Windows 10/11 Driver Backup & Restore – Complete Guide.
One of the most common problems after reinstalling Windows is missing or outdated drivers. Drivers such as Graphics, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Audio, Chipset, and USB are important for your computer to work properly.
In this guide, we will see how to backup installed drivers in Windows 10 and Windows 11 and restore them when needed.
Why Should You Backup Windows Drivers?
Keeping a driver backup before reinstalling or resetting Windows can be very useful. If the internet is not available or the required driver is difficult to find, you can use your saved drivers instead.
Driver backup is especially useful when.
- You are planning to reinstall Windows 10/11.
- You want to reset or format your PC.
- Original laptop drivers are difficult to find.
- The Wi-Fi driver is missing.
- You need to reinstall an Audio or Graphics driver.
- You want to keep a copy of the drivers from a working PC.
How to Backup Drivers in Windows 10/11.
Windows includes a built-in DISM command-line tool that can be used to export installed third-party drivers.
Step 1: Create a Driver Backup Folder
First, create a folder on another drive where you want to save the drivers.
For example.
E:\DriverBackup
If the E: drive is not available, you can use another suitable drive or folder location.
Step 2: Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Open the Start Menu and search for.
Command Prompt
Right-click on it and select.
Run as administrator
Click Yes if the User Account Control window appears.
Step 3: Export Installed Drivers.
In the Administrator Command Prompt, enter the following command.
DISM Driver Backup Command
DISM Driver Backup Command
Press Enter.
Windows will start exporting the installed third-party driver packages to the selected folder.
After the process is completed, you can open the E:\DriverBackup folder to check the exported driver packages.
How to Restore Drivers.
After reinstalling Windows, keep your driver backup folder available on the computer or connect the USB drive where you saved it.
You can manually install a driver using Device Manager.
Using Device Manager.
1. Open Device Manager.
2. Find the device whose driver is missing.
3. Right-click on the device.
4. Select Update driver.
5. Choose Browse my computer for drivers.
6. Select your driver backup folder.
7. Enable Include subfolders.
8. Click Next.
Windows will search the selected folder for a compatible driver and try to install it.
Important Drivers to Keep Safe.
When creating a driver backup, it is useful to keep these drivers safe.
- Wi-Fi / Wireless LAN Driver.
- Ethernet / LAN Driver.
- Bluetooth Driver.
- Graphics Driver.
- Audio Driver.
- Chipset Driver.
- USB Controller Driver.
- Touchpad Driver.
- Card Reader Driver.
For laptops, manufacturer-specific drivers can also be important, especially for features such as hotkeys, touchpad controls, and power management.
Driver Backup vs Driver Installer.
A driver backup is mainly used to preserve existing Windows driver packages. It should not be considered a complete replacement for a proper driver-management solution.
If possible, download the model-specific drivers from your laptop or desktop manufacturer's official website and keep them in a safe location as well. You can also check our [ Laptop Drivers Download for Windows 10/11 – All Brands & Models] guide to find drivers for different laptop brands and models.
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