Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP SP2
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Driver Installation Description
Specifies whether the administrator will be prompted about going to Windows Update to search for device drivers using the Internet. Note: This setting only has effect if "Turn off Windows Update device driver searching" in "Administrative Templates/System/Internet Communication Management/Internet Communication settings" is disabled or not configured. If you enable this setting, administrators will not be prompted to search Windows Update. If you disable or do not configure this setting, and "Turn off Windows Update device driver searching" is disabled or not configured, the administrator will be prompted for consent before going to Windows Update to search for device drivers.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching Value name: DontPromptForWindowsUpdate
Enabled: DontPromptForWindowsUpdate = 1
Disabled: DontPromptForWindowsUpdate = 0
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP SP2
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching]
"DontPromptForWindowsUpdate"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP SP2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontPromptForWindowsUpdate' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP SP2
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching' -Name 'DontPromptForWindowsUpdate' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP SP2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontPromptForWindowsUpdate' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP SP2
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP SP2
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching' -Name 'DontPromptForWindowsUpdate' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP SP2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontPromptForWindowsUpdate' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.