How to Fix “The Driver Could Not Be Loaded on This Device” Error in Windows

Windows 11 is a much more stable operating system than some of its predecessors, but one of the biggest problems I still have is hardware driver issues. If the driver is not updated or loaded correctly, causing an error in Windows, I will not be able to use the device. I am forced to remove the cause.

Fortunately, I know a few tricks to help me figure out what to do if my Windows computer receives a “the driver cannot be loaded on this device” error. If this happens, follow the steps below.

Check for driver and system updates

If the driver doesn’t load, it’s a good idea to start by checking your computer for new drivers and system updates. The new update will (hopefully) include bug fixes to help resolve rare issues.

If you want to check for driver and system updates at the same time, you can use Windows Update to do so.

1. Start by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings.
   
2. Then click Windows Update> Check for updates button. It will start checking to see if you have any new updates you can install.
   
3. If any updates are detected, click Download and install to start the installation process. This may take some time.
4. Once you’ve done this, to check for new driver updates, click Advanced options > Optional updates > Driver updates. Select any of the updates displayed, then press Download and install to start the process.
   

If you don’t see any new driver updates, it’s worth checking your device manufacturer’s website as newer updates may be available. This is especially true for devices such as graphics cards, where the update frequency is much more frequent than for other types of devices.

Reinstall (or rollback) the problematic driver

If you get a driver error right after installing a driver, the answer is simple – roll it back or try installing it again. This can be done using Device Manager.

1. First, right-click on the Start menu and select Device manager.
   
2. Find your device in the menu, right-click it, then select it Uninstall the device.
   
3. Accept any prompts to confirm your decision, and then restart your computer. After restarting, Windows will automatically attempt to reinstall the driver.
4. Otherwise, to roll back the driver, right-click the device in Device Manager and select Real estate Instead.
   
5. Go to Driver tab and select Roll back the driverif this option is available.
   
6. Follow any additional on-screen instructions to complete the restore, then restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Disable Memory Integrity to resolve “The driver is not loading” error in Windows

Memory integrity is part of Core Isolation, a Windows security feature that prevents attacks by isolating your computer’s processes from the operating system and hardware. However, if you see an error that the driver cannot load on this device, you may need to disable it to try to resolve any compatibility issues that may arise.

I recommend doing this only as a temporary fix to help you switch to a different driver if you experience problems. After all, Microsoft designed this setting to protect your computer. To disable memory integrity, follow these steps.

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Settings.
   
2. IN SettingsClick Privacy and security > Windows security > Open Windows Security.
   
3. In the Windows Security window, click Device security > Core insulation details.
   
4. Click the slider next to it Memory integrity option by switching it to Off position.
   
5. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

WITH Memory integrity disabled, check if you can use your hardware with the correct driver. At this point you may want to update to a different driver or troubleshoot the issue further. However, remember to re-enable Memory Integrity when you are finished by following these steps and clicking the button Memory integrity slider back to ON position.

Reinstall or remove applications or games affected by driver issues

When you try to interact with the device in some way, you usually get a driver error. An obvious example is a graphics card that can generate a device error when launching a new game.

I’m assuming you actually want to keep the app or game you’re using, so it might be worth deleting and reinstalling it first. If a software error has occurred, a quick reinstallation may solve the problem. Otherwise, you may need to abandon your plans and completely remove the app, assuming it’s not a hardware fault.

1. To remove and reinstall on Windows, right-click on the Start menu and select Settings.
   
2. Click Apps > Installed apps.
3. Find the app or game you want to remove, then click Uninstall > Uninstall to remove it.
   
4. Once removed, reinstall the app or game using the installation media or source (such as Steam).
5. Launch the app or game to see if the issue is resolved after installation is complete.

Fix device errors in Windows

For most driver errors, rolling back or reinstalling the driver will solve the problem. The above steps should help you with this. If this does not solve the problem, you will need to further troubleshoot and check that the hardware is working properly.

For example, if your graphics card fails, it may not load when you play a new game. See if you can reproduce the error, and if you still can’t solve the problem, leave a comment below to see if we can help you with some additional suggestions.