How To Disable Driver Signature Enforcement Windows 8.1

Did you know that by default, Windows 8.1 has a feature called Driver Signature Enforcement that ensures only digitally signed drivers are installed? While this is a security measure designed to protect your system from malicious drivers, it can also be an inconvenience when you want to install custom or older drivers that haven't been signed. Fortunately, there is a way to disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows 8.1 and gain more control over your driver installations.

To disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows 8.1, you can follow these steps: First, press the Windows Key + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu. Next, type the following command and press Enter: "bcdedit /set {current} testsigning on". This command enables Test Mode and allows the installation of unsigned drivers. Finally, restart your computer, and Driver Signature Enforcement will be disabled. It's important to note that disabling this feature may expose your system to potential risks, so be cautious when installing unsigned drivers.

What is Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows 8.1?

Driver Signature Enforcement is a security feature in Windows operating systems, including Windows 8.1, that ensures that only digitally signed drivers are installed on your computer. A driver is a software component that allows the operating system to interact with hardware devices, such as printers, keyboards, and graphics cards. Digitally signed drivers are tested and verified by Microsoft to ensure their authenticity and integrity.

By default, Windows 8.1 enforces the use of digitally signed drivers to prevent the installation of malicious or incompatible drivers that could potentially harm your system. However, there may be situations where you need to install drivers that are not digitally signed, especially if you are working with older or specialized hardware. In such cases, you can disable driver signature enforcement temporarily or permanently to install and use unsigned drivers.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of disabling driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1, both temporarily and permanently, so you can install and use unsigned drivers when necessary.

Temporarily Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement

To temporarily disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1, you can follow these steps:

• Open the Charms Bar by moving your mouse to the top-right or bottom-right corner of the screen, or by pressing the Windows key + C on your keyboard.
• Click on the "Settings" icon (represented by a gear).
• Click on "Change PC settings" at the bottom right of the screen.
• In the PC settings window, select "Update and recovery."
• Click on "Recovery."
• Under "Advanced startup," click on "Restart now."
• Your computer will restart and display the "Advanced startup" screen.
• Click on "Troubleshoot."
• Click on "Advanced options."
• Click on "Startup Settings."
• Click on "Restart."
• After your computer restarts, a list of startup options will appear.
• Press the number key that corresponds to "Disable driver signature enforcement" (usually F7) to select it.
• Your computer will then boot into Windows 8.1 with driver signature enforcement temporarily disabled.

After following these steps, you will be able to install and use unsigned drivers temporarily. However, please note that this setting will revert to the default state when you restart your computer. If you frequently need to use unsigned drivers, you may want to consider permanently disabling driver signature enforcement using the steps described in the next section.

Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement Permanently

If you need to install and use unsigned drivers on a regular basis in Windows 8.1, you can permanently disable driver signature enforcement. Here's how:

• Open the Charms Bar by moving your mouse to the top-right or bottom-right corner of the screen, or by pressing the Windows key + C on your keyboard.
• Click on the "Settings" icon (represented by a gear).
• Click on "Change PC settings" at the bottom right of the screen.
• In the PC settings window, select "Update and recovery."
• Click on "Recovery."
• Under "Advanced startup," click on "Restart now."
• Your computer will restart and display the "Advanced startup" screen.
• Click on "Troubleshoot."
• Click on "Advanced options."
• Click on "Startup Settings."
• Click on "Restart."
• After your computer restarts, a list of startup options will appear.
• Press the number key that corresponds to "Disable driver signature enforcement" (usually F7) to select it.
• Your computer will then boot into Windows 8.1 with driver signature enforcement temporarily disabled.
• Once you are logged into Windows, press the Windows key + X on your keyboard to open the Power User Menu.
• Select "Command Prompt (Admin)" to open an elevated Command Prompt.
• In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: bcdedit.exe /set nointegritychecks on
• Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

After following these steps, driver signature enforcement will be permanently disabled on your Windows 8.1 computer. Keep in mind that this may pose a security risk as unsigned drivers may be potentially harmful or incompatible with your system. Only install and use unsigned drivers if you are confident in their source and compatibility.

Benefits and Risks of Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement

While disabling driver signature enforcement may allow you to install and use unsigned drivers, it is important to weigh the benefits against the risks. Here are some of the benefits and risks:

Benefits of Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement

• Compatibility: Unsigned drivers may be required for older or specialized hardware that does not have digitally signed drivers available.
• Flexibility: Disabling driver signature enforcement allows you to have more control over the drivers you install and use on your system.
• Customization: Unsigned drivers may offer additional features or customizations that are not available in digitally signed drivers.

