Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement on Windows 11

Introduction

• The lesson explains steps to disable driver signature enforcement on Windows 11.
• It's advisable to check the integrity and publisher of any driver due to potential risks.
• There may be scenarios where you need to install unsigned drivers, such as older trusted versions or custom drivers.

Methods

Method 1: Advanced Startup (Applicable to Windows 11 Home and Pro)

• Preparation: If using encryption, enter the recovery key during startup. It is recommended to disable BitLocker.
  • Disable BitLocker: Go to Start > Settings > Security > Drive Encryption.
• Steps:
  1. Open Start and go to Settings.
  2. Navigate to System > Recovery.
  3. Click the Restart button for Advanced Startup.
  4. Click on Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings.
  5. Click the Restart button.
  6. Press F7 on the keyboard to disable driver signature enforcement.
• Post-reboot:
  • The system will reboot with signature enforcement disabled, allowing unsigned driver installation.
  • Enforcement re-enables on next reboot, requiring steps repetition for additional installations.

Method 2: Group Policy Editor (Applicable only to Windows 11 Pro and higher)

• Steps:
  1. Open Start and search for Group Policy Editor.
  2. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System.
  3. Select Driver Installation and right-click on Code Signing for Driver Packages.
  4. Click Edit, select Enable, choose the Ignore option.
  5. Click Apply, Okay, and restart the computer.
• Reverting Changes:
  • Open the Group Policy Editor, right-click the policy, select Edit, choose Not Configured, then apply, and restart.

Additional Information

• There are commands proposed to disable driver signature enforcement, but they typically fail due to Secure Boot conflicts on Windows 11.
• These commands might work on Windows 10 without Secure Boot.

Conclusion

• Ensure installation of drivers from trusted sources.
• Comments and engagement (likes, shares, subscriptions) are encouraged.

Note

• The Group Policy method is only accessible on Windows 11 Pro and higher versions.