Find Driver’s Location on Windows 11 [All Methods]

Have you ever wondered where Windows 11 stores your device drivers? Maybe you’re troubleshooting a hardware problem, checking a graphics driver, or trying to find a driver file before updating or reinstalling it. Whatever the reason, knowing where your drivers are stored can make Windows troubleshooting a lot easier.

Windows 11 stores many driver files in specific system folders, but not every driver is located in the same place. Some files are kept in the DriverStore, while others are installed in system folders such as C:\Windows\System32\drivers. You can also check driver details through Device Manager, Command Prompt, PowerShell, and System Information.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to find a driver’s location on Windows 11 using several easy methods. 

Find Driver’s Location on Windows 11 [All Methods]

To find a driver’s location on Windows 11, open Device Manager, select your device, right-click it, and choose Properties. Under the Driver tab, select Driver Details to view associated driver files. You can also use Command Prompt, PowerShell, or File Explorer to locate driver files stored on your PC.

Before you start, remember that a device driver can include multiple files. The location shown for an installed driver may differ from the folder where Windows keeps its original driver package.

1: Find a Driver’s Location Using Device Manager

Device Manager is one of the easiest ways to check which driver a hardware device uses and where its associated files are stored.

First, press Windows + X on your keyboard. A menu will appear near the Start button. Select Device Manager from the list.

You’ll see a list of hardware categories, including Display adapters, Network adapters, Bluetooth, Keyboards, and Sound, video and game controllers.

Expand the category that contains the device you’re interested in. For example, if you want to find your graphics driver, expand Display adapters.

Right-click the device name and select Properties. In the new window, open the Driver tab.

Select Driver Details. Windows will display the driver files associated with that device, along with their locations.

For example, you might see a file path similar to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\example.sys. The actual filename and location will depend on your hardware and installed driver.

Write down the path if you need it for troubleshooting. When you’re finished, click OK to close the window.

Keep in mind that this method shows files associated with the selected device. It doesn’t necessarily show every file included in the original driver package.

2: Find Driver Files Using File Explorer

If you want to browse driver folders directly, File Explorer is another convenient option.

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer. Select This PC from the left panel, then open your Windows drive, which is usually labeled Local Disk (C:).

Navigate to the following folder:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers

This folder contains many Windows driver files, including files with the .sys extension. These files help Windows communicate with and control different hardware components.

You can use the search box in the upper-right corner of File Explorer to look for a specific driver filename. If you already found the filename in Device Manager, enter that name in the search box.

You can also check this folder:

C:\Windows\INF

This directory contains driver-related information files, commonly using the .inf extension. These files describe how Windows should install or configure a driver.

However, don’t assume that every driver file will appear in either folder. Some drivers use different installation locations, and many driver packages contain additional files elsewhere.

Important: Don’t delete, move, or rename files in these system folders just because you don’t recognize them. Doing so can cause hardware problems or prevent Windows from starting correctly.

3: Find the DriverStore Location on Windows 11

Windows 11 keeps many driver packages in a special folder called the DriverStore. This is particularly useful if you want to understand where Windows stores driver packages before or after installation.

Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E.

Copy the following path and paste it into the address bar:

C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository

Press Enter to open the folder.

You’ll see multiple subfolders with names that may look unfamiliar. These folders can contain driver installation files, including INF files, supporting libraries, and other components.

Windows uses the DriverStore to manage trusted driver packages. When you connect certain devices or update their drivers, Windows can use packages stored here.

You may find folders associated with graphics cards, network adapters, audio devices, and other hardware. However, the folder names aren’t always easy to recognize, and you shouldn’t identify a driver based on its folder name alone.

To identify a package, compare its INF filename with the information shown in Device Manager or the driver details available through PowerShell.

Some folders may require administrator permissions to inspect fully. You don’t need to change their permissions or take ownership just to find a driver.

4: Find Driver Locations Using Command Prompt

If you prefer using commands, Command Prompt can help you retrieve driver information without opening several Windows settings pages.

Open the Start menu and type Command Prompt into the search box.

Right-click the result and select Run as administrator if you need elevated access.

Enter this command:

driverquery /v /fo list

Press Enter to run it.

Windows will display a detailed list of installed drivers and related information. Depending on the driver, you may see its name, type, status, and other properties.

