By default, Windows 11 receives all types of updates automatically. These include security patches and driver updates for your PC's hardware and software components. This makes it easy to install any hardware on the computer, but driver updates can sometimes install corrupted versions. if you want Update and install drivers manuallyYou can disable automatic updates on Windows 11 and continue to enjoy regular Windows updates.
What happens if you disable automatic driver updates?
You have to manually search for drivers for existing and new hardware components to install on your Windows 11 PC. This means you'll need to determine how to access the hardware's details from Device Manager or another third-party tool (like Speccy or CPU-Z). Furthermore, you need to consider the following pros and cons if you disable automatic driver updates on your Windows 11 PC.
professional:
- The manufacturer of the hardware component tests the functionality of the drivers and releases them through their websites' support pages or forums.
- There will be less headache if you share your computer with family or others who apply Windows updates without checking the list of things that need updating.
- You can choose older and more stable drivers (especially for graphics) instead of trying new and unstable drivers.
Shortcoming:
- Many hardware and software components will run older versions of drivers and they may become incompatible with Windows Update over time.
- Maintaining driver updates will become a difficult task.
- Some major components of the computer may not work until you apply driver updates to match and work with the latest Windows build.
After weighing these things, you can proceed to choose one of three ways to do this.
Use the Settings app to disable automatic driver updates
The Settings app can prevent Windows 11 from downloading automatic driver updates so that Windows can't install any new ones on your PC. Here's how to do this using an account with administrator privileges.
1. Press Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open Adjustment Application.
2. choose System in the left sidebar and About this From the right pane.
3. Click advanced System Settings Add.
4. From system properties Go to the window that opens Hardware tab and click device installation settings button.
5. choose No (your device may not work as expected) From the pop-up window, hit More save Changes button.
Next, you can hit Ok or close icon to close system properties window.
Use Group Policy Editor to disable automatic driver updates
The Group Policy Editor offers another way to stop automatic driver updates. However, PCs with Windows 11 Home edition do not provide access to the Group Policy Editor. Here are the steps for other Windows 11 version PCs.
1. Squeeze Windows + S key To open Windows Search, type gpedit.mscand hit enter To open the Group Policy Editor.
2. when one user account Control A prompt asking for permission appears, click Yes button. From the left sidebar, go to this folder path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update
3. From the right pane, right-click Do not include drivers with Windows Update choose more edit From the contextual menu.
4. choose Active option, hit apply In the lower-right corner, press More Ok To close the pop-up window.
After that, Windows Update will not bring device drivers to your computer. If you want to undo these changes, follow the procedure until step three, and select Not configured.
Use Registry Editor to Disable Automatic Driver Updates
If you're comfortable tinkering with the Registry Editor, we recommend backing up the registry first. Then, follow these steps:
1. Press Windows + R To open the Run dialog box, type regeditand hit enter To open the Registry Editor.
2. when one user account Control A prompt asking for permission appears, click Yes button. Browse to the following path in the left sidebar of the Registry Editor:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching
3. double click SearchOrderConfig Enter DWORD key and value 0 In value data box. Click Ok button on and off registry Editor window.
Restart your computer to apply the changes. To revert this modification, follow the procedure and enter value 1 in step 3 value data box.
More manual, no automatic
While Windows 11's automatic driver updates are a boon, sometimes it can make things difficult. Especially, if you use a variety of old and new components or peripherals with your PC. However, this increases the burden of manually finding and adding the latest/stable drivers for the relevant components on your computer. For a stable and smoothly running computer, such an effort would be completely worthwhile.
