How to Control Automatic Driver Installation in Windows 10 and 11

Windows keeps replacing a working hardware driver with an automatic update. It’s maddening when you’ve installed the version that works, but you can block most replacements without stopping security updates.

What Are Automatic Driver Installation Controls?

Windows installs drivers when you connect new hardware. It may find them during device setup or through Windows Update.

Problems start when Windows picks the wrong graphics, audio, network, printer, or chipset driver. You may lose device options or get worse performance. The hardware may also crash or stop working.

Windows has three controls that matter:

Device Installation Settings works on every Windows 10 and Windows 11 edition. It limits automatic device software and content from the manufacturer.
Do not include drivers with Windows Updates blocks drivers from quality updates on Pro, Enterprise, and Education.
ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate applies the same Windows Update block through the registry. This is the right choice for Windows Home.

Device Installation Settings alone won’t block every driver package from Windows Update. For better coverage, pair it with the policy for your Windows edition.

Prerequisites

Before you change anything, make sure you have:

Windows 10 or Windows 11.
An administrator account or administrator approval.
Your Windows edition, found under Settings > System > About > Windows specifications.
A working driver ready to install by hand if new hardware stops working.
A registry backup or System Restore point before using Registry Editor.
Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education if you plan to use Local Group Policy Editor.

Warning: Blocking automatic drivers can leave new hardware without a working driver. Download key network, storage, and graphics drivers from the PC or device maker before changing these settings.

Step-by-Step Guide

Fix #1: Limit Driver Installation Through Device Installation Settings

Start here. This method takes a minute and works on every edition of Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Press Windows + R to open Run.

Enter the following command, then select OK:

sysdm.cpl

Open the Hardware tab in System Properties.

System Properties with the Hardware tab selected and the Device Installation Settings button highlighted

Select Device Installation Settings.

Select No (your device might not work as expected).

Select Save Changes. Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears.

Device Installation Settings dialog showing both Yes and No (your device might not work as expected), with No and Save Changes highlighted

Select OK to close System Properties.

Restart the PC from Start > Power > Restart.

Expected result: Windows limits automatic device software and content from the manufacturer. This setting doesn’t always block drivers from Windows Update. Use Fix #2 or Fix #3 for stronger protection.

Fix #2: Exclude Drivers Through Group Policy

Use this method on Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. Windows Home doesn’t have Local Group Policy Editor, so skip to Fix #3.

Press Windows + R.

Enter the following command, then select OK:

gpedit.msc

In Local Group Policy Editor, expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.

Open Manage updates offered from Windows Update.

Local Group Policy Editor showing Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Update, and Manage updates offered from Windows Update highlighted

Double-click Do not include drivers with Windows Updates in the right pane.

Note: On some Windows 10 builds, this policy appears inside the Windows Update folder. You won’t need to open the Manage updates offered from Windows Update subfolder.

Select Enabled.

Select Apply.

Select OK.

Do not include drivers with Windows Updates policy dialog with Enabled selected and Apply and OK highlighted

Close Local Group Policy Editor.

Open Start and type Terminal. Right-click Terminal, then select Run as administrator.

Run this command to refresh the computer policies:

gpupdate /force

Wait for “Computer Policy update has completed successfully” to appear. This message confirms that Windows applied the policy.

Restart the PC.

Expected result: Windows blocks drivers from normal quality updates. Security fixes and other quality updates will still install.

Fix #3: Exclude Drivers Through the Windows Home Registry

Use this method when Windows Home can’t find gpedit.msc. Skip unofficial Group Policy Editor packages. This registry value applies the policy directly.

Warning: A wrong registry edit can affect Windows startup or updates. Create a restore point first, or export the key using the steps below.

Press Windows + R.

Enter regedit, then select OK.

Select Yes when User Account Control asks for permission.

Paste this path into Registry Editor’s address bar, then press Enter:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Right-click the Windows key in the left pane, then select Export.

Choose a safe location. Enter a clear filename, such as Windows-policy-backup.reg, and select Save.

Check whether a WindowsUpdate key appears under Windows.

If it’s missing, right-click Windows and select New > Key.

Name the new key:

WindowsUpdate

Select the WindowsUpdate key.

Registry Editor showing HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Policies Microsoft Windows WindowsUpdate in the address bar and the WindowsUpdate policy key highlighted

Right-click an empty area in the right pane. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Choose the 32-bit option even if Windows is 64-bit.

Name the value:

ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate

Double-click ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate.

Enter 1 in Value data.

Leave Base set to Hexadecimal, then select OK.

Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value dialog showing ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate as the value name and 1 as the value data

Check the Data column for 0x00000001 (1). If you see it, the value is correct.

Close Registry Editor.

Restart the PC.

Expected result: Windows Home blocks drivers from Windows quality updates. Regular security and quality updates will still arrive.

Configuration

The right setup depends on your Windows edition and the level of control you want.

