Fix “A Driver Cannot Load on This Device” Error on Windows

Windows may sometimes show the message “A driver cannot load on this device” when you start your computer or launch a program that needs access to specific hardware. The notification usually means that Windows has prevented a particular driver from loading because a security feature considers the driver incompatible, outdated, or potentially unsafe.

This problem can appear after a Windows update, driver update, software installation, or hardware change. You may see the name of the affected driver in the notification, along with a message explaining that Windows Security has blocked it from loading.

In this guide, we will go through several methods from the easiest options to more advanced solutions. 

Fix “A Driver Cannot Load on This Device” Error on Windows

To fix the “A driver cannot load on this device” error in Windows, first identify the blocked driver from the notification and install an updated driver from the hardware manufacturer’s website. You can also check Windows Update, reinstall the affected device driver through Device Manager, and check whether Memory integrity is blocking an incompatible driver. If the driver is old and no updated version is available, temporarily disabling Memory Integrity may allow it to load, but this reduces Windows security and should only be considered when necessary.

Let’s explore the steps in detail!

Step 1: Identify the Driver That Windows Has Blocked

The first thing you should do is find out which driver Windows is preventing from loading. This is important because the correct solution depends on the affected driver.

When the notification appears, carefully read the message. Windows may display wording similar to “A driver cannot load on this device” and provide the name of the driver underneath it.

The driver name may look unfamiliar. It could contain a name ending in .sys, which is the file extension commonly used for Windows drivers.

Write down or take a screenshot of the driver name before closing the notification. If you cannot find the notification again, you can continue with the next steps and look for driver-related problems through Windows settings.

Do not immediately download a random driver from a third-party website simply because its name appears in the message. An incorrect or modified driver can create additional problems.

Step 2: Restart Your Windows PC

Before making any changes, restart your computer.

Click the Start button, select the Power icon, and choose Restart. Wait until Windows completely shuts down and starts again.

After restarting, check whether the same driver error appears.

A temporary Windows problem can occasionally prevent a driver from loading correctly. A restart gives Windows another opportunity to initialize the driver and its related services.

If the notification appears again, continue with the next method.

Step 3: Check for Windows Updates

An outdated version of Windows can sometimes cause compatibility problems with drivers. Microsoft may already have a newer Windows update that improves compatibility.

Open Settings by pressing Windows + I on your keyboard.

In Windows 11, select Windows Update from the left side. Then select Check for updates.

If Windows finds an available update, allow it to download and install. Depending on the update, Windows may ask you to restart your computer.

After the installation is complete, restart the PC and check whether the driver cannot load message has disappeared.

Windows Update can also deliver some hardware drivers, so this step is worth trying before manually searching for drivers.

Step 4: Install the Latest Driver From the Manufacturer

If Windows continues to block the driver, the most useful next step is usually installing a newer compatible driver.

First, identify the hardware associated with the driver. For example, the problem could involve a graphics card, network adapter, audio device, storage controller, chipset, or another component.

Visit the official website of the hardware or computer manufacturer. If you use a laptop or branded desktop, the computer manufacturer’s support page is often the best place to start.

Search for your exact computer model or hardware model and open its driver download section. Look for a driver that supports your current version of Windows.

Download the latest available driver and install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Once the installation finishes, restart Windows.

This method is preferable to disabling Windows security because an updated driver may solve the compatibility problem while allowing Windows security protections to remain enabled.

Step 5: Update the Driver Through Device Manager

You can also check the affected device through Device Manager.

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.

You will see a list of hardware categories. Expand the category that contains the affected device. For example, a graphics device may appear under Display adapters, while a network device may appear under Network adapters.

Right-click the affected device and select Update driver.

Choose Search automatically for drivers. Windows will search for an available driver and install it if one is found.

After Windows finishes the process, restart your computer.

If Windows reports that the best driver is already installed, do not assume that no newer driver exists. The latest driver may be available directly from the device or computer manufacturer’s website, so the previous step is still important.

Step 6: Reinstall the Affected Driver

If updating the driver does not solve the problem, you can try reinstalling it.

Open Device Manager again and locate the affected hardware.

Right-click the device and select Uninstall device.

Windows may display an option asking whether you want to remove the driver software. Do not select additional removal options unless you understand what they will do or the manufacturer’s instructions specifically recommend them.

Select Uninstall and then restart your computer.

After the restart, Windows may automatically detect the hardware and install a suitable driver. If it does not, install the latest driver downloaded from the manufacturer’s official support page.

