Microsoft Clarifies Windows 11 Now Auto‑Handles Duplicate Driver Updates
On versions 24H2 and 25H2, Windows uses file‑level checks with targeting metadata to select the appropriate driver.
Overview
- A new Microsoft support document says duplicate or oddly dated driver entries are safe to ignore on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2.
- Windows compares the actual driver files and relies on provider-set targeting data to keep or install the most suitable release even when names or versions look confusing.
- Driver dates may appear decades old because providers choose those values, so date and version labels are not reliable indicators of recency.
- Device functionality can be split across multiple components, which can lead to several related drivers installing at once without indicating a problem.
- Most drivers come from hardware makers such as Intel, Qualcomm, and PC OEMs, and Windows Update may lag newer releases, so users needing the latest features—especially GPU updates—should download from the OEM or vendor site.