How to stop Windows 7 automatically installing drivers

Summary

Be default, Windows 7 automatically installs drivers for the devices that are connected to the computer. However, if you do not want Windows 7 to automatically install the drivers, you can use one of the methods listed in this article.

Methods 1: Change device installation setting

Click Start, type devices and printers in the search box, and then click Devices and Printers.

All the devices connected to the computer are listed, including monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and so on.

Under Devices, right-click the icon for the computer, and then click Device installation settings.

A new window pops up asking you whether you want Windows to download driver software.

Click to select No, let me choose what to do, select Never install driver software from Windows update, and then click Save Changes.

Click Yes when you are prompted for confirmation.

Methods 2: Configure group policy settings

Note This method only applies to Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, and Windows 7 Enterprise.

Click Start, type gpedit.msc in the search box, and then press ENTER. This step opens the Local Group Policy Editor.

(Click Yes if you are prompted.)

Expand Computer Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand System, expand Device Installation, and then click Device Installation Restrictions.

In the right window, double-click Prevent installation of devices not described by other policy settings.

Click to select Enabled, and then click OK.

stopping Windows from updating NVidia drivers

Say, is there a way to stop Windows 10 from automatically updating my NVidia driver? I’d really like this to stop; the driver I like is from 2016 but quite stable.

Replies (3) 

Since you prefer to keep your Nvidia drivers and prevent Windows from updating them, there are certain steps that we can do to troubleshoot this issue. Kindly follow the methods provided by Deepika Gowda on this link and see if this will resolve your concern.

Get back to us if you need further assistance.

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I’ve posted a reply, among other persons’ replies, to the thread; namely, that I had already run the utlity he suggests, but the update for the NVidia driver never shows up. I did, however, note that there’s a setting to turn off (that was off before but on again, for some reason) that tells Windows not to update manufacturer’s drivers. I’ll monitor things and see how it goes.

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You can use the Show/Hide Update tool and use it to block the installation of the driver:

Is there an option or work around to block updates or hardware drivers that might cause problems?
Yes, Microsoft has released a KB update (KB3073930) that will let users block or hide Windows or driver updates.

After downloading, launch it, click Next, wait while it detects pending Windows Updates.

Click the Hide Updates menu.

Scroll through the list then select then select the update. Check the box next to the update then click Next to confirm changes.

How to temporarily prevent a driver update from reinstalling in Windows 10

In Windows 10, your device is always kept up-to-date with the latest features and fixes. Drivers are installed automatically so that you don’t have to select which updates are needed. In rare cases, a specific driver might temporarily cause issues that affect your device. In this situation, you can prevent the problematic driver from reinstalling automatically the next time Windows Updates are installed.

Rolling back a device driver

If a driver that you are offered is causing system crashes or instability, and if Windows was operating correctly before that change, you can use this method to roll back the driver to the previous version.

The appropriate steps to roll back a driver installation depend on the version of Windows 10 that you have installed. We recommend that you update to the latest version of Windows 10 before you try to uninstall any drivers because this may resolve the issue. You can use Windows Update to check for the latest update by selecting the Start button, then selecting Settings > Update & security > Windows Update , and then Check for updates. Or you can install the latest version of Windows by going to Download Windows 10, and then selecting Update Now.

If you aren’t sure which version of Windows 10 you have, select the Start button, and then select Settings > System > About.

Start Device Manager. To do this, in the search box on the task bar type device manager, and then select Device Manager.

Locate and right-click the device that has the problem driver installed, and then select Properties.

Select the Driver tab, and then select Roll Back Driver.

Important If you don’t have the latest version of Windows 10, we recommend that you update now. To update to the latest version, go to Download Windows 10, and select Update Now.

Start Device Manager. To do this, in the search box on the task bar type device manager, and then select Device Manager.

Locate the category of device and right-click the device that has the problem driver installed, select Properties, and then choose the Driver tab.

In the Confirm Device Uninstall dialog box, select the Delete the driver software for this device check box.

Choose your automatic updates

To prevent the driver from being reinstalled by Windows Update, use the “Show or Hide Updates” troubleshooter to hide the driver. Window Update won’t install hidden drivers or updates.

Download the troubleshooter from the Microsoft Download Center:

How to Disable Automatic Driver Downloads on Windows 10

By Bryan Clark 21 February 2017

Buried deep within the old Control Panel, Windows 10 still has the option to avoid installing drivers as part of Windows Updates. For most of us, the drivers are a welcome addition to keep things running smoothly, but the tinkerers out there like things a certain way, and updating a driver might change previously stored settings.

1. Right click the Start button and select Control Panel.

2. Make your way to System and Security.

3. Click System.

4. Click Advanced system settings from the left sidebar.

5. Select the Hardware tab.

6. Press the Device Installation Settings button.

7. Choose No, and then press the Save Changes button.

how to stop windows from downloading driver updates

I have a problem and it’s very hard to install my AMD driver correctely. when I am able to do it, after some days it goes bad again. windows update insists on installing and older driver, and since my driver is relieve version and it tries to install a crimsom (older version of amd drivers) so they don’t work well together and the computer starts malfuncioning.

installing the windows update driver, it does not install the driver, only the AMD driver manager.

I want to disable ALL driver updates for windows 10 (Home edition), disable chipset, bluetooth, bla bla bla drivers updates, while keeping windows update able to download updates for windows and software like updates for visual C++ and such.

I tried an option on system > advanced system settings > hardware that is said to disable updates for drivers, but everytime I uninstall my AMD driver to reinstall it again, before I even open the installer, windows update is already downloading the damn broken AMD driver.

I tried 2 options on the registry, one on local machine > microsoft > windows > windows update and created a dword 32bit that’s said to stop driver updates, and another in some place somewhere that says something like search order config on driver searching, put it both to 0 and 3 and nothing works.

why do Microsoft insists on installing their crappy generic drivers and not let users install the official manufacturer drivers designed specifically for the computer in question? worst is, Microsoft installs a driver for AMD HD7xxx graphics card, while mine is a R7 m265.

anyway, how do I stop windows from updating drivers? do I need windows 10 pro or something? I have licences connected to my microsoft account, i have license for W8, W8.1, W10 and 10 pro. linked with my motherboard there is also a windows 7 Home premium and ultimate versions. so I can install all this OS.