The “A driver cannot load on this device” error means Windows is blocking a driver. An incompatible driver blocked by Memory integrity triggers this notification. Start with the driver named in the error, then work through the update and removal options below.
Find out which driver Windows blocked
Record the driver filename and company name shown in the notification. Use those details to identify the responsible device or application before changing anything.
Check the manufacturer's support site for a compatible update for that product. If no replacement exists, contact the manufacturer about a fix.
Leave Memory integrity enabled while you try these fixes. Turning it off reduces protection without fixing the driver's incompatibility.
Look for an update through Windows Update
Windows Update delivers recommended drivers automatically, but optional drivers need your selection. Check here for an update for the affected hardware.
Open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. Select the applicable driver updates. Click Download and install.
Restart your PC after installation. If no applicable update is listed, use the manufacturer's package next.
Install the manufacturer's compatible driver
A compatible replacement addresses the driver incompatibility behind the block.
Download the manufacturer's driver package matching your hardware, Windows version, and architecture. If the download is a compressed archive, extract it and continue with the Device Manager steps below. If the manufacturer supplies an installer instead, run it and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Open Device Manager by right-clicking Start and selecting it. Expand the category containing the affected device. Choose Update driver from that device's right-click menu. Select Browse my computer for drivers.
Click Browse.... Select the extracted driver folder. Click OK to confirm the folder. Click Next.
Windows installs the driver if it is newer than the current one. If Windows reports that the best drivers are already installed, follow the manufacturer's installation instructions instead. Select Close when installation finishes.
Remove the utility or device you no longer use
A device utility with its own incompatible driver is another cause of this notification. Identify the owning application using the filename and company shown in the error. Check the publisher's support site for a compatible update.
If you no longer need the application, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Select Uninstall from the application's More menu. Complete the publisher's removal prompts.
For an external device you are retiring, disconnect it from the PC. To reveal its unused device entry, open Device Manager > View > Show hidden devices. Expand the relevant device category. Select Uninstall device from the unwanted device's right-click menu.
Confirm the removal in the dialog that appears. Removing a device entry and deleting its driver package are separate operations. Uninstalling the device does not guarantee that its driver package is removed.
Roll back a driver that just changed
If the error began immediately after a driver update, open Device Manager using an administrator account. Rollback requires an available previous driver.
Select Properties from the affected device's right-click menu. Open the Driver tab. Select Roll Back Driver. Choose the reason for the rollback.
Click Yes. Restart if Windows requests it. The previous driver must still meet Windows security requirements, so an older version is not automatically compatible.
Reinstall the affected device driver
A driver that remains incompatible still triggers the block after reinstallation. If you need the device and updating or rolling back has not helped, open Device Manager to try reinstalling its driver.
Select Uninstall device from the affected device's right-click menu. Confirm the removal in the dialog that appears. Restart your PC. Windows attempts to reinstall the device driver.
If the error returns, install a compatible manufacturer package using the manual installation steps above. Reinstalling the same blocked version does not resolve its incompatibility.
Use Memory integrity only as a last resort
Microsoft documents turning off Memory integrity as a fallback when you cannot obtain a compatible driver. This reduces protection and takes a Secured-core PC out of its Secured-core state. Consider that tradeoff before proceeding.
Open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Device Security > Core isolation details. Set Memory integrity to Off. Restart your PC for the change to take effect.
If this workaround fails, contact the manufacturer for a compatible replacement or remove the responsible application or unused device. Turning off Memory integrity does not bypass every driver block.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling driver signature enforcement fix this error?
Microsoft documents that startup option for improperly signed drivers. It is not a general bypass for Memory integrity or the vulnerable driver blocklist.
Why can't I change Memory integrity on my work PC?
On managed PCs, an enforced organizational policy controls the setting. Ask your IT administrator to review the policy before attempting local changes.
Will SFC or reinstalling Windows fix a blocked driver?
SFC and DISM repair Windows corruption; they do not authorize a blocked third-party driver. A Windows repair reinstallation preserves applications, files, and settings. It does not make an incompatible installed driver compatible.
Can I use System Restore if the error began after installing software?
Yes, with a suitable existing restore point. Press Windows+R, enter rstrui.exe, and press Enter. Select Next. Choose a restore point from before the problem began. Select Scan for affected programs to review the impact. Select Next, then Finish. Personal files remain, but system, application, and driver changes made since that restore point are undone.