“Windows Update Configured to never install drivers” Detected by Troubleshooter

The Hardware and Devices troubleshooter in the Control Panel may show "Windows Update Configured to never install drivers  – Detected" in the detailed report, and that the troubleshooter couldn’t fix it. You may be wondering which exact setting the troubleshooter is referring to.

It’s referring to the SearchOrderConfig registry value at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching

If this value is set to 0, then driver updates via WU are blocked. The troubleshooter assumes the same even if the value is missing.

Possible values

Data Setting
0 Never install driver software from Windows Update
1 Always install the best driver software from Windows Update

Set it 0 and ignore the device troubleshooter warning. If you want to set it to 1 which is the default Windows setting, you can do so using the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe.) But I’d not suggest installing driver updates for your hardware via Windows Update. Note that in earlier versions of Windows, this can be configured via Windows Updates options, which is removed in Windows 10.



Check the Policies Key

Also, check for the SearchOrderConfig Policy, which is set here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching

In the above branch, right-click SearchOrderConfig and choose Delete.

Note that if this was set as a Group Policy, you need to reset it using the Local Group Policy Editor.


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

12 thoughts on ““Windows Update Configured to never install drivers” Detected by Troubleshooter”

  1. Why remove SearchOrderConfig when you have already disabled the searches?

    Why not just set it to 0 also and leave it there in case you ever want to reset it?

    Reply
  2. Ted, The SearchOrderConfig value need not exist under the Policies key for a home computer. Generally what’s set under Policies take precedence over user settings. My point is, let “SearchOrderConfig ” it be in one location whether you plan to use it (1) or disable it (0).

    Reply
  3. So SearchOrderConfig set as 1 would still enable Driver updates even though the default value is 0?

    If policies override the Registry then perhaps we should know how to do that instead?

    Or at least know where those policies are and how to fix them…

    Reply
  4. Hi! Ramesh,
    By chance, I was lucky to find your website.

    I bought a new HP Pavilion Convertible L54MOEP laptop about 4 months ago. It has been an expensive disaster. In 4 months I have had to reset it twice. Now, I do not know if this is because there is a Windows10 fault or HP fault or something else because I am not computer clever like you. I keep it clean and up to date all the time and I have what I think is a good virus app BULLGUARD but it never stops having problems some of which I can fix and others I find too complicated to understand. I am just a regular owner, I have owned comps for more than 20 years, we never had these sorts of problems before – why now? It seems techies never stop fiddling with what used to work well.
    Thanks for being there for people like me – jolly good of you.

    Reply
  5. Sorry…I made the above post sound as though my Virus app Bullguard has problems. It does not. My awful new laptop gives me problems.

    Reply

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