Setting	Recommended value	Applies to	What it controls
Device Installation Settings	No (your device might not work as expected)	All editions	Automatic device software and manufacturer content
Do not include drivers with Windows Updates	Enabled	Pro, Enterprise, Education	Drivers offered with Windows quality updates
`ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate`	`1`	Home	Registry equivalent of the quality-update driver exclusion

For broad protection, set Device Installation Settings to No. Then set either Group Policy or the registry value for your edition.

Don’t set both Group Policy and the registry value by hand on the same PC. They control the same Windows Update policy. Using both makes later fixes harder.

These controls don’t stop every driver source:

Dell, HP, Lenovo, and other PC maker update tools have their own settings.
NVIDIA App, AMD Software, Intel Driver & Support Assistant, and similar tools can still install drivers.
A driver you start by hand can still install.
Device Manager can still install a driver when you ask it to update.
A major Windows feature upgrade can replace drivers or change update settings.

After a feature upgrade, check Device Installation Settings and your edition’s policy again. Reinstall your preferred driver if Windows replaced it.

Tips and Troubleshooting

Fix #4: Restore a Working Driver Before Blocking Updates

These controls won’t remove a bad driver that’s already installed. Restore the working version first, then stop Windows from replacing it again.

Right-click Start, then select Device Manager.

Expand the group that contains the affected device.

Right-click the device, then select Properties.

Open the Driver tab.

A device Properties dialog with the Driver tab selected and Roll Back Driver highlighted

Select Roll Back Driver if the button is available.

Choose the reason that best fits the problem, then select Yes.

Restart Windows.

Apply Fix #1 and the Windows Update block for your edition. This makes Windows less likely to reinstall the unwanted driver.

Expected result: Windows returns to the previous driver. If Roll Back Driver is unavailable, download the working version from the PC or hardware maker. Then install it by hand.

Fix #5: Re-enable Automatic Driver Installation

Turn automatic delivery back on if new hardware has no driver. You can also use it when you want Windows Update to find a compatible driver. You can reverse each setting without changing other update controls.

Press Windows + R, enter sysdm.cpl, and select OK.

Open Hardware > Device Installation Settings.

Select Yes (recommended), then select Save Changes.

Device Installation Settings dialog used to restore automatic driver delivery, with Yes and Save Changes highlighted

On Pro, Enterprise, or Education, run gpedit.msc.

Open Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update.

Open Do not include drivers with Windows Updates.

Select Not Configured, then select Apply > OK.

Do not include drivers with Windows Updates policy dialog used to restore driver delivery, with Not Configured highlighted

On Home, open Registry Editor and go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

Double-click ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate.

Change Value data to 0, then select OK. You can also delete only the ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate value to remove the policy.

Restart Windows.

Open Settings > Windows Update, then select Check for updates.

Expected result: Windows can find and install drivers again. Give it a few minutes if the device doesn’t appear right away.

Fix #6: Check Manufacturer Update Utilities

Windows policies don’t control separate software from the hardware maker. That updater is often the culprit when a blocked driver keeps coming back.

Open the Dell, HP, Lenovo, NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, or other update tool installed on the PC.

Open its Settings, Preferences, or Updates page.

Turn off its automatic driver download or install option.

Keep notification-only checks on if you want to review drivers before installing them.

Check Settings > Apps > Installed apps if you can’t tell which tool manages drivers.

Remove the tool only if you don’t need its firmware, test, or support options. I’d skip removal when the app also handles BIOS or firmware updates.

Expected result: The maker’s update tool stops bypassing the Windows Update driver policy. The option’s name varies by PC and hardware brand.

Fix #7: Verify the Policy After a Feature Upgrade

A major Windows feature upgrade can install a compatible driver or change update settings. Check the controls now so you don’t have to repeat the repair later.

Press Windows + R, enter sysdm.cpl, and check that Device Installation Settings still shows No (your device might not work as expected).

On Pro, Enterprise, or Education, open gpedit.msc. Check that Do not include drivers with Windows Updates remains Enabled.

On Home, open Registry Editor. Check that ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate still has data 0x00000001 (1).

Open Device Manager. Check the device’s Driver tab for its maker, date, and version.

Reinstall your preferred driver if the feature upgrade replaced it.

Expected result: Both driver controls remain active after the upgrade.

Wrapping Up

Step	Action	Applies To
Fix #1	Set Device Installation Settings to No	Every Windows 10 and 11 edition
Fix #2	Enable the Windows Update driver-exclusion policy	Pro, Enterprise, Education
Fix #3	Set `ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate` to `1`	Home
Fix #5	Reverse the applicable settings	Every edition

Fix #1 plus your edition’s Windows Update policy is usually the best setup. It limits driver replacements while leaving security updates alone.

If drivers still change, check the PC maker’s update tool or graphics software first. If crashes continue with a known-good driver, check the hardware and scan for malware.

You can also learn more about fixing USB device issues or updating TPM firmware on our website.

For more information on Windows Update policies, visit Microsoft’s documentation on Windows Update for Business or MDM policy for Windows Update.

Additionally, you can refer to The Windows Club’s guide on blocking driver updates or NinjaOne’s blog on including drivers with Windows updates for more detailed information.