Microsoft Halts Distribution of Older Windows 11 Drivers via Windows Update

In a significant update, Microsoft has announced that Windows Update will cease to distribute older legacy drivers once a newer replacement is available. This change is currently being implemented across the board. However, many users are left wondering if this adjustment will prevent Windows Update from overwriting newer drivers that have been manually installed from the official portals of Intel, AMD, or Nvidia. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

According to a support document highlighted by Windows Latest, this policy update is described as a “periodic cleanup of drivers from Windows Update.” The primary beneficiaries of this change will be OEMs, including PC manufacturers and chipmakers.

When inquired about the impact on everyday users, Microsoft officials indicated that most people won’t perceive a noticeable difference unless they are particularly vigilant.

Revised Approach to Older Drivers in Windows Update

In practical terms, with the new protocol, if a driver has reached its expiration date and a newer version is present, Windows Update will no longer display the outdated driver to users. Microsoft explained, “Technically, expiring a driver means removing all its audience assignments in the Hardware Development Center, which stops Windows Update from offering that driver to devices.”

This initiative specifically targets legacy drivers, implying that ordinary consumers shouldn’t experience any significant changes in their driver availability.

Understanding Legacy Drivers

However, there is a potential concern on the horizon as Microsoft plans to extend this cleanup to include expired drivers lacking any replacements. This could potentially lead to a scenario where some drivers are no longer accessible within the ecosystem. For now, though, the emphasis remains solely on legacy drivers with newer alternatives. Microsoft has promised to share future plans regarding other driver types.

In situations where an OEM needs to reintroduce a driver after its expiration, they can republish it; however, they must provide justification for wanting the old driver reinstated in Windows Update.

Previously, users might have encountered multiple drivers for the same device during a Windows Update check. Post-policy, only the latest driver will be available, eliminating confusion over older versions. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to remember that the driver provided through Windows Update may not necessarily be as current as those directly available from OEM websites.

Will This Change Resolve Windows 11 Driver Issues?

Your next question might be: why doesn’t this new policy solve the long-standing issue where users install the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website, only for Windows Update to replace it with an older version? The reason lies in the fact that a Windows Update driver may still show a higher version number than the one available directly from the manufacturer.

Drivers offered via Windows Update are prioritized above those from PC manufacturers, as they go through Microsoft’s certification process ensuring quality and security.

It is also important to note that this new directive will not negatively impact users running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. Disregard the rumors suggesting that Microsoft is complicating access to drivers for unsupported PCs by expiring older versions—drivers are only marked as “expired”when newer alternatives are available.

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