How to stop Windows 10 from automatically updating Drivers?

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For the best performance and stability, you should always keep your PC drives updated. Without drivers or incorrect drivers may slow down the performance of your PC. Device drivers play an important role in Windows operating systems. It is always recommended to install the latest and correct drivers for your Windows 10 PC to run it smoothly.

Since most PC users never bother about drivers or do not know how to update device drivers manually, Microsoft automatically downloads device drivers via Windows Update and installs them on your Windows 10 computer or laptop.

With the default configuration, Windows 10 automatically downloads and installs device drivers and device driver updates. The automatic update feature maintains your Windows 10 at the top-notch. Still, for any reason, if you want to stop Windows 10 from automatically installing device drivers, this post will help you to do the same. The reasons may be many, e.g.; automatic updates make your PC unstable.

You can guide your Windows 10, not to install drivers automatically using Group Policy or Registry or Settings app.  Through all these options, Settings app, Group Policy, and Registry, you can disable automatic driver updates in Windows 10.

Disable automatic driver updates via Group Policy in Windows 10

Group Policy is the best option to disable the automatic driver update. However, it is not a part of the Windows 10 Home edition. If you want to disable automatic driver update on Windows 10 Home Edition, you must first enable the Group Policy Editor.

Step 1. Start the Local Group Policy Editor by typing its name in the Start/taskbar search field and then clicking the Edit group policy from the search results.

Alternatively, press Windows Logo + R keys simultaneously and type gpedit.msc in the Run command box. Press Enter from the keyboard to run it.

Step 2. In the Local Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following:-

Computer configuration > Administrative templates > Windows components > Windows Update

Step 3. On the right side, double-click on the entry Windows Update to open it.

Step 4. Look for the policy “Do not include drivers with Windows Updates” and double-click on the policy to open its settings.

Step 5. Select the Enabled option. Click the Apply and then the OK button.

Restart your PC to take effect the changes.

In case you want to revert the change, that means you want to automatically update drivers through Windows Update; on step 5, select the option “Not Configured” or “Disabled.”

Disable automatic driver updates via Registry on Windows 10

Since you will edit the Windows Registry file, we recommend you create a system restore point. In case something goes wrong, you can revert your PC to its previous working state using a system restore point.

Step 1. Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Start/taskbar search field and then click the Registry Editor from the available search results.

Alternatively, press Windows Logo + R keys to open the Run command box. Type regedit and hit Enter from the keyboard to open the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Navigate to the following registry key:-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Step 3. Right-click on the Windows key, select New and then click Key. Name the new key as WindowsUpdate.

Step 4. Select the Windows Update key from the left side. On the right side, right-click on an empty space, select New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value. Rename the newly created DWORD (32-bit) as ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate.

Step 5. Double-click on ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate and then change its Value data from 0 to 1 to turn off automatic driver updates in Windows 10. To enable automatic driver updates, set the value back to 0 or delete ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate.

Disable automatic driver updates using the Setting app in Windows 10

This is the best way to disable automatic updates of drivers through Windows Update if you are running Windows 10 Home Edition or do not want to edit the registry file.

Step 1. Press Windows Logo + I hotkeys to open the Settings app in Windows 10.

Step 2. Under the Settings window, click the System category.

Step 3. Scroll down from the left side menus under System and click “About.”

Step 4. Scroll down from the right-side pane and click the link “Advanced system settings.”

Step 5. Under the “System Properties” window that opens, click the Hardware tab, and then click on the “Device Installation Settings” button.

Step 6. Select the radio button “No (your device might not work as expected)” in the “Device installation settings” window. Finally, click the “Save Changes” button. From now, Windows Update will stop downloading the driver’s software for your Windows 10 computer or laptop.

Since you have stopped the driver’s update through Windows Update, you have to manually update the drivers or use a third-party freeware application like Double Driver or DriverBackup to automate the driver’s update process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, keeping device drivers updated is crucial for the smooth functioning of your Windows 10 computer or laptop. However, some users may prefer to disable automatic driver updates for various reasons, such as system instability. This post has outlined three methods to disable automatic driver updates in Windows 10: using Group Policy, Registry, or the Settings app. While Group Policy and Registry editing are not recommended for novice users, the Settings app offers a straightforward and user-friendly option to turn off automatic driver updates. Once automatic updates are disabled; users must manually update their drivers or use third-party software to automate the process. Regardless of the chosen method, it is essential to keep device drivers updated to ensure the best performance and stability of your Windows 10 PC.

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