Stored — Where Are Windows 10 Drivers

This unassuming folder holds the .inf files—plain-text setup scripts that tell Windows exactly which .sys file goes with which hardware ID, which registry keys to set, and which services to start.

This is the true answer to "where are drivers stored." Think of the DriverStore as a version-controlled, cryptographic library. Every driver that has ever been staged for installation—whether you’re using it or not—sits here in immutable, signed packages.

Driver Store , though they reside in a few specific system directories depending on their current state (staged, active, or legacy). GitHub +1 Key Storage Locations The Driver Store (Main Repository): C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository This is the most critical folder. It acts as a trusted collection of all driver packages—both built-in Windows drivers and those you've installed manually—that are "staged" and ready for use. Active Driver Files (.sys): C:\Windows\System32\drivers This folder contains the actual

: This is a trusted repository of all driver packages. Before a driver is installed, Windows "stages" it here. It contains a full copy of the driver package, including .inf , .sys , and .cat files. where are windows 10 drivers stored

: The master collection of all driver packages (both built-in and third-party) is located at C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository . This folder serves as a secure staging area where driver packages are verified before installation.

Look closely. You'll see:

: This folder houses the actual .sys files that the operating system uses to communicate with your hardware. These are the files currently "in use" by the system. This unassuming folder holds the

Here, ImagePath points exactly to the .sys file in System32\drivers . Start dictates boot order (0 = boot driver, 1 = system driver, 2 = auto-load, 3 = on-demand). This registry key is the driver's birth certificate and tombstone.

Files in this location often appear as randomly named folders or files with no extension. They are not organized in a user-friendly way and are meant for system processing, not user management.

If you need to find the exact file path for a device currently connected to your computer, you can use the built-in . Driver folders in Windows - Microsoft Q&A Driver Store , though they reside in a

If you want a comprehensive list of every driver installed on your system:

Asking "where are Windows 10 drivers stored" is like asking "where is a novel stored." The answer is: in the author's drafts (DriverStore\FileRepository), in the printed book (System32\drivers), in the library catalog (INF files), and in the reader's memory (registry).

: This folder contains the .inf files used for driver installation. These text-based files act as "instruction manuals" telling Windows which files to copy and which registry settings to change. How to Find a Specific Driver's Path

You cannot manually delete from the DriverStore without breaking Windows' ability to roll back or reinstall. Microsoft’s pnputil.exe is the only proper way to remove driver packages.