If a driver won’t install in Windows 10, the computer usually gives clues (errors, codes, or simply “driver not found”), and most installation failures stem from compatibility, security settings, corruption, or interference. This article addresses Driver installation doesn’t work in Windows 10 by listing common causes and giving step‑by‑step fixes so you can get devices running again.
You’ll learn 14 specific reasons why driver installation can fail and practical instructions (commands, menus, and safe procedures) to resolve each one.
Key Takeaway
Most driver installation failures are fixed by using the correct (Windows 10 and architecture-specific) driver, running the installer as an administrator, temporarily disabling driver signature enforcement or interfering security software, and cleaning/removing conflicting drivers with Device Manager and pnputil before reinstalling.
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| 1. Wrong driver version (32-bit vs 64-bit) or OS mismatch | Download the exact Windows 10 and architecture-specific driver from the vendor and install it. |
| 2. Missing or pending Windows Updates | Install all Windows updates, then reboot and retry the driver install. |
| 3. Driver signature enforcement blocks unsigned drivers | Use Advanced Startup to disable driver signature enforcement temporarily or enable test signing. |
| 4. Corrupted driver package or installer | Re-download driver, extract full package, or use vendor’s official installer. |
| 5. Conflicting existing drivers | Uninstall old/hidden drivers in Device Manager or use pnputil to remove duplicates. |
| 6. Device not detected or hardware problem | Check cables/ports, test on another computer, and confirm device is powered. |
| 7. Plug and Play service or related services stopped | Start/restart Plug and Play and Windows Installer via services.msc. |
| 8. Antivirus or security software blocking installer | Temporarily disable real-time protection and retry the install. |
| 9. Insufficient permissions or UAC restrictions | Right-click installer and choose Run as administrator. |
| 10. Corrupt system files interfering with installation | Run sfc /scannow and DISM repair commands. |
| 11. Secure Boot or Group Policy prevents driver install | Disable Secure Boot in UEFI or adjust Group Policy for driver installation. |
| 12. Driver store corruption / driver cache issues | Use pnputil to list/remove problem drivers and clear the driver store. |
| 13. Installer requires different method (INF vs setup) | Manually install via Device Manager > Update driver > Browse my computer and point to INF. |
| 14. Outdated BIOS/firmware preventing device compatibility | Update motherboard/UEFI firmware following vendor instructions (carefully). |
Detailed Fixes for “Driver installation doesn’t work in Windows 10”
1. Wrong driver version (32-bit vs 64-bit) or OS mismatch
Why it causes the problem:
Windows drivers are compiled for specific OS versions and CPU architectures. A 32-bit driver will not work on 64-bit Windows 10; a driver for Windows 7 may be incompatible.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Settings > System > About and check System type to see whether your Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit.
- Visit the device manufacturer’s official support/download page.
- Select the driver specifically labeled for Windows 10 and your architecture (x86/x64).
- Download the driver package (prefer the WHQL-signed installer if available).
- Run the installer as administrator (right-click > Run as administrator) or install manually via Device Manager if only an .inf file is supplied.
Note: Avoid third-party driver sites; always use vendor or OEM repositories.
2. Missing or pending Windows Updates
Why it causes the problem:
Some drivers rely on updated Windows components or newer driver frameworks that arrive through Windows Update.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates and install all available updates.
- Reboot computer after updates complete.
- Retry the driver installation.
Tip: Also check Optional updates > Driver updates inside Windows Update for vendor-provided drivers.
3. Driver signature enforcement blocks unsigned drivers
Why it causes the problem:
64-bit Windows enforces driver signatures by default; unsigned drivers are blocked for security reasons.
Step-by-step solution (temporary disable):
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
- After restart choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Press 7 or F7 to Disable driver signature enforcement.
- Install the unsigned driver (installation is temporary until next reboot).
Alternative (test signing—not recommended long term):
- Open Command Prompt (Admin): Windows key, type cmd, right-click and Run as administrator.
