bring back the same compatibility problem. So, you might end up needing to run this tool again and again, which isn’t ideal for the long haul.
Also, if you’re testing out early versions of Windows through the Windows Insider Program, you might run into even more trouble. The AMD graphics drivers given to insiders might not immediately have a matching AMD Software version available. In such cases, patience is key until a compatible version comes out.
In some cases, you may even see the message “Unable to detect active AMD Display Driver” upon running the AMD Software Compatibility Tool. If that happens, don’t worry. Just move on to the more permanent fix we’re going to talk about next.
Next up, we’ll tackle how to stop this issue from coming back by turning off automatic driver updates through Windows Update.
Related resource: Check Graphics Card on Windows 11/10 (NVIDIA, AMD or Intel)
Fixing AMD graphics driver incompatibility issue caused by Windows Update
To keep Windows Update from automatically messing with your AMD Graphics driver, you can turn off automatic driver updates. This way, you stay in charge of your driver versions, keep Windows Update from changing your current drivers, and dodge those annoying compatibility issues with AMD Software.
Step 1: Disable automatic driver updates
Here are two ways you can stop automatic driver updates in Windows 11 or 10.
Method 1: Using Advanced System Settings
Turn off automatic driver updates from Windows Update using the Advanced System Settings. Here’s how:
- Right-click on the Start menu and pick “System.” Then, in the related settings section, click on “Advanced system settings.”
- Switch to the “Hardware” tab in the System Properties window, and hit “Device Installation Settings.”
- In the Device Installation Settings window, choose “No (your device might not work as expected)” and then click “Save Changes.”
Note: If this doesn’t stop Windows Update from swapping out your AMD graphics driver, give the WuMgr method a shot, which we’ll get into next.
Method 2: Using Windows Update Manager (WuMgr)
WuMgr is a third-party application that lets you have more say over Windows Update, including stopping automatic driver updates.
- Grab WuMgr from its GitHub page. Download it, unzip the files, and run the WuMgr app.
- In WuMgr, hit the “Auto Update” tab. In the “Automatic Update” section, make sure “Include Drivers” is unchecked.
Both these methods can keep Windows Update from automatically changing your AMD Graphics driver, helping you avoid those frustrating compatibility issues with AMD Software.
But we’re not done yet. In the section below, we’ll show you how to use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to remove your current driver and then manually install the latest driver from AMD.
Pro tip: Using Onboard Graphics And Graphics Card Simultaneously
Step 2: Perform a clean uninstall of current problematic graphics drivers
Once you’ve stopped automatic driver updates, the next step is to fully remove your current AMD Graphics driver and then manually put in the newest version. This makes sure you have the best and most up-to-date driver for your AMD Software. Here’s the drill:
- DDU is a tool that completely removes graphics drivers from your system. Download DDU from its official site and unzip the files to a spot on your computer.
- To make sure the driver removal goes smoothly and Windows doesn’t get in the way, it’s recommended to run DDU in Safe Mode. Boot your PC into Safe mode.
- Open the folder where you extracted DDU and start the
Display Driver Uninstaller.exeprogram. - In DDU, pick “GPU” as your device type and “AMD” as your device.
- Hit the “Clean and restart” button. DDU will take care of the AMD driver and reboot your computer.
Step 3: Download and install the latest AMD driver
With DDU having cleared out the old graphics driver (the one Windows Update put in and caused issues), you’re set to install the freshest driver for your card from AMD’s website.
- After your computer boots up again, head over to the AMD Drivers and Support page.
- Find your product or use the auto-detect tool to snag the right driver for your AMD Graphics card.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the latest driver.
If you’ve stuck to the steps, you now have a clean install of the latest AMD Graphics driver straight from AMD, and you’ve dodged those annoying automatic driver updates from Windows Update that were causing compatibility headaches with AMD Software Adrenalin Edition.
Useful guide: Force App or Game to Use Nvidia/AMD GPU or Integrated Graphics
Why Windows Update drivers may sometimes be incompatible
Windows Update is all about keeping your system fresh by automatically installing the latest drivers and security updates. But sometimes, these drivers might not play nice with AMD Software for a few reasons.
- Windows Update often hands out generic drivers that might not have all the special features or tweaks your AMD Graphics card needs.
- AMD could drop new drivers to fix bugs or add new stuff, but it can take a while for these to show up through Windows Update.
- The driver version from Windows Update might not be the one AMD Software wants, leading to compatibility issues.
- AMD tests its drivers thoroughly with AMD Software. The drivers from Windows Update might not get the same love, possibly causing stability or compatibility issues.
How to avoid driver compatibility issues in the future
To keep away from compatibility troubles between AMD Software and your graphics driver:
- Like we talked about before, turning off automatic driver updates from Windows Update lets you pick which driver versions to install.
- Manually look for driver updates on the AMD site or through AMD Software to make sure you’re using the latest, most compatible versions.
- Using AMD’s auto-detect tool can help you find the right driver for your system, cutting down the chance of running into compatibility issues.
Final words
This issue with Windows Update automatically swapping out drivers, leading to compatibility problems, isn’t rare in Windows 11. It’s not just AMD Graphics drivers; other hardware drivers can face the same fate due to these automatic updates.
To steer clear of these issues, turning off automatic driver updates through Windows Update is a smart move for many. This way, you have more control over your system and ensure that only the drivers you trust and have checked are installed.
