How to prevent Windows 7 from automatically installing drivers

Windows will always make the best effort, when you plug in a new device to your computer, to try to automatically download and install the recommended drivers from Windows Update. This is a good feature to make sure that your newly installed hardware works properly, but not always the installation will go as smooth as you would like to. Sometimes the drivers from Windows Update are not the latest drivers, the installation could cause file corruption, or there could be other problems for uncommon devices. It would be preferable to install your own drivers downloaded from the manufacture website or from the CD that came with the device. To disable Widows 7 from automatically installing drivers, do the following:

Drivers Disc

Windows will always make the best effort, when you plug in a new device to your computer, to try to automatically download and install the recommended drivers from Windows Update. This is a good feature to make sure that your newly installed hardware works properly, but not always the installation will go as smooth as you would like to. Sometimes the drivers from Windows Update are not the latest drivers, the installation could cause file corruption, or there could be other problems for uncommon devices.

It would be preferable to install your own drivers downloaded from the manufacture website or from the CD that came with the device.

To disable Widows 7 from automatically installing drivers, do the following:

1- Click Start Windows 7 Logo and in the search box “Search programs and files” type “view advanced system settings” and under “Control Panel” title select View Advanced System Settings.

2- Select the Hardware tab and click Device Installation Settings button.

Windows 7 System Properties

3- Next, select No, let me choose what to do with the option Never install driver software from Windows Update.

Windows 7 Device Installation Settings

4- Click Save Changes, Apply and OK.

Now, next time you plug a new device into your system, Windows 7 will not automatically install drivers; at this point you can install you own drivers.

Tip: If you upgraded some device drivers and you are having problems try to Roll Back to the previous drivers, follow this link!

Here is a bonus for this article:

Windows 7 has the ability to download high-resolution icons for many hardware devices that you connect to your computer, and some other detailed information, like product name, model number, manufacture, etc. To make it easier for you identify what devices are connected to your computer when you need to configure or troubleshoot them.

If you notice in the last image above there is an option that says: Raplace generic device icons with enhanced icons. You can check this option to allow Windows 7 download HD icons for your connected devices.

Remember to leave a comment in the section below. Thanks!

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.