- Run: bcdedit /set testsigning on
- Reboot. Install driver. To revert run bcdedit /set testsigning off and reboot.
Warning: Only use these methods when you trust the driver source.
4. Corrupted driver package or installer
Why it causes the problem:
Downloads can be incomplete or extraction may fail, causing the installer to produce errors.
Step-by-step solution:
- Delete the downloaded driver file.
- Re-download the driver from the official vendor site.
- If the driver is in a compressed archive, right-click and choose Extract All.
- Run the vendor’s setup program as administrator (right-click > Run as administrator) or use Device Manager to install pointing to extracted files.
Tip: If the vendor offers a different package format (exe vs zip), try the alternate one.
5. Conflicting existing drivers
Why it causes the problem:
Old or incorrect drivers can conflict with new installations, causing the installer to fail or the device to function incorrectly.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager (Windows key + X > Device Manager).
- If the device is listed with an error, right-click and choose Uninstall device; check Delete the driver software for this device if shown.
- To see hidden/non-present devices: open Command Prompt (Admin) and run:
- set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
- devmgmt.msc
- In Device Manager: View > Show hidden devices, then uninstall old or duplicate drivers.
- Optionally list driver packages: open Command Prompt (Admin) and run pnputil -e to view driver store entries.
- Remove problematic packages: pnputil -d oem#.inf (replace # with the package number).
- Reboot and reinstall the correct driver.
Warning: Removing driver packages can affect other devices; review entries carefully.
6. Device not detected or hardware problem
Why it causes the problem:
If Windows can’t detect the hardware, the driver installation won’t attach to a device.
Step-by-step solution:
- Try the device in a different USB port or on another PC to rule out the port/hardware.
- For internal cards, reseat in the slot and ensure power connectors are attached.
- Open Device Manager and look for Unknown device or devices with a yellow triangle.
- If still not detected, check Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) under Windows Logs > System for device or Plug and Play errors.
- Replace cables or test the device on another system to confirm hardware failure.
Tip: For USB devices, try a powered USB hub or connect directly to a rear motherboard port.
Why it causes the problem:
Windows services like Plug and Play and Windows Installer must be running for device detection and installation.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Run (Windows key + R), type services.msc, press Enter.
- Locate Plug and Play, ensure Startup type is Automatic and the service is Running. If not, right-click > Start.
- Also check Windows Installer and Device Install Service (if present) and start them.
- Reboot and retry installation.
8. Antivirus or security software blocking installer
Why it causes the problem:
Real-time protection or application control features may block installers or driver file extraction.
Step-by-step solution:
- Temporarily disable third-party antivirus or Windows Defender real-time protection:
- Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings, toggle Real-time protection off.
- Disable vendor security software via its system tray icon (follow vendor guidance).
- Run the driver installer as administrator.
- Re-enable security software immediately after successful install.
Warning: Only disable protection temporarily and ensure the driver source is trusted.
9. Insufficient user permissions or UAC restrictions
Why it causes the problem:
Standard accounts and strict UAC settings may prevent driver installation.
Step-by-step solution:
- Right-click the driver installer and choose Run as administrator.
- If using a standard account, log in with an administrator account or run Command Prompt as admin and execute the installer from there.
- If UAC prompts appear, approve them for the installation.
Tip: Use an elevated PowerShell or Command Prompt for manual pnputil or devcon commands.
10. Corrupt system files interfering with installation
Why it causes the problem:
Damaged system files can break driver installation services and package handling.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Command Prompt (Admin).
- Run: sfc /scannow and wait for completion.
- If issues persist, run:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Reboot and attempt driver install again.
Note: DISM may take several minutes and requires internet access for some repairs.
11. Secure Boot or Group Policy prevents driver install
Why it causes the problem:
Secure Boot enforces signed drivers; Group Policy in enterprise environments can block installation of non-approved drivers.
Step-by-step solution (Secure Boot):
- Reboot and enter UEFI/BIOS setup (commonly F2, Del, or F10 during boot).
