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Does windows require a user-mode driver to be signed?

I have an inf file for a user-mode driver for a device.

Does windows require me to get this driver signed? Are there any risks of not having this driver signed?

I know that kernel-mode drivers need to be signed.

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Linda Avatar asked Aug 02 '26 10:08

Linda


2 Answers

The accepted answer is right about Windows 7, but things are different starting with Windows 8 and now 10.

User-mode drivers, like the Printer driver will install and work in an x64-based computer. A dialog will appear to the user during installation asking for approval to install the driver. Beginning in Windows 8 and later versions of Windows, installation will not proceed unless these driver packages are also signed.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/install/windows-driver-signing-tutorial

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Soroush Falahati Avatar answered Aug 04 '26 05:08

Soroush Falahati


The short answer is no; windows does not require signing for user-mode drivers on x86/x64.

There are no risks with not having it signed, and you don't have to pay the fee to have Microsoft sign the driver.


UPDATE: This is no longer the case as Soroush Falahati's answer will point out, please refer to his answer

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Nowayz Avatar answered Aug 04 '26 06:08

Nowayz



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