Windows 11 driver management and update settings

Windows 11 manages device drivers primarily through Windows Update, which automatically downloads security patches and drivers for network cards, scanners, and common peripherals. Users can manually manage these via the Device Manager to reinstall or revert versions. Some drivers are categorized as optional and can be found under the advanced options within Windows Update settings.

To avoid potential stability or compatibility issues caused by automatic updates, users can prevent Windows 11 from installing drivers through several methods. These include changing Device Installation Settings in the System Properties, using the Group Policy Editor to enable the ‘Do not include drivers with Windows Updates’ setting, or modifying the Registry Editor.