Reinstalling the driver can fix situations where the existing driver installation has become corrupted or incomplete.

Step 7: Check Windows Security and Memory Integrity

One of the common reasons for this notification is Memory integrity.

Memory integrity is a Windows security feature designed to help prevent incompatible or malicious low-level drivers from being loaded.

To check it, open Settings with Windows + I.

Select Privacy & security, then select Windows Security.

Choose Device security and look for Core isolation. Select Core isolation details.

You may see the Memory integrity setting there.

If Windows has identified an incompatible driver, the page may provide information about it.

Before changing this setting, try to find an updated driver from the manufacturer. An updated driver is generally the better solution because it can allow you to keep Windows security protections enabled.

Step 8: Temporarily Turn Off Memory Integrity Only If Necessary

If the manufacturer does not provide a compatible driver and you have confirmed that Memory integrity is responsible for blocking it, you may consider temporarily disabling the feature.

Open Settings, select Privacy & security, choose Windows Security, and then open Device security.

Select Core isolation details and locate Memory integrity.

If the setting is enabled, switching it off may require a restart.

However, this is not the first solution you should try. Disabling Memory integrity reduces protection against certain types of attacks involving drivers. If you turn it off to test whether the driver works, look for a newer compatible driver afterward and turn Memory integrity back on whenever possible.

If disabling it does not solve the problem, turn it back on rather than leaving the security feature disabled unnecessarily.

Step 9: Use System Restore If the Problem Started Recently

If the driver error appeared immediately after a recent driver installation, Windows update, or software installation, System Restore may help return Windows to an earlier working state.

Search for Create a restore point using the Windows search box.

Open the result and select System Restore.

Windows will show available restore points if any exist. Select a restore point created before the driver problem started.

System Restore does not normally remove your personal documents, such as photos and personal files. However, it can remove recently installed applications, drivers, or system changes associated with the selected restore point.

Follow the on-screen instructions and allow Windows to restart.

After Windows starts again, check whether the driver notification still appears.

Step 10: Contact the Device Manufacturer for an Updated Driver

If none of the previous methods work, the driver may be too old for your current Windows version or may no longer be supported.

At this point, visit the manufacturer’s official support page and search for your exact hardware or computer model.

Check whether the manufacturer has released a newer driver, firmware update, compatibility notice, or recommended workaround.

If the computer is relatively old, the manufacturer may not have released a driver compatible with the latest version of Windows. In that situation, forcing an unknown driver to load is generally not a good idea.

Faqs

Why does Windows say “A driver cannot load on this device”?

Windows can display this message when a driver is considered incompatible with a security feature, outdated, corrupted, or otherwise unsuitable for loading. Memory integrity is one Windows security feature that can prevent certain drivers from loading.

Is “A driver cannot load on this device” a serious problem?

It depends on which driver is affected. If the driver belongs to hardware or software you actively use, you may notice that a particular feature does not work correctly. If the affected driver belongs to an old program or unused hardware, you may not notice any immediate problem.

Should I disable Memory integrity to fix the error?

You should generally try updating or replacing the incompatible driver first. Disabling Memory integrity reduces a Windows security protection, so it should not be treated as the preferred permanent solution.

Can Windows Update fix this driver problem?

Yes. Windows Update can provide driver and compatibility updates that may resolve the problem. However, the newest driver is sometimes available only from the computer or hardware manufacturer’s website.

Why did the error appear after a Windows update?

A Windows update can change security requirements or system components in ways that expose compatibility problems with older drivers. The driver may have worked with the previous Windows version but become blocked afterward.

Can I uninstall the driver that Windows is blocking?

You can uninstall an affected device through Device Manager, but you should first identify what the driver belongs to. Removing an important hardware driver without knowing its purpose can cause the associated device to stop working until the correct driver is installed again.

Summary

The “A driver cannot load on this device” error usually indicates that Windows has prevented a particular driver from loading because of compatibility or security concerns. The safest approach is to first identify the blocked driver, restart the computer, install available Windows updates, and then install the latest compatible driver from the official hardware or computer manufacturer’s website.

If updating does not work, you can try reinstalling the driver through Device Manager. You should also check Memory integrity because Windows may be blocking an incompatible driver through this security feature. 

Disabling Memory integrity can sometimes allow an older driver to load, but it reduces security protection and should therefore be considered only as a temporary troubleshooting measure.