How to Stop Automatic Driver Updates on Windows 11‍

One of the most widely used operating systems globally is Microsoft Windows. Its accessibility to automatic driver updates, which enable users to uninstall outdated drivers and reinstall new ones, is one of the factors contributing to its popularity.

Windows 10 and 11 can download and install device driver updates automatically. For example, when you install or reinstall Windows, device drivers are automatically installed in the background with no user interaction. Similarly, device driver updates are verified and deployed at regular intervals. Else you can manually download updates from the website of the manufacturer. If you lack time and basic technical skills you may use an automatic free driver updater tool to simplify the process of driver updates. 

Although automated driver updates help maintain the top performance of your hardware devices, Windows 11 may install drivers that have defects, which may create compatibility issues. Some of the devices might function well with older version drivers. In such cases, automatic updates can pause the uninterrupted functioning of your hardware. 

Therefore, if in case you don’t wish to automatically update device drivers and prefer to do it yourself, you can stop automatic driver updates in Windows 11. Some users faced troubles while trying to pause automatic downloads, If you are also one of them, don’t worry we got it covered for you. 

This article will demonstrate how to turn off automatic driver updates in Windows 11. So without any further delay let’s begin. 

3 Methods To Turn Off Automatic Driver Updates In Windows 11

If a driver isn't installed properly, it may result in problems like frequent crashes or even hardware damage. Hence, it is crucial to turn off automatic updates in such circumstances.

Here are some of the quick and easy methods that you may use in order to turn off automatic driver updates in Windows 11 devices. Feel free to use any one of the following methods as per your convenience. 

Method 1: Use System Properties to Turn Off Automatic Driver Updates 

The simplest way to stop Windows 11 from downloading automatic driver updates is through Settings. Hence, the first technique in this guide to turn off the unnecessary automatic driver updates on your Windows 11 is to use the System Properties. 

To disable automatic driver updates on your Windows 11 device using the system properties apply the underlying steps. In Windows 11, go to System Properties and disable automatic driver updates.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Now enter system.cpl to launch the System Properties dialog. 

Step 2: In the System Properties dialog, Navigate to the Hardware tab on top.

Step 3: Then, select the button Device Installation Settings.

Step 4: In the next window select No to disable automatic updates. If in the future you need to re-enable automatic driver updates, select the Yes (recommended) option.

Make sure you apply the changes to update the default settings of automatic driver updates. That’s it! 

Method 2: Turn Off Driver Updates through Group Policy Editor

In Windows 10/11, you can possibly use the Registry to start or stop automatic driver updates.

However, the Group Policy Editor is not accessible in the Windows 11 Home version. 

Note: If you have the Home version, use other methods to deactivate the automatic driver updates. 

Follow the instructions given below to use the group policy editor if you are using the Home version.

Step 1: Launch the Group Policy Editor by searching for it in the Search bar. 

Step 2: Open the Group Policy Editor and head to the following location. 

• Expand Computer Configuration and then Administrative Templates. 
• Further Windows Components and  Windows Update
• Now click on Manage Windows Update updates.
• Here under Settings select the option Do not include drivers with Windows Updates. 

Step 4: In the End, Click the Apply button after selecting the Enable option. 

And it’s done.

Method 3: Use Registry to Disable Automatic driver updates

If you didn't find the above methods useful try using the Registry on your Windows 11 to disable automatic driver updates. Although the first method i.e. via System Properties is the simplest and quickest approach to deactivate automatic driver updates If you don't want to modify settings, use Windows Registry for the same. 

Follow the instructions given below to use the Windows Registry in order to stop automatic driver updates.

Step 1: In the search bar, type Registry Editor and press Enter key on your keyboard.

Step 2: Now, As the security prompt displays, Select the Yes button.

Step 3: Then, in your Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching

Step 4: From the left panel, choose Driver Searching. On the right side locate and Double-click SearchOrderConfig.

Step 5: Then, update the default value of 1 to 0. Now click on the OK button.

Step 6: Exit the Editor and Reboot your computer once to bring the modifications into action.

Closing Lines: 

So that’s all from our side. Hopefully, the aforementioned methods proved to be useful in order to stop Automatic driver updates on Windows 11. Also check out this blog on resetting audio setting in Windows.