Enable or Disable Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10  

Page 1 of 33 12311 ... LastLast
    Enable or Disable Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10

    Enable or Disable Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10

    How to Enable or Disable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Windows Update & Activation
    01 Nov 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Enable or Disable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10


    By default, Windows 10 will automatically download and install drivers in Windows Update when they are available.

    Starting with Windows 10 build 14328, there's a new policy included that you can use to enable or disable to include drivers with Windows updates. This can be handy if you prefer to download and install your drivers from the device manufacturer instead.

    Starting with Windows 10 build 15002, Microsoft has added an option in Settings that will now allow you to turn on or off including driver updates when you update Windows. This option was removed in Windows 10 build 15019.

    Update: Microsoft updates Driver Shiproom Schedule for 2020 in Windows 10

    Microsoft is continuing to look at ways to improve the update experience on Windows 10 PCs. As part of this effort, Microsoft is conducting an experiment related to how they deliver driver updates through Windows Update. During this experiment, drivers categorized as “optional” will not be automatically downloaded and installed on Windows Insider’s PCs running Build 19536 and newer. To install any new optional drivers available for a PC that’s involved in this experiment (including drivers for new devices that might get plugged in to a PC), Insiders can go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates and manually download these drivers. This experiment will be running now through March 5th, 2020.

    UPDATE 2/19/2020: Windows 10 driver updates will now be manual Optional Updates

    Beginning with the August 2020 security update for Windows 10, when optional updates are detected by your device, they will be displayed on a new page under Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates. That means you no longer need to utilize Device Manager to search for updated drivers for specific devices.

    This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable including driver updates in Windows Update in Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

    This does not apply to the Windows 10 Home edition.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to enable or disable including driver updates in Windows Update.



    Contents

    • Option One: To Enable or Disable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update using Group Policy
    • Option Two: To Enable or Disable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update using a REG file






    OPTION ONE

    To Enable or Disable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update using Group Policy


    If this option doesn't work for you, then use Option Two below instead.


    1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

    Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Update

    Enable or Disable Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10-disable_drivers_in_windows_update_gpedit-1.png

    3 In the right pane of Windows Update in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Do not include drivers with Windows Updates policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

    4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


    5 To Enable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update

    A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Not Configured is the default setting.


    6 To Disable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update

    A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Enable or Disable Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10-driver_updates_gpedit-2.jpg

    7 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    To Enable or Disable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update using a REG file


    This option is more thorough than Option One.

    The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD values in the registry keys below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Update
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Update
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate (same as option 1)

    ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate DWORD

    0 = Enable
    1 = Disable

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Update\ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate

    value DWORD

    0 = Enable
    1 = Disable


    1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


    2 To Enable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Enable_Drivers_in_Windows_Update.reg

    Download


    3 To Disable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Disable_Drivers_in_Windows_Update.reg

    Download

    4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7 Restart the computer to apply.

    8 If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 2,666
    Windows 11 21H2 (22000.593)
       #1

    Awesome. A lot easier to handle via GP than sifting through the strings panel, even with Search.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #2

    I like the "Do not include drivers with Windows updates" option there! Too often the 10 upgrade or clean install will simply grab the first available but not the actual working driver sets. Had to look up 8.1 64bit drivers from support sites to see working results on some older expansion cards here. But this will also make for selective updates as well as not seeing any like a build change if not opting for the Slow ring as far as the Insider builds go.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 1
    Windows 10
       #3

    Fantastic guides Thank you so much .
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 301
    Windows 10 Enterprise x64 (Insider)
       #4

    Does anyone happen to know if this also precludes updating a driver manually via Device Manager (not talking here of using your own drivers), or is this strictly for the formal Windows Update only? It would be nice if it didn't affect DM, but it probably taps the same source, so it's hard to know.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hello rseiler, :)

    This policy will only affect having drivers available in Windows Update.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 301
    Windows 10 Enterprise x64 (Insider)
       #6

    Good to hear, thanks!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #7

    I have an even more interesting problem to work out on the latest 7 to 10 upgrade being seen. On a sibling's mini tower similar to the second test pc here but with an older Asus board forget even getting online! The original ISP was Netzero dial-up and even the usb WiFi adapter couldn't be made to work before the upgrade went on 7 while that is used for the 7 side on the second pc.

    The onboard Lan is out as well. It the board won't take a Cat 5 RJ-45 size plug. Will now have to use a ethernet to usb adapter in a couple to see about getting the 10 upgrade activated as well as manually tracking down the possible 8.1 x64 driver sets for onboard sound, chipset, etc. When no 10 drivers are to be found that is the closest alternative to use.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 11
    Windows 7
       #8

    Hi Brink, I found this perhaps the real & only solution to blocking unwanted driver updates onto an upgraded Win10 from Win7 or 8. I spent a full week trying the stop the forced nVidia GeForce G210M driver download/install which turn the screen blank - thus making any attempt to remove the driver update impossible. The Win10 Home edition does not have "gpedit.msc' capability to block driver installation based on hardware Id. And changing HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching to "0" does NOT block driver download/install either. I spent over 8 hours to test and verify the exact moment when the new G210M driver (actually 2 with different dates) were downloaded and crashed the display. That supposed to work as you pointed out in another thread <https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/15989-device-driver-automatic-installation-turn-off-windows-10-a.html> and many others.

    I set up my other laptop (Win10 Home) with only WiFi connection and turn on "metered connection" to hold off all waiting downloads. But, I cannot get rid of the G210M drivers and allow others to go through. The "Hide or Show Updates" troubleshooter does not work either.

    I am going to test your solution, and would appreciate some explanation on what it does to Registry. Many users don't know what Registry is, and can be dangerous if not done correctly. I also checked my Win10 Pro registry. There is no ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate key. I need to understand this wonderful solution.

    PS. Using old cars as analogy to older Windows, drivers are like internal gears and moving parts. Now Microsoft is forcing all older gears and moving parts to fit Win10 power train. What's the point, if the updated drivers break Win 10? And what Microsoft will gain from migrating older Windows only to crash working PCs - even it is free until 7/29/2016? No one would buy unfit parts to fix cars. I fortunately made backup and can recover.

    Thanks!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hello BlindUpgrader, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    If you haven't already, you should be able to use OPTION ONE below to disable automatic updates to be able to hide the driver for now. I find setting you Internet connection to be metered in step 1 works best.

    Windows Updates - Hide or Show in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
    Last edited by Brink; 24 Jul 2016 at 22:00. Reason: Correction
      My Computers


 

Tutorial Categories

Enable or Disable Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:26.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums