How to Turn On or off Driver Updates with Windows Update in Windows 11

What Are Driver Updates?

Drivers are the small pieces of software that let your computer talk to devices such as printers, graphics cards and keyboards. Windows Update 🔃 often includes newer drivers to keep those devices working properly. Most of the time that is helpful. Occasionally a new driver causes crashes, display problems or a device that stops working, and that is when you may want to stop Windows from installing 💿 them on its own.

For more background, see Learn more about driver updates from Microsoft Support.

Before You Start

• You need to be signed in as an administrator on your PC to make these changes. A standard account will either not open the tools below or will not be able to save the change.
• Even if you turn off driver updates, some device drivers might still update automatically. Treat this setting as a strong block on Windows Update 🔃 drivers, not a guarantee. Drivers installed by a manufacturer’s own update tool are not controlled by it.
• Check which edition you have before you start. The Local Group Policy Editor is only included in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education. If you are on Home, use the registry method later in this tutorial instead.

Option 1Use Local Group Policy Editor (🪟 Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise/Education)

You can manage Windows 11 driver updates with the Local Group Policy Editor if you have the Pro, Enterprise or Education edition. This built-in tool stops Windows from replacing your hardware drivers with updates from Microsoft, so you decide which device software gets installed. On Windows 11 Home the editor is not available, so the Run command in step 2 will return an error. Skip to the registry method in that case.

One thing to watch: the policy is worded as a negative. Do not include drivers with Windows Updates set to Enabled means driver updates are off. Set to Not Configured or Disabled, driver updates are on.

1. Press Win+R on your keyboard to open the Run box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter. The Local Group Policy Editor window opens. If you get a “cannot find” error, you are probably on Windows 11 Home.
3. In the left panel, expand the folders and go to:
   
   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update
   
   The policy list for that folder appears in the right panel.
4. On the right, find and double-click Do not include drivers with Windows Updates. A settings window opens with the options Not Configured, Enabled and Disabled.
5. To enable driver updates (the default), select Not Configured or Disabled, then click OK. Choose Not Configured if you want to put the policy back exactly as it was before you touched it.
6. To disable driver updates, select Enabled, then click OK. The policy now shows as Enabled in the list.
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.

The change normally takes effect without a restart. If Windows still offers drivers right afterwards, restart the 🔄 PC or sign out and back in. To undo the change, repeat the steps and set the policy back to Not Configured.

Option 2Use Registry Editor (Works on All 🪟 Windows 11 Editions)

This method is a bit more detailed, but it works on Windows 11 Home as well as Pro, Enterprise and Education. It makes the same kind of change as the Group Policy method, just by editing the registry directly. You need to be signed in as an administrator.

A wrong change can cause problems with Windows or your apps. Please back up your registry before making changes. Learn how to back up your registry.

Follow the steps below in order and enter each value exactly as shown. If you need to undo the change later, reverse it the same way you made it, or restore your registry backup. Restart your 🔄 PC afterwards if Windows keeps offering drivers.

To Turn ON Driver Updates (Default)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate"=-

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching]
"SearchOrderConfig"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UpdatePolicy\PolicyState]
"ExcludeWUDrivers"=dword:00000000

To Turn OFF Driver Updates

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching]
"SearchOrderConfig"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UpdatePolicy\PolicyState]
"ExcludeWUDrivers"=dword:00000001

How to Edit the Registry

1. Press Win+R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the keys shown in the code above using the left sidebar.
3. Change or create the values as shown. To create a new value, right-click in the right pane, choose New, then DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Double-click the value to change its data.
5. Close Registry Editor and restart your 🔄 computer for changes to take effect.

Summary

• By default, Windows 11 updates drivers with Windows Updates to keep your devices working well.
• You can turn off automatic driver updates using Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor.
• Group Policy Editor is easier but only on certain Windows editions.
• Registry Editor works on all editions but needs careful handling.
• Administrator permission is required to make these changes.
• Turning off driver updates doesn’t always stop all driver updates entirely.

Windows 11 driver updates happen automatically alongside regular system patches to keep your hardware running smoothly, but you can turn them off if they cause problems. You can block these automatic downloads using either the Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor, depending on which edition of Windows 11 is installed on your computer.