How to Find Faulty Drivers in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / September 20, 2025

If your Windows 11 PC keeps crashing, freezing, or showing the dreaded blue screen of death (BSOD), there’s a good chance that a faulty driver is to blame. Drivers act as a bridge between your hardware (like graphics cards, printers, and network adapters) and the operating system. When a driver is outdated, corrupted, or incompatible, it can wreak havoc on your system.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to find faulty drivers in Windows 11, using both built-in tools and third-party utilities. We’ll cover step-by-step methods to detect driver problems, fix them, and keep your system running smoothly.

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Faulty drivers often cause crashes, freezes, performance drops, and BSODs.

  • Windows 11 provides tools like Device Manager, Reliability Monitor, Event Viewer, and Windows Memory Diagnostic to find driver issues.

  • Advanced tools like Driver Verifier can pinpoint problematic drivers.

  • Third-party software can help automate scanning and updating.

  • Regular driver maintenance improves stability, speed, and security.

Why Do Drivers Go Bad in Windows 11?

Before diving into the methods, let’s understand why drivers become faulty:

  • Outdated drivers after a Windows update.

  • Corrupted driver files due to malware or power interruptions.

  • Incompatible drivers when upgrading hardware.

  • Improper installation or forced third-party drivers.

  • Conflict between multiple drivers controlling similar hardware.

Knowing the root cause makes troubleshooting much easier.

Symptoms of Faulty Drivers in Windows 11

How do you know if a bad driver is causing issues? Look out for:

  • Frequent system crashes or BSODs.

  • Hardware not responding (mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.).

  • Sluggish performance or sudden freezes.

  • Strange error messages like “Driver Power State Failure”.

  • Wi-Fi, sound, or display issues after an update.

If you’re experiencing any of these, it’s time to check for faulty drivers.

Methods to Find Faulty Drivers in Windows 11

Let’s go step by step, starting with basic tools and moving to advanced options.

Method 1: Check Drivers in Device Manager

The Device Manager is the go-to place for identifying malfunctioning drivers.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.

  2. Look for devices with a yellow triangle warning icon.

  3. Right-click the device and select Properties.

  4. Under the General tab, check the Device status message.

👉 If Windows reports an error (like “This device cannot start”), the driver is faulty.

Method 2: Use Windows Reliability Monitor

The Reliability Monitor provides a timeline of system events, including driver failures.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + S and type Reliability Monitor.

  2. Open View reliability history.

  3. Look for critical events marked with a red “X”.

  4. Click on the event to see if a driver failure is listed.

This tool is beginner-friendly and gives a clear history of driver-related crashes.

Method 3: Analyze Events with Event Viewer

For more detailed insights, the Event Viewer is useful.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + X → select Event Viewer.

  2. Expand Windows Logs > System.

  3. Look for error events related to drivers, device failures, or kernel errors.

  4. Double-click an event for more details.

While technical, Event Viewer helps pinpoint recurring driver errors.

Method 4: Run Windows Memory Diagnostic (For RAM-Related Driver Issues)

Sometimes, driver errors mimic RAM failures. Windows Memory Diagnostic helps confirm this.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and hit Enter.

  2. Choose Restart now and check for problems.

  3. Let Windows scan your memory.

  4. Check results after reboot in Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System.

If memory is fine, the culprit is more likely a faulty driver.

Method 5: Use Driver Verifier (Advanced Tool)

Driver Verifier is a built-in tool designed to stress-test drivers and identify faulty ones.

⚠️ Warning: This is for advanced users. It may cause BSODs while testing.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + S, type verifier, and hit Enter.

  2. Select Create standard settings → Next.

  3. Choose Automatically select unsigned drivers (or manually select drivers to test).

  4. Restart your PC.

👉 If Windows crashes, the faulty driver is listed in the BSOD message or log files.

To stop Driver Verifier, run verifier /reset in Command Prompt (Admin).

Method 6: Check for Outdated Drivers via Windows Update

Windows Update often provides driver updates.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.

  2. Go to Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates.

  3. Expand the Driver updates section.

  4. Install available updates.

This can fix compatibility issues automatically.

Method 7: Use Third-Party Driver Diagnostic Tools

If you prefer automation, third-party tools can scan for faulty drivers. Popular options include:

  • Driver Booster

  • Snappy Driver Installer

  • DriverPack Solution

These tools:

  • Detect outdated or corrupted drivers.

  • Download the latest versions.

  • Provide backup and restore options.

Method 8: Analyze BSOD Crash Dumps

If you get frequent Blue Screen errors, the dump files can reveal the faulty driver.

Steps:

  1. Install WinDbg Preview from Microsoft Store.

  2. Open it and load the crash dump file from:

    C:\Windows\Minidump

  3. Run the command:

    !analyze -v

  4. Look for the driver file name causing the crash.

Method 9: Run SFC and DISM to Repair Corrupted Driver Files

Corrupted system files can also affect drivers.

Steps:

  1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).

  2. Run:

    sfc /scannow

  3. Then run:

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This repairs system files and restores driver dependencies.

Pros and Cons of Different Methods

Method Difficulty Best For
Device Manager Easy Quick checks
Reliability Monitor Easy Beginners
Event Viewer Medium Detailed logs
Driver Verifier Hard Advanced testing
Third-Party Tools Easy Automation & updates

Best Practices to Avoid Faulty Drivers in Windows 11

  • Always download drivers from official manufacturer websites.

  • Avoid random “driver update” sites — they can install malware.

  • Use Windows Update for stable drivers.

  • Keep a restore point or backup before major updates.

  • Uninstall old drivers when replacing hardware.

Final Thoughts

Finding faulty drivers in Windows 11 may seem overwhelming, but with the right tools, it’s manageable. Start with Device Manager and Reliability Monitor, then move on to Driver Verifier or crash dump analysis if needed.

Regular maintenance — like installing updates and removing outdated drivers — ensures your PC stays stable, fast, and reliable.

FAQs About Faulty Drivers in Windows 11

1. How do I know which driver is causing BSOD in Windows 11?
Check the crash dump file using WinDbg or enable Driver Verifier.

2. Can outdated drivers slow down my PC?
Yes, outdated drivers can cause performance bottlenecks and hardware issues.

3. Is it safe to use third-party driver updater tools?
Yes, if you choose trusted ones like Driver Booster or Snappy Driver Installer.

4. Should I always update drivers via Windows Update?
For most devices, yes. But for GPUs and gaming hardware, download from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel directly.

5. Can faulty drivers damage hardware?
Not directly, but they can cause crashes and overheating, which may stress components over time.

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