STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Clean and reinstall the graphics driver with AMD Cleanup Utility

Troubleshooting guideSources checked: 2026-09-054 stepsFaultNote editorial team

What to do first

Obtain the compatible driver first, run AMD's official utility in Safe Mode with a restore point, and reinstall the driver.

This is a general troubleshooting guide, not an announcement of a current outage.

Affected products and symptoms

Product: AMD Radeon / AMD Cleanup Utility
Versions and conditions: Windows 7 or later, within the official AMD utility's supported scope
Error codes and identifiers: GPU-601

Symptoms

An AMD graphics-driver update or reinstall does not finish correctly, or old components conflict

Causes and conditions

Remaining AMD graphics or audio drivers and software may interfere with a new installation.

Before you start

First download a compatible driver from official GPU or PC manufacturer support
Confirm information required for a Safe Mode restart, such as the BitLocker recovery key
Wait for Windows Update to finish and save open work

Precautions

AMD graphics and audio drivers are temporarily removed, so the display changes
AMD chipset drivers are not removed
Do not run the utility while Windows Update is running because the utility will exit

Tools and official pages used in this guide

AMD Cleanup Utility ↗See step 1 ↓
Review the official executable, Safe Mode recommendation, and components affected.
AMD Drivers and Support ↗See step 4 ↓
For a desktop GPU, select the exact product and OS. For laptops, all-in-one PCs, and handhelds, check the OEM driver first.

AMD Radeon / AMD Cleanup Utility troubleshooting sequence: Get the official utility; Choose Safe Mode; Complete removal; Review the report and restart — Procedure overview created by FaultNote. Read the precautions and full instructions before changing settings. Read the full steps

Step-by-step instructions

01
Get the official utility
#
Download AMD Cleanup Utility from AMD's GPU-601 article and run amdcleanuputility.exe.
Record the current GPU name and driver version in AMD Software > Settings > System and Device Manager. Decide which version will be restored after cleanup; on a laptop, save the PC manufacturer's package first.
Official links for this step
- AMD Cleanup Utility
  Review the official executable, Safe Mode recommendation, and components affected.
Check before continuing
The official AMD Cleanup Utility page or signed package opens, and its product, OS, and version requirements match this computer.
02
Choose Safe Mode
#
When prompted to restart and run in Safe Mode, choose AMD's recommended Yes. Choosing normal mode may produce different results.
For an OEM PC, check the model's support page before selecting AMD's generic package. Switchable graphics, integrated GPUs, and handheld systems may require an OEM driver, so record the current version and retain a recovery package.
03
Complete removal
#
Review the explanation and start. Wait through screen flickering or temporary blanking; processing may take 15–20 minutes.
Close games, capture software, GPU monitoring tools, and other installers. Wait for the completion screen or a specific new code, and do not power off if the display flickers temporarily.
04
Review the report and restart
#
After completion, select View Report to inspect removed items and Finish to restart Windows. Then use this guide's official AMD driver link to select the desktop GPU product series and Windows version. For laptops, all-in-one PCs, and handhelds, prefer the model-specific PC manufacturer driver. Run the signed installer and restart again if required.
After restart, open Device Manager > Display adapters > target GPU > Properties > Driver and confirm the provider and version. If it is not the intended state, do not repeatedly rerun the installer; save Install.log and the latest result.
Completion criteria: the utility report confirms completion and AMD Software shows the expected driver version after restart. If unmet, do not repeat the same operation; follow the next branch: use the AMD Cleanup Utility Restore Point created by the utility if a problem occurs.
Official links for this step
- AMD Drivers and Support
  For a desktop GPU, select the exact product and OS. For laptops, all-in-one PCs, and handhelds, check the OEM driver first.
Check before continuing
Confirm removal in View Report, then confirm after restart that the intended installed version appears in both AMD Software and Device Manager.

Check the result

The utility report confirms successful processing
AMD Software shows the expected driver version after restart

If the problem continues

If a problem occurs, use the AMD Cleanup Utility Restore Point created by the utility
For a PC manufacturer's custom configuration, restore the manufacturer-provided release

Scope of this guide

Troubleshooting guide — AMD's official preparation procedure for reinstallation. It does not change chipset drivers.

Frequently asked questions

Can I undo the cleanup?

The utility creates a restore point before cleanup. Use that restore point if a problem occurs afterward.

Official sources and dates

Source publication or resolution date: 2025-09-29. Sources checked: 2026-09-05. The check date is not the date the problem first occurred. Interface labels can vary between versions and display languages.

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