September 24, 2018

How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

If you reinstall your Windows, then you will need to download and reinstall the drivers again. The problem is that you may have misplaced the CD/DVD or the backup of the device driver is missing. Some of these device drivers are no longer compatible with your system; hence you need to find a way to export all of your latest drivers in a safe place and this tutorial will see a way to back up your device drivers.

How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

Also, its always a good idea to back up your device drivers before doing a clean installation of your Windows. If you have the backup, then you could easily restore any of these drivers on your system, when the need persists. Anyway, without wasting any time, let’s see How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10 with the help of the below-listed tutorial.

How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Backup All Device Drivers using Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt. The user can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and then press Enter.

Open Command Prompt. The user can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and then press Enter.

2. Type the following command into cmd and hit Enter:

dism /online /export-driver /destination:”folder_location”

Backup All Device Drivers using Command Prompt | How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

Note: Replace folder_location with the folder’s actual full path to export all the device drivers. For example dism /online /export-driver /destination:”E:Drivers Backup”

3. Once the export is finished, close command prompt.

4. Now navigate to the above-specified folder location (E:Drivers Backup), and you will see all of your device drivers backups.

Navigate to the above-specified folder location & you will find all of your device drivers backups

Method 2: Backup All Device Drivers in Windows 10 using PowerShell

1. Type Powershell in Windows search then right-click on the PowerShell and select Run as administrator.

In the Windows search type Powershell then right-click on Windows PowerShell

2. Now type the following in command and hit enter:

Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination G:backup

Export Drivers Using PowerShell Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination

Note: G:backup is the destination directory where all the drivers would be back up if you want some other location or have another driver letter to type in the changes in the above command and then hit Enter.

3. This command would let Powershell began exporting the drivers to the above location, which you specified and wait for the process to finish.

Navigate to the above-specified folder location & you will find all of your device drivers backups

Method 3: Restore Device Drivers from the Backup in Windows 10

1. Press Windows Key + R then type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter.

devmgmt.msc device manager | How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

2. Right-click on the device you want to restore the driver for then select Update driver.

Restore Device Drivers from the Backup using Device Manager

3. On the next screen, select “Browse my computer for driver software“.

Select Browse my computer for driver software

4. Click on “Browse” then navigate to the folder where you have the backup of the device drivers.

Click Browse then navigate to the folder where you have the backup of the device drivers

Select your backup driver's folder and click OK

5. Make sure to checkmark “Include subfolder” then click on Next.

Checkmark Include subfolder then click on Next | How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

6. Device Manage will automatically search for the device driver from the above folder, and if it’s a newer version, it would be installed.

7. Once you’re finished restoring the device driver’s close everything.

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That’s it you have successfully learned How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10 but if you still have any questions regarding this tutorial then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.