Stopping Windows Update from downgrading drivers

You install a fresh driver from your hardware vendor, everything runs smoothly, and then a few days later Windows Update quietly swaps it back for an older build. Suddenly your device misbehaves again. It's a frustrating loop, and the fix isn't to switch off updates entirely, which would leave you missing important security patches. Instead you can stop Windows from replacing that one driver while keeping the rest of your updates flowing. Here's how to hide the unwanted driver, adjust the right settings, and lock in the version you actually want.

1. 1

   Confirm Windows Update is the culprit

   Before changing anything, make sure updates are really causing the downgrade. Open Settings, go to Windows Update, and click Update history. Expand Driver Updates and look for the device that keeps reverting. If you see a driver for it listed around the time your problem returned, Windows Update installed it. Note the date and the driver name. Knowing exactly which entry is being pushed helps you target it in later steps instead of guessing, and it confirms you're solving the right problem rather than chasing an unrelated hardware fault.

2. 2

   Turn off driver delivery for third-party devices

   Windows can be told to stop fetching drivers from Windows Update for devices, though the setting's location varies by build. Search for 'Change device installation settings,' and if the option appears, choose No to stop automatically downloading manufacturer apps and custom icons, which reduces some driver pushes. On systems where that isn't enough, the stronger controls come later through hiding the update or editing policy. This step alone won't always hold, so treat it as a first layer rather than a complete fix, and move on if the downgrade continues.

3. 3

   Reinstall the driver version you actually want

   If Windows already downgraded you, put the good driver back first. Right-click the Start button, open Device Manager, right-click the device, and choose Properties. On the Driver tab, try Roll Back Driver if it's available, which returns the previous version instantly. If that button is greyed out, reinstall your preferred driver from the vendor's official support package. Confirm the Driver Version on that tab matches the build you want. Getting the correct version in place now matters, because the next step hides updates based on what's currently installed.

4. 4

   Hide the unwanted driver with wushowhide

   Microsoft's 'Show or hide updates' troubleshooter, known as wushowhide, lets you block a specific pending update. Download the tool from Microsoft's official support resources, then run it. Choose 'Hide updates,' and it lists updates Windows wants to install, including drivers. Tick the driver for your problem device and confirm. Windows will no longer offer or install that hidden update. If you ever want it back, rerun the tool and pick 'Show hidden updates.' This is the most reliable per-update block for home editions of Windows that lack Group Policy.

5. 5

   Block driver updates in quality updates via policy

   On Windows Pro and higher, you can stop drivers riding in with quality updates. Press Windows+R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. Navigate to Computer Configuration, then Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Update, and Manage updates offered from Windows Update. Open 'Do not include drivers with Windows Updates,' set it to Enabled, and click OK. This maps to the ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate setting and keeps Windows from bundling driver changes into your regular monthly updates, while still letting security and feature updates install normally.

6. 6

   Apply the same block through the registry if needed

   Home edition lacks gpedit, but you can set the same policy directly in the registry. Create a restore point first, since a wrong edit here can affect how the whole system behaves. Open Registry Editor and navigate to the WindowsUpdate policy key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows. Create the WindowsUpdate key if it's missing, then add a DWORD value named ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate and set it to 1. Restart the PC so the change takes effect. Editing the registry carries real risk, so double-check every name and value before saving, and lean on that restore point if anything behaves oddly afterward.

7. 7

   Verify the block held after the next update

   The real test comes at the next update cycle. Open Settings, go to Windows Update, and click Check for updates to trigger one. Once it finishes and any reboot completes, return to Device Manager, open your device's Properties, and check the Driver tab. If the version still matches the one you chose, the block is working. Also review Update history to confirm the unwanted driver no longer appears. If it slipped back in, revisit the wushowhide step, since a hide can occasionally need reapplying after certain feature updates.