How to disable automatic driver install on Windows 10

• Windows 10 can automatically install hardware drivers through Windows Update, which can sometimes replace a known-working driver.
• You can block driver updates globally using the Registry or Group Policy.
• You can prevent Windows 10 from installing a driver for specific hardware using its Hardware ID.
• Microsoft’s Show or hide updates troubleshooter can block a specific driver update.

On Windows 10, the system can automatically detect and install hardware drivers. However, you can disable automatic driver updates if the operating system keeps installing incompatible or buggy versions that can negatively affect the experience, or if you prefer a known working driver.

You may also want to stop automatic driver installations if another version (newer or older) is known to work better with your hardware configuration. Whatever the reason, you can prevent the operating system from trying to use “Windows Update” to download drivers automatically.

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In this guide, I will teach you the steps to change the settings and stop automatic driver updates on Windows 10.

• Block automatic driver install from Registry
• Block automatic driver install from Group Policy
• Block automatic driver install for a specific device hardware
• Block automatic driver install using Troubleshooter

Block automatic driver install from Registry

If you use Windows 10 Home, you won’t have access to the Local Group Policy Editor. However, you can disable the feature through the Registry.

To stop Windows 10 from installing device drivers automatically, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

3. Open the following path:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

4. Right-click the Windows key, select New, and choose Key.

5. Confirm the WindowsUpdate name for the key.

6. Right-click the WindowsUpdate key, select New, and choose the “DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.

   

7. Confirm the ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate name for the DWORD.

8. Double-click the ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate DWORD key and change its value from 0 to 1.

   

9. Click the OK button.

10. (Optional) Open the following path to prevent Windows 10 from searching Windows Update when a new device is plugged in:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching

11. Right-click the DriverSearching key, select New, and choose the “DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.

12. Confirm the SearchOrderConfig name for the key.

13. Double-click the SearchOrderConfig DWORD key and change its value from 1 to 0.

14. Click the OK button.

15. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, setting “ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate” to “1” will block drivers from updating every time Windows 10 checks for new updates.

You can always revert the changes using the same steps, but in step 6, change the DWORD key value from 0 to 1.

Alternatively, you can also change the Registry using Command Prompt (admin) with the reg add "reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f command.

Use this reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching" /v "SearchOrderConfig" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f to stop the system from searching Windows Update when you plug in a new device.

You can revert the changes with the reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f command.

Use this reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching" /v "SearchOrderConfig" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f to undo this configuration.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will no longer install drivers automatically for new devices. If you add a new graphics card or printer, you will have to download and install the drivers manually.

Block automatic driver install from Group Policy

Alternatively, you can use the Local Group Policy Editor to stop the operating system from installing driver updates on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education.

To disable driver installs automatically with Group Policy, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for gpedit and click the top result to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

3. Browse the following path:

   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update

4. Double-click the “Do not include driver with Windows Update” policy.

   

5. Check the Enabled option.

   

6. Click the Apply button.

7. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the policy will be enabled, and Windows Update will stop providing drivers during updates.

While this policy works as advertised, it has some limitations because the operating system can ignore it in some scenarios, such as when setting up the system for the first time.

To stop automatic driver updates completely, enable the “Do not include drivers with Windows Updates” policy and select the “No (your device might not work as expected)” option on the “Device Installation Settings” page, as shown above.

Block automatic driver install for a specific device hardware

To disable driver installs automatically for specific hardware, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the tool.

3. Right-click the device, select Properties, and open the Details tab.

4. Change the Property drop-down to Hardware Ids.

5. Right-click the top value and choose the Copy option.

   

6. Open Start.

7. Search for gpedit and click the top result to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

8. Browse the following path:

   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > Device Installation Restrictions > Device Installation Restrictions

9. Double-click the “Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device IDs” policy.

   

10. Check the Enabled option.

11. Click the Show button.

12. Confirm the device’s Hardware ID in the list from step 4.

    

13. Click the OK button.

14. Click the Apply button.

15. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will stop overwriting a driver for one specific piece of hardware (such as a GPU or Wi-Fi card) while letting Windows Update handle everything else.

Disable automatic driver install using Troubleshooter

If the computer is still trying to download a specific driver update, you can block it using the “Show or hide updates” troubleshooter.

To block a specific driver download on Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Download the Show or hide updates troubleshooter.

2. Double-click the wushowhide.diagcab file to launch the tool.

3. Click the Next button.

4. Click the Hide updates option.

   

5. Select the driver to block on Windows 10.

   

6. Click the Next button.

7. Click the Close button.

Once you complete the steps, the system will stop trying to download that specific driver. However, when a newer version becomes available, Windows 10 will try to install it automatically.

To block a driver installed on the device, you must uninstall it first. You can uninstall updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Updates > View update history > Uninstall updates.

These instructions include more details on blocking and unblocking updates and drivers on Windows 10.

Update September 11, 2026: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect new changes.