How to Enable or Disable “Do not Include Drivers with Windows Updates” in Windows 11 High CPU usage can cause performance issues and hardware strain. But in this video, we're focusing specifically on Windows 11 driver updates and how to control them— not CPU usage. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Understanding Windows 11's Driver Updates By default, Windows 11 updates hardware drivers along with its standard security patches. While this is convenient for most users, it can be a major pain point for system administrators and IT professionals who need more control. Why? Because an automatically installed, generic driver can sometimes replace a manufacturer-tuned one, leading to instability, compatibility issues, or performance problems. In this video, we'll show you how to take back control. Configuring Driver Inclusion via Group Policy For those in enterprise or managed environments, Group Policy is the recommended method. First, open the Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc in the Run dialog. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update. Here, find and double-click the policy "Do not include drivers with Windows Updates." To disable driver updates, set the policy to "Enabled." To allow them, choose "Disabled" or "Not Configured." Finally, remember to run gpupdate /force in Command Prompt to apply the changes. Implementing Driver Control with the Registry If you're using a version of Windows 11 without Group Policy Editor, or if you prefer a more universal method, the Registry is your best bet. Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Run dialog. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\ Windows\WindowsUpdate key. If the WindowsUpdate key doesn't exist, create it. Then, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate. Setting its value to: 1 disables driver updates through Windows Update; 0 enables them. Finally, reboot your PC to ensure the changes take effect. Automating Driver Policies with PowerShell For administrators managing endpoints at scale, PowerShell is an invaluable tool. You can use a simple script to verify or apply the driver policy. To check the current setting, use Get-ItemProperty for the ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate value. To disable driver updates, use Set-ItemProperty and set the ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate value to 1. This approach is ideal for automated deployments via tools like Intune or SCCM. Whether you choose Group Policy for enterprise-wide control, the Registry for a universal fix, or PowerShell for automation, these methods give you the power to manage your Windows 11 driver updates. For more information, check out our official blog post on How to Enable or Disable “Do not Include Drivers with Windows Updates” in Windows 11 linked in the description below.