However, this command does not reliably display the full file path for every driver. If your goal is to find a specific file location, use the command below to list driver packages registered with Windows:

pnputil /enum-drivers

This command displays information about third-party driver packages in the Windows Driver Store, including published INF names, original INF names, provider names, and driver versions.

Look for the device manufacturer or the original INF filename that matches your hardware.

For a more detailed view of a particular driver package, you can also use the information from Device Manager to search for its filename in the DriverStore.

Remember that pnputil /enum-drivers focuses on third-party driver packages. It isn’t a complete list of every Microsoft system driver installed on Windows.

5: Find Driver Locations Using PowerShell

PowerShell provides another way to inspect driver information. It’s particularly useful if you want to search through installed devices or collect details for troubleshooting.

Right-click the Start button and select Terminal. You can use PowerShell in Windows Terminal, or search for Windows PowerShell from the Start menu.

To list installed third-party driver packages, run:

Get-WindowsDriver -Online -All

Press Enter and wait for the results.

This command retrieves driver package information from the running Windows installation. The results can include the published INF name, original filename, provider, class, and version.

Look for the driver package that matches your device. The Driver property may show a published INF name such as oem12.inf, while the OriginalFileName property can help identify the package’s location in the DriverStore.

To display just the package name and original file path, you can run:

Get-WindowsDriver -Online -All | Select-Object Driver, OriginalFileName, ProviderName, ClassName

This makes the results easier to read.

If you’re trying to identify the driver currently associated with a particular hardware device, compare the package information with Device Manager. A package stored in the DriverStore isn’t necessarily the active driver for the device.

6: Find Driver Information Using System Information

Windows also includes a utility called System Information. It provides details about your computer’s hardware, software environment, and system components.

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.

Type msinfo32 and press Enter.

When System Information opens, expand Components in the left panel. Depending on your hardware, you can select categories such as Display, Network, or other relevant components.

Review the available details to identify the device and its associated driver information.

This method is especially useful when you’re troubleshooting a graphics adapter, network device, or another hardware component.

However, System Information doesn’t always display the complete path of every driver file. If you need the exact location of an installed driver file, use Device Manager’s Driver Details option.

7: Find a Driver’s Location Using Windows Terminal Commands

Windows Terminal lets you run PowerShell and Command Prompt commands in one place. It’s a handy option if you’re already using Terminal for troubleshooting.

Right-click Start and select Terminal. Open a PowerShell tab if one isn’t already selected.

To list devices with their driver-related information, enter:

Get-CimInstance Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, InfName, DriverProviderName

Press Enter.

Windows will return information about signed Plug and Play drivers, including device names, versions, INF names, and providers.

Use the results to identify the driver you’re investigating. If the INF name begins with oem, you can compare it with the published INF names returned by pnputil /enum-drivers or Get-WindowsDriver -Online -All.

This approach helps you connect a hardware device with its driver package. It may not show the exact location of every individual driver file, so use Device Manager > Driver Details when you need a specific file path.

FAQs

1. Where are drivers stored in Windows 11?

Many driver files are located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers, while many driver packages are stored in C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository. Driver-related INF files can also be found in C:\Windows\INF.

2. How do I find my graphics driver location?

Open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and select Properties > Driver > Driver Details. Windows will show the associated driver files and their paths.

3. Can I copy a driver directly from the DriverStore?

You may be able to copy individual files, but copying a single file usually isn’t enough to create a complete, reusable driver package. If you need to back up or transfer a driver, use a suitable driver-export method that preserves the package files and INF information.

4. Is it safe to delete old driver files?

Manually deleting files from Windows system folders or the DriverStore is not recommended. Windows may still need those files for installed devices or driver rollback. Use Device Manager or supported driver-management tools when removing an unnecessary driver.

5. How can I find a driver’s version and provider?

Open Device Manager, select the device, and choose Properties > Driver. This page usually displays the driver provider, date, and version. You can also retrieve package details through PowerShell.

Summary

Finding a driver’s location on Windows 11 is straightforward once you know where to look. Device Manager is the best starting point when you need the exact file paths associated with a particular device.

For direct folder access, check C:\Windows\System32\drivers, C:\Windows\INF, and the DriverStore directory. If you prefer command-line tools, use Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal to identify driver packages and their details.

Choose the method that matches your goal, and avoid deleting or modifying driver files manually. 

If you’re troubleshooting a specific hardware issue, identifying the correct driver and its version is usually the safest first step.