Windows 11 Bug Deletes Dedicated GPU Drivers in Eco Mode

The operating system treats the inactive hardware as a disconnected USB device and removes the associated driver without notifying the user.

Driver Deletion Timelines and Affected Hardware

The automatic removal of drivers occurs after a laptop remains in power-saving Eco mode without utilizing the dedicated graphics card for a specific window of time. On the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, for example, the system triggers the driver deletion after only 15 days.

Users who primarily use their laptops for low-intensity tasks in home office or travel settings are most susceptible to the bug. The issue manifests when a user attempts to switch from Eco mode back to a high-performance mode for gaming or compute-intensive applications, only to find the dGPU driver missing and the hardware requiring manual reconfiguration.

Origin of the Bug Report

The problem first gained public attention through a Reddit user identified as Ok-Horse-3169, who documented the unexpected removal of the drivers. Following this initial report, the behavior became a subject of discussion within the community, as the deletion happens silently in the background without system warnings.

Registry Workaround to Prevent Driver Loss

Until Microsoft issues an official patch, a manual workaround involving the Windows Registry is being circulated among affected users.

• Navigate to the path: HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerVolumeCachesDevice Driver Packages
• Locate the DWORD value named “Autorun”
• Set the value to 0

This adjustment disables the automatic cache cleaning process responsible for the uninstallation. However, reports caution that registry modifications should be handled with care, as incorrect changes can impact other system functions.

Microsoft has not yet released an official statement or a formal update to address the driver deletion behavior.