- Find Secure Boot under Security or Boot settings and temporarily disable it.
- Save and reboot, then install the driver.
- Re-enable Secure Boot once done.
Step-by-step solution (Group Policy):
- On Pro/Enterprise, run gpedit.msc.
- Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Driver Installation.
- Review policies like Allow non-administrators to install drivers or Code signing for device drivers and coordinate with IT to change settings.
Warning: Changing Group Policy or Secure Boot may reduce system security—coordinate with IT or re-enable after install.
12. Driver store corruption / driver cache issues
Why it causes the problem:
Windows driver store (where drivers are cached) can get corrupt or hold conflicting versions.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Command Prompt (Admin) and list driver packages: pnputil -e
- Find the problematic oem#.inf entry.
- To delete a package: pnputil -d oem#.inf
- If Device Manager still shows issues, uninstall the device and reboot so Windows can re-enumerate and use the updated store.
Tip: Use pnputil -? to view more options. Be careful removing shared drivers.
13. Installer requires a different method (INF vs setup)
Why it causes the problem:
Some drivers are meant to be installed manually via an INF file rather than a bundled setup .exe.
Step-by-step solution:
- Extract the driver to a folder if in a ZIP.
- Open Device Manager, locate device, right-click > Update driver.
- Choose Browse my computer for drivers, then Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer > Have Disk and browse to the extracted .inf file.
- Follow prompts to install.
Tip: If no device is listed, use Add legacy hardware in Device Manager (Action > Add legacy hardware) and select the driver.
14. Outdated BIOS/firmware preventing device compatibility
Why it causes the problem:
Some modern devices require UEFI/firmware support or fixes that only arrive via BIOS updates.
Step-by-step solution:
- Check motherboard/computer vendor support page for UEFI/BIOS updates and release notes mentioning device or OS compatibility.
- Follow vendor’s BIOS update procedure carefully (usually via vendor update utility or using UEFI update tool).
- Backup important data and ensure the system has stable power (use AC adapter, not battery).
- After updating BIOS, reboot and retry the driver install.
Warning: BIOS updates carry risk; only proceed when necessary and follow official instructions.
Maintenance and Prevention (section ajouté)
- Create a System Restore point before installing drivers: search Create a restore point > System Protection > Create.
- Keep Windows and drivers updated regularly through Windows Update and vendor utilities.
- Backup critical data before major driver or BIOS changes.
- Use vendor-supplied driver update tools (Dell, HP, Lenovo) for OEM systems to avoid incompatible drivers.
- For enterprise environments, coordinate with IT and use signed drivers and driver management policies.
FAQ
What if Windows installs a generic driver that doesn’t work well?
Install the vendor driver manually: in Device Manager right-click device > Update driver > Browse my computer for driver software and point to vendor files; uninstall the generic driver first and reboot.
Can I force-install an unsigned driver permanently?
You can enable Test Mode (bcdedit /set testsigning on) or disable signature checks at boot temporarily, but these reduce security. Prefer obtaining a signed driver or ask the vendor for a WHQL-signed version.
How can I find the existing driver version and date?
Open Device Manager, right-click device > Properties > Driver tab to view Driver Provider, Driver Date, and Driver Version.
How do I roll back a driver after an update causes problems?
Open Device Manager, right-click the problematic device > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver (if available). If not available, uninstall the driver and install the previous version manually.
What is the driver store and when should I clean it?
The driver store (managed via pnputil) caches driver packages Windows might use. Clean it when outdated or conflicting driver packages prevent correct installation, but remove entries only after confirming they’re not used by other hardware.
Conclusion
Driver installation failures in Windows 10 usually trace back to compatibility, security enforcement, corruption, or interference; following the 14 fixes above will resolve most cases. Use the steps for matching drivers, permissions, service checks, and driver store cleanup to fix Driver installation doesn’t work in Windows 10 and restore device functionality.
