Microsoft extends driver synchronization support through Windows Server Update Services again

Editor's take: The list of deprecated features in the Windows ecosystem continues to grow, even as millions still rely on them daily. Occasionally, Microsoft has to tap the brakes on its phase-out plans – though it tends to attribute the shift to the vague catch-all of "user feedback."

Microsoft recently announced it will postpone the deprecation of driver synchronization from Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) servers. The company had planned to end support this month but reversed course after realizing many customers aren't ready to switch to alternative download methods.

Citing "valuable feedback" from users, Microsoft said WSUS will continue delivering driver updates for now. Redmond initially announced plans to deprecate the feature in 2024 and issued another reminder in January. According to Microsoft, just 34 percent of WSUS users still rely on the service to keep drivers up to date, and only 8 percent expressed concern about the potential impact of its removal.

When Microsoft marks a feature as "deprecated," it signals the end of active development – though the feature will continue functioning for some time. The WSUS platform is on that path, with Microsoft encouraging customers to explore alternative methods for retrieving and deploying Windows updates across their organizations.

Microsoft encourages customers to migrate their maintenance and management workflows to newer, cloud-based solutions like Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch, which now support Windows 11 devices. The company reportedly delayed the deprecation of driver synchronization due to ongoing use in "disconnected device scenarios," where IT admins still rely on WSUS to fetch drivers.

It's safe to assume that the "small" number of customers not ready to replace WSUS driver sync still represents millions of end users – likely including some major enterprise organizations. Microsoft says it will continue listening to user feedback, even as its developers remain preoccupied with yet another attempt to fix the beleaguered Start Menu.

In theory, Microsoft should have all the feedback it needs to make Windows the ideal computing platform – thanks to the Windows Insider program and the constant stream of monthly patches reaching millions of PCs. In practice, though, each new update still introduces fresh headaches for users.