PnPUtil Command Syntax

To run PnPUtil, open a Command Prompt window (Run as Administrator) and type a command using the following syntax and parameters.

Note  PnPUtil (PnPUtil.exe) is included in every version of Windows, starting with Windows Vista (in the %windir%\system32 directory).

PNPUTIL [/add-driver <...> | /delete-driver <...> | /export-driver <...> | /enum-drivers | /enum-devices [<...>] | /enum-interfaces [<...>] | /disable-device <...> | /enable-device <...> | /restart-device <...> | /remove-device <...> | /scan-devices [<...>] | /?]

Commands

/add-driver <filename.inf | *.inf> [/subdirs] [/install] [/reboot]

Available starting in Windows 10, version 1607.

Add driver package(s) into the driver store.

/subdirs - traverse sub directories for driver packages.

/install - install/update drivers on any matching devices.

/reboot - reboot system if needed to complete the operation.

/delete-driver <oem#.inf> [/uninstall] [/force] [/reboot]

Available starting in Windows 10, version 1607.

Delete driver package from the driver store.

/uninstall - uninstall driver package from any devices using it.

/force - delete driver package even when it is in use by devices.

/reboot - reboot system if needed to complete the operation.

/export-driver <oem#.inf | *> <target directory>

Available starting in Windows 10, version 1607.

Export driver package(s) from the driver store into a target directory.

/enum-drivers

Available starting in Windows 10, version 1607.

Enumerate all 3rd party driver packages in the driver store.

/disable-device <instance ID> [/reboot]

Available starting in Windows 10 Version 2004

Disable devices on the system.

/reboot - reboot system if needed to complete the operation.

/enable-device <instance ID> [/reboot]

Available starting in Windows 10 Version 2004

Enable devices on the system.

/reboot - reboot system if needed to complete the operation.

/restart-device <instance ID> [/reboot]

Available starting in Windows 10 Version 2004

Restart devices devices on the system.

/reboot - reboot system if needed to complete the operation.

/remove-device <instance ID> [/subtree] [/reboot]

Available starting in Windows 10 Version 2004

Attempt to remove a device from the system.

/subtree - remove entire device subree, including any child devices.

/reboot - reboot system if needed to complete the operation.

/scan-devices [/instanceid <instance ID>] [/async]

Available starting in Windows 10 Version 2004

Scan the system for any device hardware changes.

/instanceid <instance ID> - scan device subtree for changes.

/async - scan for changes asynchronously.

/enum-devices

/enum-devices [/connected] | /disconnected] [/instanceid <instance ID>] [/class <name | GUID>] [/problem [<code>]] [/ids] [/relations] [/drivers]

Available starting in Windows 10 Version 1903

Enumerate all devices on the system.

/connected | /disconnected - filter by connected devices or filter by disconnected devices.

/instanceid <instance ID> - filter by device instance ID.

/class <name | GUID> - filter by device class name or GUID.

/problem [<code>] - filter by devices with problems or filter by specific problem code.

/ids - display hardware IDs and compatible IDs.

/relations - display parent and child device relations.

/drivers - display matching and installed drivers.

/enum-interfaces [/enabled | /disabled] [/class <GUID>]

Available starting in Windows 10 Version 1903

Enumerate all device interfaces on the system.

/enabled | /disabled - filter by enabled interfaces or filter by disabled interfaces.

/class <GUID> - filter by interface class GUID.

/?

Displays the command-line syntax.

Legacy Command Mapping

The following commands are still supported, but are legacy. We recommend that you use the up-to-date syntax instead.

  -a [-i]  <filename.inf> ==> /add-driver <filename.inf> [/install]

  -d [-f]  <oem#.inf>     ==> /delete-driver <oem#.inf> [/force]

  -e                     ==> /enum-drivers

Examples

For examples of how to use the PnPUtil tool, see PnPUtil Examples.