Specify the search server for device driver updates
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Policy overview

Key metadata and intent for this policy.

Computer
Category
System > Device Installation
Supported on
At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016

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.

Internal name
DriverSearchPlaces_SearchServerConfiguration
Policy ID
6f42bf854995
Elements
1

Registry values

How enabled and disabled states update the registry.

No explicit registry values are set for enabled or disabled states.

Policy elements

Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.

ScopeElementTypeRegistry mappingConstraints & behaviorCopy
Computer
Select update server:
ID DriverSearchPlaces_SearchServerConfiguration_dropdown
enum
Path
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching
Value name
DriverServerSelection
Type
REG_DWORD
Options: Search Windows Update (0), Search Managed Server (1), Search Managed Server, then WU (2)
Select update server:
Computer · Type enum
Registry mapping
Path
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching
Value name
DriverServerSelection
Type
REG_DWORD
Details
Options: Search Windows Update (0), Search Managed Server (1), Search Managed Server, then WU (2)