With the advent of every update for Windows 10, there are questions. What problems does it fix? What new problems does it introduce? What new features does it add? What breaks it? What features does it remove?
With the release of the KB4568831 update a few weeks ago, Microsoft incorporated Windows 10 version 2004 (Windows 10 with 2020 Update) to build 19041.423. As well as solving connectivity issues and printing, this update also killed off a handy option related to updating drivers – the ability to search online for new Device Manager drivers.
See also:
The change means that Windows 10 users who are obsessed with drivers now have one less way to do so. After installing KB4568831 and updating to create 19041.423 you will see the change in Device Manager when you try to update a driver. You are still presented with two options, but one has changed. If you have manually downloaded a driver and want to point Windows in its direction, you have the “Browse My Computer for Drivers” option (formerly called “Browse My Computer for Drivers”).
But it is the automatic update option of drivers that has changed. Previously, there was one named “Automatically check for updated drivers” with the description: “Windows will search your computer and the Internet for the latest drivers for your device unless you have disabled this feature in your device’s installation settings”. This has been replaced by a rather shorter option “Automatically search for drivers” with the description: “Windows will search your computer for the best available drive and install it on your device”. No online search will be performed.
Microsoft has not made any announcement about killing the option, so we can only guess at the thinking behind it. However, it will likely be part of the company’s ongoing drive to push people away from what’s left of the Control Panel in Settings. Here, in Windows Update, it is possible to search for drivers online using the “optional updates” section.
Image Credit: g0d4ather / Shutterstock
