Share this article
This article is translated in
Improve this guide
Driver Download Failed: Use These 5 Solutions to Fix That
Your PC security features might be blocking the driver downoad
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
Share this article
This article is translated in
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Key notes
Driver software is crucial for every PC, but sometimes driver download can fail on your Windows PC. Outdated drivers can cause many issues, which makes this issue frustrating.
Knowing the gravity of this issue, we have prepared this guide to help you rectify it and get back toupdating your driversquickly.
Why are my driver downloads failing?
Below are some of the reasons your driver download might fail:
What can I do if the driver download has failed?
Before exploring the fixes in this section, below are some preliminary checks you should perform:
If the issue persists, you can now delve into the solutions below:
1. Disable driver signature checks
As mentioned earlier, Windows is default programmed to permit only signed (verified) drivers. Therefore, the download will fail if your driver is not signed.
The solution to this is to disable the integrity check temporarily. Note that you should only do this for drivers downloaded from trusted sources. Lastly, ensure you enable the feature after installing the driver to protect your PC from faulty drivers.
2. Use third-party tools
Downloading the driver manually can be a tedious task, especially if you don’t know where and which drivers to download. You can always try using third-party solutions if Windows cannot download drivers.
An automatic driver updater such as Outbyte Driver Updater can also repair damaged drivers and detect whether your PC has any missing drivers.
It is also a safer option because they always match your hardware with its corresponding driver version. If you update manually, you may install the wrong driver, which can cause significant issues.
⇒Get Outbyte Driver Updater
3. Disable the SmartScreen filter
The Windows SmartScreen filter scans the driver’s download, files, applications, and websites and automatically blocks unrecognized content. If the driver download fails, try disabling this feature.
4. Perform disk cleanup
Somesignificant driverswill cause issues if you lack sufficient disk space. So, if your driver download is missing, you should free up some space by performing Disk Cleanup.
5. Disable the antivirus
Antivirus software protects your computer against countless security threats. However, it can also be why your driver download failed, as it might flag it as a potentially dangerous file.
Knowing the driver’s legitimacy, you can temporarily disable your antivirus to complete the download. For example, if you are using a third-party antivirus, you can right-click the icon on your taskbar and select the option to turn it off.
Similarly, turning off the firewall may help. Remember to re-enable all your protection systems as soon as possible to reduce your PC’s vulnerability.
If the issue persists, you might want to consider switching to different antivirus software that offers excellent protection. You won’t interfere with your system in any way, so feel free to try it out.
⇒Get ESET NOD32
With this, we can conclude this guide on pushing your driver download through if it keeps failing. However, you should be able to fix the issue for good now by following the steps therein.
Similarly, if youcan’t download only NVIDIA drivers, check our guide dedicated to fixing the issue.
Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.
More about the topics:drivers,windows 10 fix
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.
