Windows x forcefully installs Windows updates by default. This includes all updates including Windows device drivers. This commodity is about disabling automated driver updates from Windows Update. This setting tin exist disabled due to several reasons. Some drivers from Microsoft may not exist fully compatible with the device commuter you have installed. Or the commuter which the manufacturer provides can have more features than the basic Microsoft drivers.

In this article, we will share three different ways to disable automatic driver updates in Windows 10. While the focus and screenshots are from Windows 10, the aforementioned configurations tin be used for Windows vii, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1.

Tabular array of contents

  • Disable Automatic Driver Updates
    • 1- Using Device Settings
    • ii- Using Group Policy
    • three- Using Windows Registry
  • Finding and Installing Device Drivers Manually

Disable Automatic Commuter Updates

1- Using Device Settings

For changing the device driver's automatic installation setting in Windows 10, you will need to dig deep into the Command Panel. Just follow the steps below:

  1. Open Control Panel (Run -> control), click Hardware and Audio, and and then click Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click the calculator icon under Devices and click "Device installation settings" from the context menu.
    right click icon 1
  3. Windows volition at present ask you lot the following question: "Do you want to automatically download manufacturers' apps and custom icons available for your devices?" Select "No (your device might not piece of work as expected)," and so click Salvage Changes.
    save changes

Alternatively, you can as well attain the aforementioned window and select "No" (as in footstep 3 to a higher place) past typing in sysdm.cpl in Run, switching to the Hardware tab, and and then clicking Device Installation Settings.

device installation settings
Device installation settings

This should stop Windows from automatically downloading and installing device drivers from Windows Update.

2- Using Group Policy

Windows Group Policy can be a handy tool to change device drivers' settings. This can be useful especially when y'all are doing information technology for multiple systems in the network. Follow the instructions below to disable device driver updates from Windows Updates using Grouping Policy:

  1. Opem the Grouping Policy Editor by typing in gpedit.msc in Run.
    gpedit
  2. At present navigate to the post-obit from the left pane:
    Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> System >> Device Installation >> Device Installation Restrictions
  3. In the right hand pane, double-click "Forestall installation of devices not described by other policy settings."
    group policy
  4. Now select Enabled then click Apply and Ok.
    apply ok
  5. Now, for the changes to have effect, type in the following in Control Prompt with administrative rights:
    gpupdate /strength
    gpupdate force latest

You lot tin likewise Enable the Group Policy "Do not include drivers with Windows Update" from the following path in the Group Policy Editor to disable automatic driver updates:

Local Estimator Policy >> Calculator Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Windows Update
do not include
Enable policy to disable motorcar driver updates

If you want to dig deeper into controlling every attribute of device driver installation through grouping policy, read this wonderful TechNet article.

3- Using Windows Registry

You can also disable device commuter installation from Windows Update using Windows Registry. It is e'er recommended to backup your Registry before making changes to the registry.

  1. Open up the Registry Editor by typing in regedit in Run.
    regedit run
  2. Now paste the post-obit in the accost bar for quick navihation:
    Estimator\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching
    navi
  3. Double-click "SearchOrderConfig" in the right mitt pane and change its Value Information to 0. And then click Ok.
    value data
  4. Now reboot your computer for the changes to take event.

Finding and Installing Device Drivers Manually

While there are quite a few software to notice unknown devices and automatically download and install their drivers from their corresponding manufacturers, yous tin always go to the device manufacturer's website to download the latest compatible device drivers of your selection.

If you don't want to accept the headache of finding the right device driver, I would highly recommend 3 DP Chip software which automatically downloads the latest compatible device drivers for your basic system devices, like motherboard, graphics card, sound menu, and network drivers.

SlimDrivers is another wonderful program that volition proceed your device drivers updated and the drivers will come up from their respective manufacturers.

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Usman Khurshid is a seasoned Information technology Pro with over 15 years of feel in the IT industry. He has experience in everything from It support, helpdesk, sysadmin, network admin, and deject computing. He is as well certified in Microsoft Technologies (MCTS and MCSA) and also Cisco Certified Professional in Routing and Switching.