DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-28

Device Manager Codes Device Manager Code 28: The Drivers for This Device Are Not Installed Applies to: Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 11

What it means

Exactly what it says — no driver is currently installed for this device at all, as opposed to a driver being present but broken.

Also seen as: The drivers for this device are not installed (Code 28), Code 28 error

Quick fix steps

Right-click the device in Device Manager > Update driver > Search automatically — this is often enough by itself for common, well-supported hardware.
If Windows can't find one automatically, check the device or PC manufacturer's support site for the correct driver for your exact model.
Run Windows Update fully (Settings > Windows Update) — some drivers are distributed this way rather than needing a separate manual download.
Avoid third-party "driver updater" tools as a shortcut here — see our guide on why downloading software from unfamiliar sources is risky, since these frequently install a driver that isn't actually correct for your specific hardware.

For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see Understanding Device Manager Error Codes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would Windows not have a driver for hardware it detects?

This commonly happens with newer hardware that shipped after your version of Windows was released, or hardware that requires a manufacturer-specific driver Windows doesn't include by default.

Is it always safe to let Windows Update install a driver automatically?

Generally yes for well-supported hardware, though for more specialized devices, a driver directly from the manufacturer is sometimes more reliable and feature-complete than the generic one Windows Update provides.

Other error codes

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-10 — Device Manager Code 10: This Device Cannot Start

One of the most common, generic Device Manager codes — Windows tried to start the device and couldn't, usually because of an outdated or corrupted driver, though it can also point to a temporary hardware fault.

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-39 — Device Manager Code 39: Windows Cannot Load the Device Driver for This Hardware

Different from Code 28 — here a driver is present, but Windows can't actually load it, usually because the driver file itself is corrupted or missing a required component.

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-43 — Device Manager Code 43: Windows Has Stopped This Device Because It Has Reported Problems

A deliberately vague, catch-all code — the device itself reported a problem to Windows, which stopped it as a protective measure, but the specific reason isn't included in the code itself. Common causes range from a genuinely failing piece of hardware to a driver conflict to, on graphics cards specifically, a crashed or hung GPU.

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-45 — Device Manager Code 45: Currently, This Hardware Device Is Not Connected to the Computer

Usually much simpler than most other Device Manager codes: this is a leftover entry for a device that was once connected but genuinely isn't plugged in right now — Windows keeps a record of previously-connected devices, and this code just reflects that.