Hardware Dev Center:
One of the top pieces of customer feedback in the graphics driver area is clear: "Windows Update downgrades my drivers." Today, we are announcing a policy change to how display drivers are published through Windows Update — allowing 2-Part HWID + Computer Hardware ID (CHID) targeting for new devices. This change gives customers more control over their display driver of choice while preserving OEM control over the devices they ship.
Note: This blog is intended for Microsoft partners — IHVs and OEMs — who publish display drivers through the Hardware Dev Center portal.
What's Changing
Today, display drivers published to Windows Update use 4-Part Hardware IDs for targeting. This broad targeting establishes a highest ranked driver on Windows Update — including devices where the customer installed a preferred driver version of their choice. The result: customers who actively manage their display drivers experience unwanted downgrades through Windows Update.With this policy change, display drivers for new devices can be published using 2-Part HWIDs combined with Computer Hardware IDs (CHIDs) where appropriate. This narrower targeting model ensures that driver updates are scoped to the specific systems they are intended for, reducing unintended driver replacements across the ecosystem.
Key points:
- Display loose-leaf drivers on new devices can target using 2-Part HWIDs + CHIDs.
- CHIDs should not be included in the driver's INF — they are applied at the shipping label level in Hardware Dev Center.
- This will allow devices not locked to a 4-part HWID driver to keep their user installed display driver of choice, instead of experiencing a driver downgrade from Windows Update.
- IHV partners may publish graphics drivers on behalf of OEMs using 2-Part HWIDs and CHIDs, with OEM approval.
What This Means for Partners
For IHVs (Graphics Driver Publishers)- Update your shipping labels to use 2-Part HWIDs + CHIDs for display drivers targeting new devices.
- During the pilot phase, share feedback with your Microsoft representative if 2-Part HWID + CHID targeting is insufficient for your scenario.
- You retain full control over which drivers target your devices through CHID targeting.
- If an IHV publishes on your behalf, confirm the CHIDs they use to match your intended device population.
- No changes are required to your existing device manufacturing or driver packaging processes.
Timeline
Milestone | Timing |
|---|---|
| Pilot — Collect feedback where 2ID+CHID is insufficient for targeting. Share feedback with your Microsoft representative. | April 2026 - September 2026 |
| GA — Enforce 2-Part HWID+CHID targeting display driver submissions on new devices (devices that have not had a 4ID Windows Update driver installed). | 2026 Q4 - 2027 Q1 |
FAQs
Q: Does this affect drivers that are already published and working correctly?A: No. This policy applies to new display driver submissions targeting new devices. Drivers that are currently published with 4-Part HWID targeting will continue to function as-is.
Q: What qualifies as a "new device"?
A: A new device is one that has not previously had a 4-Part HWID Windows Update driver installed. Devices with an existing 4ID driver history are not affected by the GA enforcement.
Q: Do I need to change my driver's INF?
A: Your INF should reference 2-Part HWIDs. CHIDs are applied at the shipping label level in Hardware Dev Center — they should not be included in the INF.
Q: What if 2-Part HWID + CHID targeting doesn't work for my scenario?
A: During the pilot phase (starting April 2026), share your feedback with your Microsoft representative. We want to identify cases where this targeting model is insufficient before GA enforcement begins.
Q: Can IHVs still publish display drivers on behalf of OEMs?
A: Yes. IHVs can publish using 2-Part HWIDs and CHIDs with OEM approval. The OEM provides the appropriate CHIDs for their systems.
Q: Does this apply to all driver types or only display drivers?
A: This policy change applies specifically to display (graphics) drivers. Other driver classes are not affected at this time.
Additional Information
- Driver publishing process: Publish a driver to Windows Update
- Using CHIDs in shipping labels: Using Computer Hardware IDs (CHIDs)
Source:
Updated Graphics Driver Publishing Policy: From 4-Part to 2-Part HWID + CHID Targeting | Microsoft Community Hub
One of the top pieces of customer feedback in the graphics driver area is clear: "Windows Update downgrades my drivers." Today, we are announcing a...
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