Fix Device Driver Software Not Successfully Installed Error

This guide walks you through fixing the “Device driver software was not successfully installed” error in Windows 10. This message appears in the notification area or Device Manager when Windows fails to install a driver for a connected device. The fixes below cover the most common causes, from driver signature issues to corrupted driver caches, and will help you get the hardware working.

What You’ll Need

• Administrator access to the Windows 10 PC
• The device that is failing (connected via USB, PCIe, etc.)
• Optional: The driver installer file downloaded from the device manufacturer’s website
• Optional: A different USB port or cable for troubleshooting

Step-by-Step

1. Identify the device. Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager. Look for any entry with a yellow exclamation mark or the text “Device driver software was not successfully installed.” Right-click it and select Properties. Go to the Details tab, choose Hardware Ids from the dropdown, and note the first value (e.g., USB\VID_1234&PID_5678). This helps you find the exact driver online.
2. Run Windows Update manually. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any pending updates, including optional driver updates (look under “Optional updates” if available). Restart your PC and see if the error clears.
3. Use the “Update driver” option. In Device Manager, right-click the problematic device and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for drivers. If that fails, choose Browse my computer for drivers and then Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer. Select the correct driver if it appears, or click Have Disk and browse to a downloaded driver file.
4. Download the driver manually. Go to the device manufacturer’s support website, search for your device model, and download the latest Windows 10 driver. Run the installer as administrator (right-click the file and select Run as administrator). If the installer is a ZIP, extract it first, then run the setup.exe inside.
5. Uninstall and reinstall the device. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select Uninstall device. Check the box “Delete the driver software for this device” if it appears. Then restart your PC. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically on startup.
6. Disable driver signature enforcement (temporary). Restart your PC. As it boots, press and hold Shift while clicking Restart from the sign-in screen. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings and click Restart. After the PC restarts, press 7 or F7 to select “Disable driver signature enforcement.” Now install the driver manually. This setting only lasts for one session.
7. Clear the driver cache. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download. Delete all files inside this folder (you may need administrator permission). Then go to C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository – do not delete this folder, but note that Windows uses it to store drivers. To rebuild the cache, open Command Prompt as administrator and run: pnputil /scan-devices. Then restart.
8. Use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Select Hardware and Devices and run it. Follow the prompts and restart if asked.
9. Check for Windows corruption. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run sfc /scannow. Wait for it to finish. Then run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. Restart after both complete.
10. Try a different port or cable. If the device connects via USB, try a different USB port (preferably a USB 2.0 port if available) and a different cable. Some devices have power issues that cause driver installation failures.

Common Mistakes

• Downloading the wrong driver. Ensure you select the driver for the exact model and the correct Windows version (64-bit vs 32-bit). A mismatched driver will fail to install.
• Skipping the restart. Many driver installations require a restart to complete. If you skip it, the error may persist.
• Using third-party driver updater tools. These often install outdated or incorrect drivers. Stick to manufacturer websites or Windows Update.
• Forgetting to run the installer as administrator. Some drivers need elevated permissions. Right-click the installer and choose “Run as administrator.”
• Not removing the old driver first. If an older driver is corrupted, simply updating may not work. Uninstall the device completely first.

Tips

• Check the manufacturer’s support page for known issues. Some devices have specific instructions for Windows 10 installation.
• Use the Hardware Ids to search. Copy the Hardware ID from Device Manager and paste it into a search engine. This often leads directly to the correct driver.
• Install drivers in the order recommended by the manufacturer. For laptops, install chipset drivers before graphics or network drivers.
• Disable antivirus temporarily. Sometimes security software blocks driver installation. Re-enable it immediately after.
• Keep Windows fully updated. Many driver issues are fixed by cumulative Windows updates.

Troubleshooting

If the error persists after following all steps, try these additional measures:

• Check the event log. Open Event Viewer (search for it in the Start menu), go to Windows Logs > System, and look for entries with the source “Kernel-PnP” or “DriverFrameworks-UserMode.” The details may indicate a specific error code.
• Use pnputil to add the driver manually. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run pnputil /add-driver C:\path\to\driver.inf /install. Replace the path with the actual location of the .inf file from the extracted driver package.
• Perform a clean boot. Type msconfig in the Start menu, go to the Services tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services,” and click Disable all. Then go to the Startup tab and open Task Manager to disable all startup items. Restart and try installing the driver. If it works, re-enable services one by one to find the culprit.
• Check if the device is faulty. Test the device on another PC. If it fails there too, the hardware itself may be defective.
• Reset Windows Update components. Run these commands in an elevated Command Prompt: net stop wuauserv, net stop cryptSvc, net stop bits, ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old, ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old, then net start wuauserv, net start cryptSvc, net start bits. Restart and try Windows Update again.
• Consider a system restore. If the error started recently, use System Restore to roll back to a point before the issue began. Search for “Create a restore point” in the Start menu, click System Restore, and follow the wizard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows say “Device driver software was not successfully installed” when the device works anyway?
Sometimes Windows installs a generic driver that works but still flags the device as having an issue. Check Device Manager – if there’s a yellow exclamation mark, the driver is not fully compatible. Update it with the manufacturer’s driver.

Can I ignore this error?
You can ignore it if the device functions correctly. However, you may miss out on advanced features or performance improvements that the proper driver provides. It’s best to resolve it.

Does disabling driver signature enforcement harm my PC?
It temporarily allows unsigned drivers to install, which can be a security risk. Only use this method for the session, install the driver, then restart normally to re-enable enforcement.

Why does the error keep coming back after a restart?
This usually means Windows is trying to install a driver that fails repeatedly. Try uninstalling the device, deleting the driver software, and then installing the correct driver manually without letting Windows auto-search.

What is the DriverStore folder and can I delete it?
The DriverStore (C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository) holds all installed driver packages. Do not delete it – doing so can break many devices. Use the pnputil /delete-driver command to remove specific outdated drivers safely.

Is it safe to use a driver from a third-party website?
Generally no. Only download drivers from the device manufacturer’s official website or Microsoft’s update catalog. Third-party sites may bundle malware or provide modified drivers.

Related

• What Is UAC in Windows and How to Disable It?
• Visual Testing Improves Software Quality: A Guide
• Fix Printer Needs Attention on Windows 11