Windows 11 is designed to keep your system up to date automatically, including drivers for hardware like graphics cards, printers, and network adapters. While this is convenient, sometimes driver updates can cause issues — like compatibility errors, crashes, or unwanted performance changes.
If you’d rather control when and how drivers are updated, you can turn off automatic driver updates. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to disable automatic driver updates in Windows 11 using different methods, explain the pros and cons, and share tips for managing drivers safely.
Key Takeaways (Quick Summary)
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Windows 11 automatically installs drivers through Windows Update.
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Disabling this feature gives you more control, but requires manual updates.
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You can disable driver updates via Settings, Device Installation Settings, Group Policy, or Registry Editor.
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For advanced users, you can block specific drivers only.
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Always download drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website when updating manually.
Why Disable Automatic Driver Updates in Windows 11?
There are several reasons why you may want to stop Windows from installing drivers automatically:
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Prevent compatibility issues – Some new drivers might not work well with older hardware.
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Avoid unstable updates – Occasionally, a buggy driver update can cause system crashes.
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Maintain custom drivers – Gamers, professionals, or creators may prefer vendor-specific drivers (like NVIDIA Studio drivers).
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Control over system updates – You decide when and what gets updated.
👉 However, keep in mind that disabling updates also means you’ll need to manually check for new drivers.
Method 1: Disable Driver Updates via Windows Settings
This method tells Windows not to include drivers when downloading updates.
Steps:
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Press Win + I to open Settings.
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Go to Windows Update > Advanced options.
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Scroll down and select Optional updates.
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Uncheck any driver updates you don’t want installed.
👉 While this doesn’t completely stop driver updates, it prevents automatic installation of optional drivers.
Method 2: Use Device Installation Settings (Control Panel)
This is a simple way to tell Windows not to download drivers from Windows Update.
Steps:
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Press Win + R, type
control, and press Enter. -
Go to System > Advanced system settings.
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Under the Hardware tab, click Device Installation Settings.
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Select No (your device might not work as expected).
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Click Save Changes.
✅ Windows will now stop automatically downloading manufacturer drivers.
Method 3: Disable Driver Updates Using Group Policy (Pro & Enterprise)
If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, Group Policy is the most reliable method.
Steps:
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Press Win + R, type
gpedit.msc, and press Enter. -
Navigate to:
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Double-click Do not include drivers with Windows Updates.
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Select Enabled and click Apply > OK.
👉 Restart your PC for changes to take effect.
Method 4: Block Driver Updates via Registry Editor
For Windows 11 Home users, Registry Editor provides a workaround.
⚠️ Caution: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system issues. Always back it up first.
Steps:
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Press Win + R, type
regedit, and press Enter. -
Navigate to:
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Right-click in the right panel, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
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Name it:
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Double-click it and set the Value data to
1. -
Restart your PC.
✅ This prevents drivers from being included in Windows Updates.
Method 5: Block Specific Driver Updates
Sometimes, you may only want to block updates for a particular driver. Microsoft provides a tool called “Show or Hide Updates” troubleshooter.
Steps:
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Download the tool from Microsoft’s official website.
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Run the program and select Hide updates.
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Choose the driver update you want to block.
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Click Next to apply.
👉 This is useful if a single driver (like GPU or network adapter) keeps reinstalling automatically.
Pros and Cons of Disabling Automatic Driver Updates
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Prevents buggy updates | Requires manual updates |
| Keeps system stable with custom drivers | Security patches may be missed |
| Full control over driver versions | More effort for beginners |
Best Practices for Managing Drivers Manually
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Always download drivers directly from the manufacturer’s support page.
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Keep backups of working drivers in case you need to roll back.
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Update critical drivers (GPU, chipset, network) manually every few months.
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Use Device Manager to check driver status.
How to Re-enable Automatic Driver Updates
If you change your mind, simply reverse the steps:
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In Group Policy or Registry, set the option back to Not Configured or
0. -
In Device Installation Settings, select Yes.
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Restart your PC, and Windows Update will handle drivers again.
Conclusion
Disabling automatic driver updates in Windows 11 gives you more control over system stability and compatibility, especially if you rely on custom or vendor-specific drivers.
You can stop driver updates through Settings, Control Panel, Group Policy, Registry Editor, or by blocking specific drivers. Just remember that manual updates will now be your responsibility.
If you value stability over convenience, this tweak can save you from unwanted driver headaches.
FAQs
1. Is it safe to disable automatic driver updates in Windows 11?
Yes, but you’ll need to manually update drivers to avoid compatibility or security issues.
2. How do I update drivers manually?
Go to the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, Intel, AMD, etc.) and download the latest drivers.
3. Do Windows Updates still work if I disable driver updates?
Yes — only driver updates are blocked. Security and feature updates will continue.
4. Can I block just one driver update?
Yes, by using Microsoft’s Show or Hide Updates tool.
5. What happens if I never update my drivers?
Outdated drivers may cause performance issues, missing features, or hardware incompatibility.