If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 11, you may have encountered issues with installing certain drivers. This is because Windows 11 has a feature called “driver signature enforcement” that can prevent the installation of drivers that are not digitally signed by Microsoft. While this feature is meant to protect your system from potentially harmful drivers, it can also be a hindrance when trying to install legitimate drivers. In this article, we’ll explain what driver signature enforcement is and how to disable it in Windows 11.
What is Driver Signature Enforcement?
Driver signature enforcement is a security feature in Windows 11 that ensures all drivers installed on your system are digitally signed by Microsoft. This means that the drivers have been tested and verified by Microsoft to be safe and compatible with your system. This feature was first introduced in Windows Vista and has been present in all subsequent versions of Windows, including Windows 11.
Why is Driver Signature Enforcement Important?
Driver signature enforcement is important because it helps protect your system from potentially harmful drivers. If a driver is not digitally signed, it could be a sign that it has not been tested and verified by Microsoft, and therefore may not be safe to install on your system. By enforcing driver signature, Windows 11 ensures that only trusted and verified drivers are installed on your system, reducing the risk of system crashes and other issues.
When Do You Need to Disable Driver Signature Enforcement?
While driver signature enforcement is an important security feature, there are times when you may need to disable it. This is usually when you are trying to install a driver that is not digitally signed by Microsoft. This could be a driver for an older device that is no longer supported by the manufacturer, or a custom driver that you have developed yourself. In these cases, you will need to disable driver signature enforcement in order to install the driver on your system.
How to Disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows 11
Disabling driver signature enforcement in Windows 11 is a simple process. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard to open the Quick Access menu.
- Click on “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” to open an elevated PowerShell window.
- In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter: bcdedit /set testsigning on
- You should see a message that says “The operation completed successfully.”
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Once your computer restarts, driver signature enforcement will be disabled, and you will be able to install drivers that are not digitally signed by Microsoft.
How to Re-enable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows 11
If you want to re-enable driver signature enforcement in Windows 11, you can follow the same steps as above, but use the following command in the PowerShell window: bcdedit /set testsigning off
This will turn driver signature enforcement back on, and you will only be able to install drivers that are digitally signed by Microsoft.
Alternative Method: Using Advanced Startup Options
There is another method for disabling driver signature enforcement in Windows 11, which involves using the Advanced Startup Options. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
- Click on “Update & Security” and then click on “Recovery” in the left-hand menu.
- Under “Advanced startup”, click on “Restart now”.
- Your computer will restart and take you to the Advanced Startup Options screen.
- Click on “Troubleshoot” and then click on “Advanced options”.
- Click on “Startup Settings” and then click on “Restart”.
- Your computer will restart again and take you to the Startup Settings screen.
- Press the F7 key on your keyboard to select “Disable driver signature enforcement”.
- Your computer will restart once again, and driver signature enforcement will be disabled.
Conclusion
Driver signature enforcement is an important security feature in Windows 11, but it can sometimes be a hindrance when trying to install certain drivers. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 11 and install the drivers you need. Just remember to re-enable it once you have installed the necessary drivers to ensure the security of your system.
