Stop Windows from installing drivers for specific devices

Windows may install drivers for select devices, say the graphics card, under certain circumstances. This happens by default for instance when the device is setup, but may also happen when Microsoft pushes driver updates through Windows Updates.
We published a tutorial -- How to disable driver updates from Windows Update -- previously that highlights three methods to block Microsoft from installing device drivers through Windows Update.
If you need to reinforce the protection, for instance because a Windows Update reset the settings you configured using the previous guide, then you may find this tutorial particularly useful.
It may also be useful if you don't mind the driver installation for some devices, but need to block it for others. If you use a custom color profile for your video card for instance, you may not want Microsoft driver updates for the video card to erase that each time that happens.
Block driver installations for specific devices
The following method requires access to the Group Policy Editor on Windows. This is reserved to professional versions of Windows. Also, the policy works on all versions of Windows from Windows Vista to Windows 10.
The process will block any driver installation or update for the specified devices, and it has priority over any other setting related to the installation of device drivers on Windows.
Preparation
You need to make sure that the desired driver is installed. If that is the case, great, head over to the second step of the process.
If the Windows driver is installed currently do the following:
- Download the device driver that you want to install.
- Disconnect the PC from the Internet. You may disconnect the Ethernet cable, disable WiFi, or use a program like Net Disabler or Turn Internet Off.
- Open the Windows Device Manager:
- Tap on the Windows-key on the keyboard, type devmgmt.msc, and hit the Enter-key.
- Locate the device in the device listing, right-click on it, and select properties from the context menu.
- Switch to the Drivers tab.
- The next step depends on the Windows version. On Windows 7, you'd select uninstall to uninstall the driver. On Windows 10, you can only select "uninstall device" instead.
- Install the driver that you want used on the Windows machine after the Windows driver has been removed.
Look up the hardware ID
- You need to launch the Device Manager again if it is closed already. Instructions on how to do so are found under 3 above.
- Locate the device again, and select Properties from the context menu.
- Switch to the details tab afterwards.
- Select Hardware IDs from the menu at the top.
- Right-click on the ID, and select Copy from the context menu to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.
Block Driver installations on Windows for that particular device
Here is how you block the installation of drivers for specific devices based on the device's hardware ID:
- Tap on the Windows-key, type gpedit.msc, and hit the Enter-key. This opens the Group Policy Editor on Windows.
- Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > Device Installation Restrictions.
- Double-click on "Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device IDs".
- Switch the status of the preference to enabled.
- Click on the show button afterwards.
- Add hardware IDs for the devices that you don't want Windows to update under value (in each row one device). You can add plug and play hardware IDs or compatible IDs. Note that one hardware ID is enough, you don't need to add all that are listed.
- Click ok once you are done.
Policy Description:
This policy setting allows you to specify a list of Plug and Play hardware IDs and compatible IDs for devices that Windows is prevented from installing. This policy setting takes precedence over any other policy setting that allows Windows to install a device.
If you enable this policy setting, Windows is prevented from installing a device whose hardware ID or compatible ID appears in the list you create. If you enable this policy setting on a remote desktop server, the policy setting affects redirection of the specified devices from a remote desktop client to the remote desktop server.
If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, devices can be installed and updated as allowed or prevented by other policy settings.
Further information is provided by Microsoft on the company's Technet website.
Closing Words
You can reconnect the device to the Internet at this stage. Windows should from now on ignore the device when it comes to driver updates.
Note that this prevents the installation of driver updates from any source, and that you need to repeat the process above to update drivers.
Resources


What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277