On Windows 10, a device driver is an essential component that allows the operating system to communicate with a piece of hardware. However, sometimes, drivers can cause problems, and as part of the troubleshooting process, you may need to disable them temporarily. Or you may need to disable them permanently, if you’re connecting another similar device that may cause conflicts. For example, when you have a network adapter that also includes a Bluetooth adapter, and you want to install a new Bluetooth dongle.
On the other hand, if the device was previously disabled or the system disabled it automatically, you may also need to enable the driver to regain access to the device.
Whatever the reason it might be, Windows 10 includes at least one way to enable or disable device drivers using Device Manager.
In this guide, you’ll learn the easy steps to disable or enable a device driver on Windows 10.
How to disable device driver on Windows 10
To disable a problematic driver, use these steps:
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Open Start on Windows 10.
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Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
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Expand the branch with the driver you want to disable.
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Right-click the device and select the Disable device option.
Disable device driver -
Click the Yes button.
Once you complete the steps, the device will be disabled and won’t be available for the system. Alternatively, remember that you can also disable a driver by disconnecting the device from the computer.
How to enable device driver on Windows 10
To enable a specific driver, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
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Expand the branch with the driver you want to enable.
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Right-click the device and select the Enable device option.
Enable device driver
After you complete the steps, the device will enable, and it’ll be once again available for the system.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.