How to disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 7,8,8.1,10

Starting from Windows 7 (especially 8 and above), Windows -by default- allows you to install only digitally signed drivers. Attempts to install unsigned drivers are blocked / denied with a Windows can't verify the publisher of this driver software error but this doesn't necessarily mean that unsigned are bad. In a situation where you need to manually install unsigned drivers using setup information (.inf) or via executable installer then you would need to disable Windows driver signature enforcement.

Steps to disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 7

1. Hit the Win+R keys together to open the run dialog
2. Type gpedit.msc to open the local groups policy
   editor
3. Expand ‘Administrative Templates’ (it’s under ‘User Configuration’)
4. Expand ‘System’. Click ‘driver Installation’
5. In the right panel, double click on ‘Code Signing for Device Drivers’
6. Choose ‘Enabled’ in the window that appears.
7. In the underlying options, choose ‘Ignore’
8. This disables drivers signing in Windows 7, and now you can install unsigned drivers in Windows 7.
9. Click Apply, OK. Restart your computer to install
   unsigned drivers

Steps to disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8

1. Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the letter C to open the Charm menu, then click the gear icon (Settings )
2. Click More PC Settings
3. Click General
4. Under Advanced Startup , click Restart Now (In Windows 8.1, the ‘Restart Now’ button has moved to ‘PC Setting -> Update & Recovery -> Recovery.’ )
5. After restarting, click Troubleshoot
6. Click Advanced options
7. Click Windows Startup Settings
8. Click Restart
9. After restarting your computer a second time,
   choose Disable driver signature enforcement
   from the list by typing the number 7 on your Keyboard Your computer will restart automatically.
10. After restarting, you will be able to Install unsigned drivers normally; however, Windows will display a warning message. When the warning appears, click Install this driver software anyway.

Steps to disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1 & 10

1. In Windows go to PC settings (you can search for it in Start Menu).
2. Click on “Update & recovery” on the left side.
3. Click on “Recovery” on the left side.
4. Click “Restart Now” button under Advanced startup.
5. Click on Troubleshoot
6. Click on Advanced setup
7. Click on Startup Settings
8. Click on Restart
9. After restarting, choose Disable driver signature enforcement from the list by pressing key 7 on your Keyboard Your computer will restart automatically.
10. After restarting, you will be able to Install unsigned drivers normally; however, Windows will display a warning message. When the warning appears, click Install this driver software anyway.

Important Notice

• You might get a code 10 error after installing an unsigned driver. This is nothing to worry about and doesn't necessarily mean the driver won't work
• Doing the above only allows you install unsigned drivers. Its not a go ahead to install clearly incompatible drivers
• Ensure to install only compatible drivers to void running into problems on the PC

Share this post