How to block automatic driver updates in Windows 10

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Sometimes the new is the enemy of the good. If everything works stably, then you can turn off automatic driver updates to avoid unnecessary problems.

Windows 10 can download and install driver updates by itself. In general, the function is useful, but in some cases it causes problems. Sometimes new drivers cause errors, hardware malfunctions, and other troubles.

If earlier everything was fine with you, and then suddenly the sound disappeared, Bluetooth began to fall off or Wi-Fi disappeared, then it is quite possible that the reason lies in an unsuccessful driver update. In this case, you need to roll back to the previous version and prevent the system from automatically updating the drivers for this component.

Here's how to do it.

1. Open Device Manager and find the device that is malfunctioning.

   

2. Right-click on it and choose Properties from the menu.
3. In the device properties window, go to the Details tab.

4. Select "Equipment ID" from the drop-down list.

   

5. Right-click on any line and select first the "Select All" command, and then - "Copy".
6. Open Notepad and save the copied values. They will be useful to us in the next steps.

7. Press the Win + R keys and then type regedit in the box.

   

8. In the Registry Editor window, go to the following address. If you do not have the required section, then create it.

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Policies / Microsoft / Windows / DeviceInstall / Restrictions / DenyDeviceIDs

9. Now right-click in the right pane and create a new key using New → String Parameter.

   

10. Give a name to the new parameter - "1". Give it a value equal to the first line copied from the "Equipment ID" field (see point 4).

    

11. Create another string parameter in this section and name it "2". Its value must be equal to the second line from the "Equipment ID" field.

12. Create as many string parameters as there are hardware identifiers for the given device. Their names must correspond to the arithmetic series, that is, equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on.

    

13. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.

As a result of the actions performed, Windows will no longer search for and install the most recent driver versions for the hardware you have selected. If necessary, you can always restore everything as it was, simply by deleting the registry keys you created.