Risks of Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement

• Security: Digitally signed drivers are tested and verified by Microsoft to ensure their authenticity and integrity. Disabling driver signature enforcement exposes your system to potential security risks from unsigned or malicious drivers.
• Stability: Unsigned drivers may cause system instability or compatibility issues that can lead to crashes, errors, or other problems.
• Support: Using unsigned drivers may void manufacturer warranties and may not receive updates or technical support.

Consider these benefits and risks carefully before deciding to disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1. It is recommended to only install and use unsigned drivers if you have a specific need and understand the potential consequences.

Conclusion

Driver signature enforcement is an important security feature in Windows 8.1 that ensures the integrity and authenticity of drivers installed on your system. However, there may be situations where you need to install and use unsigned drivers. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can either temporarily or permanently disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1. Remember to consider the benefits and risks before disabling this feature and only install unsigned drivers from trusted sources.

Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows 8.1

If you encounter issues installing or running certain drivers on your Windows 8.1 system, disabling driver signature enforcement may be necessary. Driver signature enforcement is a security feature that verifies the authenticity of drivers during installation, ensuring they are signed by a trusted source. However, in some cases, you may want to install drivers that have not been signed by Microsoft.

Here are two methods to disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1:

• Method 1: Disable driver signature enforcement temporarily:
• Restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
• Select "Disable driver signature enforcement" from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
• Continue with the installation of your unsigned driver.
• Method 2: Disable driver signature enforcement permanently:
• Press the Windows key + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)".
• Type "bcdedit /set testsigning on" and press Enter.
• Restart your computer for changes to take effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions section on how to disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1. If you're encountering issues with unsigned drivers, these questions and answers will guide you through the process of disabling driver signature enforcement and installing the necessary drivers. Let's get started!

1. How do I disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1?

To disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + C to open the Charms menu, then select "Settings."

Step 2: Click on "Change PC settings" at the bottom of the Settings menu.

Step 3: In the PC settings menu, select "Update and recovery."

Step 4: Click on "Recovery" and then click on "Restart now" under "Advanced startup."

Step 5: After restarting, select "Troubleshoot" and then "Advanced options."

Step 6: Choose "Startup Settings" and click on "Restart."

Step 7: Once the PC restarts, a new menu will appear. Press the "7" key on your keyboard to select "Disable driver signature enforcement."

Your PC will then boot into Windows 8.1 with driver signature enforcement disabled.

2. Why should I disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1?

Driver signature enforcement is a security feature in Windows 8.1 that ensures only signed drivers are installed. However, there may be instances where you need to install unsigned drivers for certain hardware, such as older devices or custom drivers. Disabling driver signature enforcement allows you to install these drivers and resolve compatibility issues with your hardware.

3. Are there any risks in disabling driver signature enforcement?

Disabling driver signature enforcement can expose your computer to potential security risks. Unsigned drivers are not verified by Microsoft and may contain malicious code or have compatibility issues with your system. It is important to only install drivers from trusted sources to minimize these risks. After installing the necessary drivers, it is recommended to re-enable driver signature enforcement for enhanced security.

4. How can I verify if driver signature enforcement is disabled?

To verify if driver signature enforcement is disabled on your Windows 8.1 computer, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + X and select "Device Manager" from the menu.

Step 2: In Device Manager, locate the device driver you installed with driver signature enforcement disabled.

Step 3: Right-click on the device and select "Properties."

Step 4: In the Properties window, click on the "Driver" tab.

If you see a warning message stating "No digital signature," it means that driver signature enforcement is disabled on your system for that particular driver.

5. How do I re-enable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1?

To re-enable driver signature enforcement in Windows 8.1, follow these steps:

Step 1: Repeat Steps 1 to 6 from Question 1 to boot into the Startup Settings menu.

Step 2: This time, press the "1" key on your keyboard to select "Enable driver signature enforcement."

Your PC will then restart with driver signature enforcement enabled, providing enhanced security for your system.

To disable driver signature enforcement on Windows 8.1, follow the steps mentioned in the article. Start by accessing the Advanced Startup options through Settings. Then, open the Recovery section and click on 'Restart Now'. Next, select 'Troubleshoot', followed by 'Advanced Options' and 'Startup Settings'.

Once in the Startup Settings window, press the 'F7' key to disable driver signature enforcement. This temporary change allows you to install or run drivers that may not be digitally signed by Windows. Remember that disabling driver signature enforcement can have security risks, so proceed with caution and make sure to enable it again after finishing the desired tasks.