How to Back Up and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 11
Backing up device drivers in Windows 11 saves exact copies of the software your hardware needs to communicate with the operating system before a fresh install or system reset. Every computer part—from your graphics card to your keyboard—relies on these files to run properly.
Keeping a local backup saves you from hunting down missing manufacturer downloads on the web after a wipe. You can restore your entire collection in minutes using command-line tools or dedicated backup utilities.
Back up drivers by opening Windows Terminal as administrator and using DISM, PnPUtil, or PowerShell commands with a destination folder. Restore drivers individually or all at once through Device Manager by browsing to your saved folder, or use PnPUtil to install all drivers from the folder.
Why Back Up Your Drivers?
A clean Windows installation removes all device drivers. Backing them up beforehand allows you to restore them quickly without hunting for downloads online.
What You Need to Do First
Create a folder to store your drivers. For example:
C:\Users\YourName\Desktop\MyDrivers
Method 1Using the DISM Command
The DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management, a built-in Windows tool) command copies all current third-party drivers to a folder you choose so you can easily backup restore device drivers. Open Command Prompt as an administrator, type the export command with your chosen folder path, and press Enter to save every installed driver currently on your computer.
Type this command, replacing the placeholder with the actual path to the folder you created:
dism /online /export-driver /destination:"C:\Users\YourName\Desktop\MyDrivers"Press Enter. DISM will copy all your third-party drivers to that folder.
Method 2Using the PnPUtil Command
Open Windows Terminal as an administrator, repeating the steps from the first method.
Type this command. Replace the folder path:
pnputil /export-driver * "C:\Users\YourName\Desktop\MyDrivers"Press Enter to save the drivers.
Method 3Using PowerShell's Export-WindowsDriver
Open Windows Terminal (Admin). Confirm the tab reads PowerShell, the default command-line shell in Windows Terminal.
Type this command. Change the folder path as needed:
Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination "C:\Users\YourName\Desktop\MyDrivers"Press Enter. This saves your drivers to the folder.
How to Restore Device Drivers
Restore One Driver Using Device Manager
The Device Manager helps you backup restore device drivers by letting you update or reinstall a single piece of hardware from your backup folder. Open the tool, find the specific device that needs a new driver, right-click it to update the software, and point Windows directly to your saved backup location.
To update a device driver, first locate the specific hardware, such as a printer or webcam. Then, right-click the device name on your screen and choose the "Update driver" option from the menu that appears.
Choose Browse my computer for drivers.
Click Browse and navigate to your saved drivers folder (for example, C:\Users\YourName\Desktop\MyDrivers).
Check Include subfolders and click Next.
Windows searches your selected folder for the best driver for your hardware and installs that driver if it finds a match. This action ensures your device functions correctly by using updated or compatible hardware instructions.
Restore All Drivers Using Device Manager
Device Manager lets you backup restore device drivers by installing your entire driver collection at the same time. Right-click the computer name at the very top of the device list, select the add drivers option, and browse to your saved backup folder to reinstall everything at once.
Right-click the computer name at the very top of the list, or click 'Action' in the menu bar. Then, choose 'Add drivers'.
Click Browse and choose your drivers folder.
Check Include subfolders. Then click Next. Windows will install all drivers it finds.
Restore All Drivers Using PnPUtil Command
The PnPUtil command provides a fast way to backup restore device drivers by automatically installing every driver found inside your backup folder. Open Command Prompt as an administrator, run the add-driver command with your folder path, and Windows will install all your saved drivers without manual clicks.
Type this command. Replace the folder path:
The ` pnputil /add-driver * .inf /subdirs ` command installs all Windows device drivers found within the folder you specify and any subfolders. Following the driver installation, the computer restarts automatically if the operating system determines a restart is necessary for the new drivers to function correctly, ensuring proper hardware operation.
Protect your system before reinstalling Windows or making major modifications. The computer may restart automatically after the command runs. This automatic restart ensures the backup process completes correctly, preventing data loss.
Summary
- Always back up your device drivers before reinstalling Windows or making big changes.
- Use one of the simple commands (DISM, PnPUtil, or PowerShell) to save your drivers to a safe folder.
- You can restore drivers one by one using Device Manager. Or restore all at once using Device Manager or the PnPUtil command.
- Keeping drivers backed up saves time and avoids driver hunting later.
- Make sure your drivers are up to date after restoring for best computer performance.
Backing up and restoring device drivers in Windows 11 protects your system and saves time before you reinstall Windows or make major changes. You can use built-in tools like DISM and PnPUtil to save your drivers, and use Device Manager or command prompts to put them back whenever you need them.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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