Microsoft to deprecate driver synchronization updates via Windows Server Update Services
Microsoft has announced that it’ll deprecate the drive synchronization capability in WSUS come April 18, 2025. WSUS driver synchronization helps IT admins automate the process of distributing driver updates within their network. It ensures the mass deployment of driver updates as soon as they’re available to enhance the stability and hardware compatibility of PCs.
However, now that the WSUS driver synchronization is being deprecated, IT admins will have to manually download drivers from the Microsoft Update Catalog or switch to third-party update management solutions. Alternatively, they can also use tools like Microsoft Intune to manage driver updates.
Why is Microsoft deprecating WSUS driver synchronization?
In a survey conducted by Microsoft, it found that only 34% of the participants who use WSUS use the tool to synchronize drivers. Of this 34% of respondents, a majority of people are in the process of switching to a different solution for managing the distribution of driver updates, with only eight percent raising concerns that the depreciation will impact them. Although Microsoft doesn’t explicitly mention the reason behind this move, the numbers suggest the company no longer finds the WSUS driver synchronization feature worthy of being maintained in the future. If you’re an IT admin and think that the depreciation will impact you, Microsoft encourages you to transition to an alternative solution.
