Specify the search server for device driver updates

This policy setting allows you to specify the search server that Windows uses to find updates for device drivers.

If you enable this policy setting, you can select whether Windows searches Windows Update (WU), searches a Managed Server, or a combination of both.

Note that if both are specified, then Windows will first search the Managed Server, such as a Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server. Only if no update is found will Windows then also search Windows Update.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, members of the Administrators group can determine the server used in the search for device drivers.

Supported on: At least Windows 7

Select update server:


  1. Search Windows Update
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching
    Value NameDriverServerSelection
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value0
  2. Search Managed Server
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching
    Value NameDriverServerSelection
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value1
  3. Search Managed Server, then WU
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching
    Value NameDriverServerSelection
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value2


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