How to install unsigned drivers in Windows

How to install unsigned drivers in Windows: Windows 7 will block the installation of unsigned drivers, this also applies to Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 / 8.1 and Windows 10 why are unsigned drivers important? well if you are trying to use any device or peripheral, and you are trying to connect that device to your computer, it will be useless without installing a driver. The driver that you install makes the device visible to the windows operating system. Some of these drivers come as unsigned and Windows natively blocks these unsigned drivers by default. Now that’s not to say all drivers that are unsigned are good. But if you have just brought a new Android device or phone, the driver you need to install are generally unsigned. So we can assume its safe because it come from a reputable source (trusted publisher). A word of warning here. Don’t go download drivers from any site, always go to the manufacturers website and download from there. This would be classed as a reputable source ie trusted publisher to download from.

Windows-can't-verify-the-publisher-of-this-driver-software

Device-driver-software-was-not-successfully-installed

How to disable driver signature in Windows

Step 1: Open a Elevated Command Prompt.

Windows 7:

  • Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories.
  • Right-click at Command Prompt and click Run As Administrator.
  • Click Yes to agree to User Account Control (UAC) warning message.
  • Type in the command

    bcdedit.exe -set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS 

  • Press Enter
  • Type in the command

    bcdedit.exe -set TESTSIGNING ON

  • press Enter
  • Reboot Computer

Windows 8 or 8.1:

  • Right-click Windows logo in the lower left corner, when menu appears choose Command Prompt (Admin)
  • Click Yes to agree to User Account Control (UAC) warning message.
  • Type in the command

    bcdedit.exe -set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS

  • Press Enter
  • Type in the command

    bcdedit.exe -set TESTSIGNING ON

  • press Enter
  • Reboot Computer

Now you should be able to install you’re driver software without getting any issues or warning message.

If you find command prompt a bit daunting? another option would be to Reboot your computer and keep tapping Press F8 key on system boot up, Advanced Boot Options screen will open and now use courser arrows on keyboard to select Disable Driver Signature enforcement for that boot session.

Disable-Driver-Signature-Enforcement

Alternatively you could use a simple program like Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider you must run DSEO with administrative privileges (Right click and choose Run as administrator).

Read all of the information about this program before you use it. Info 

driver-signature-enforcement-overrider

Note: use this software at your own risk, we do not take responsibility for any damages to your system

Virustotal Results 

False Positive Alert
It has come to our attention that several Antivirus suites have listed our Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider (DSEO) as a dangerous file. That’s nonsense! DSEO is safe. These Antivirus suites are being used as a tool to remove software that Microsoft deems contrary to its outlook, instead of protecting the customer from dangerous files. Read more about it here.

Leave a Reply