The Windows Driver Verifier is a diagnostic tool that is built into Windows 10 and Windows 11 that helps you diagnose potential issues with drivers by stress testing them to see if they crash and blue-screen your system. This allows you to identify faulty drivers that cause system freezing and blue screens so that they can then be updated or removed.
This tutorial demonstrates how to enable and disable Driver Verifier in Windows for overall troubleshooting.
How to open the Windows Driver Verifier
The Windows Driver Verifier is available in all versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11. You will need to be logged in as an administrator to use it.
It is recommended that you create a full backup of your system before you use the Windows Driver Verifier, as it can lead to system instability and crashes that may affect your important data.
There are several methods you can choose from to open the Windows Driver Verifier, before configuring and using it.
From the Run dialog or Start menu
You can open the Windows Driver Verifier from the Run dialog:
- Right-click on the Start button and select Run
- In the Run dialog that opens, type the command verifier.exe and then press the Enter key to open the Driver Verifier
You can alternatively search using the Start menu for verifier and open the Driver Verifier from the search results.
From the Windows Task Manager
If your Windows device is not operating correctly, and you are unable to open the Driver Verifier from the Run dialog or Start menu, you can also open it from the Task Manager:
- Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc key combination to open the Task Manager
- On Windows 11, click the Run new task button
- On Windows 10, select File > Run new task
- In the Run dialog that appears, enter the command verifier.exe, then press OK to open the Driver Verifier
From the Command Prompt or PowerShell
Open the Command Prompt as an administrator or an elevated PowerShell session, then enter the command verifier.exe.
How to enable/turn on the Windows Driver Verifier
While the Driver Verifier is running, it will put extra stress on your drivers in an attempt to get them to fail. This will make your system unstable and use extra resources, possibly making it sluggish. Due to this, you should not leave the Driver Verifier running any longer than necessary to debug system issues.
Note that there is no visible way to determine that the Driver Verifier is running, so make sure you remember to disable it.
Once you have opened the Windows Driver Verifier using one of the above methods, you can enable it by following these steps
- Select Create custom settings (for code developers) and then press Next
- Check the following options: I/O Verification, Force pending I/O requests, IRP logging, then press Next
- Choose Select driver names from a list and press Next
- After the driver information has loaded, select the drivers you want to verify from the list (it is recommended to start by choosing all non-Microsoft Corporation drivers if diagnosing an unknown issue)
- Click Finish
- You’ll be asked to reboot, after which the Driver Verifier will run in the background until you disable it
How to disable/turn off the Windows Driver Verifier
If your system crashes immediately after boot, or becomes unresponsive after enabling the Windows Driver Verifier, you will need to use Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment to disable it.
Disable Windows Driver Verifier using the graphical interface
You can disable the Windows Driver Verifier when you have finished troubleshooting, by opening the Driver Verifier interface using one of the methods described above, then selecting Delete Existing Settings, and finally clicking the Finish button.
Disable the Driver Verifier via the Command Prompt or PowerShell
You can also execute the following command in the Command Prompt or PowerShell to disable the Windows Driver Verifier:
verifier /reset
Reboot your PC after running this command.
Disable Driver Verifier from Safe Mode
To disable the Driver Verifier from safe mode, follow these steps:
- Reboot your PC into Safe Mode
- Once in Safe Mode, follow the instructions above for disabling the Windows Driver Verifier using the command prompt or PowerShell
- Reboot your Windows PC normally
Disable Driver Verifier from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)
You can also disable the Windows Driver Verifier from the Windows recovery environment if it is causing your device to fail to boot:
- If your system fails to boot several times in succession, it will automatically enter the Windows recovery environment (alternatively, you can hold the shift key while selecting restart from the start menu to reboot into WinRE)
- In the Windows Recovery environment, select Troubleshoot, and then Advanced Options
- Open the Command Prompt
- Your PC will reboot, and you will be prompted to enter the login credentials for an administrative user
- When the command prompt appears, enter the command verifier /reset
- Reboot your device
Diagnosing Windows System Stability and driver issues remotely.
NinjaOne provides a complete toolset for remotely monitoring, detecting, and remediating system stability issues, including problems with drivers on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices. You can collect information about system instability (including crashes and blue screens), and deploy driver updates or configure automatic remediation steps – allowing you to remotely resolve issues before users need to contact your help desk.
FAQ
How long should the Windows Driver Verifier be left running for?
You should only leave the Driver Verifier running for up to 24 to 48 hours or until your system crashes to a blue screen, and the faulty driver has been identified. It should not be left running permanently.
Can the Driver Verifier cause my Windows PC to become unstable?
Yes, the Driver Verifier intentionally places extra stress on your drivers to see if there are issues that cause them to crash, which can cause instability.
Should you leave the Driver Verifier enabled on production systems?
No, you should only use the Driver Verifier in test environments or when troubleshooting specific problems on individual devices.
What do you do if your PC won’t boot after enabling the Windows Driver Verifier?
You need to use Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment to disable the Driver Verifier if your PC won’t boot after enabling it.
