---
title: Update VirtIO drivers
---

# Update VirtIO drivers {#virt-update-virtio-drivers}

Update VirtIO drivers and the QEMU guest agent in guest operating systems. Using the latest VirtIO drivers increases performance and stability.

## Downloading the VirtIO drivers ISO from the web console {#virt-downloading-virtio-win-iso_virt-update-virtio-drivers}

You can download the `virtio-win` ISO file from the OpenShift Container Platform web console. The ISO file includes the VirtIO drivers and the QEMU guest agent installer for Microsoft Windows virtual machines (VMs).

> [!NOTE]
> If your cluster has Windows VMs, a notification on the **Virtualization** → **VirtualMachines** page provides a link to the **Downloads** tab where you can download the ISO file.

**Procedure**

1. In the OpenShift Container Platform web console, navigate to **Virtualization** → **Settings**.
2. Click the **Downloads** tab.
3. In the **Windows drivers** section, click **Download ISO**.

   The `virtio-win` ISO file downloads to your local machine.

## Update VirtIO drivers and the guest agent on a Windows VM {#virt-updating-virtio-drivers-guest-agent-windows_virt-update-virtio-drivers}

You can update the VirtIO drivers and the QEMU guest agent on a Windows virtual machine (VM) by using the `virtio-win` guest tools installer. This method updates both the drivers and the guest agent in one step.

**Prerequisites**

- The `container-native-virtualization/virtio-win` container disk must be attached to the VM as a SATA CD drive. You can mount the disk from the web console by selecting the **Mount Windows drivers disk** checkbox on the **Configuration** → **Storage** tab.

**Procedure**

1. Start the VM and connect to a graphical console.
2. Log in to the Windows guest operating system.
3. Open **File Explorer** and navigate to the `virtio-win` CD drive.
4. Double-click the `virtio-win-gt-x64` installer to launch the guest tools setup wizard.
5. Follow the prompts in the setup wizard. The default options update the VirtIO drivers and the QEMU guest agent.
6. After the update is complete, click **Finish**.
7. Reboot the VM.

**Verification**

1. On the Windows VM, navigate to **Device Manager**.
2. Select a device.
3. Select the **Driver** tab.
4. Click **Driver Details** and confirm that the `virtio` driver details displays the correct version.

## Enable automatic updates for Red Hat virtio-win drivers {#virt-updating-red-hat-virtio-drivers-windows_virt-update-virtio-drivers}

If the Windows Update service (WUS) is restricted to allow only drivers explicitly signed and published by Microsoft, you must manually configure automatic Red Hat `virtio-win` driver updates. Otherwise, automatic updates are disabled.

**Prerequisites**

- The cluster must have internet connectivity. Disconnected clusters cannot reach the WUS.

**Procedure**

1. Import the Red Hat Release Certificate into the Trusted Publishers store.

   Example command:

   ```powershell
   Import-Certificate -FilePath "redhat-driver-cert.cer" -CertStoreLocation Cert:\LocalMachine\TrustedPublisher
   ```
2. In the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC):

   1. Set the `Allow signed updates from an intranet Microsoft update service location` policy to `Enabled`.

      If a driver is signed by a certificate in the Trusted Publishers store, it is now accepted, even if it didn’t come from Microsoft directly.
   2. Set the `Do not include drivers with Windows Updates` policy to `Disabled`.

## Update VirtIO drivers on a Windows VM {#virt-updating-virtio-drivers-windows_virt-update-virtio-drivers}

You can update the VirtIO drivers on a Windows virtual machine (VM) by using the Windows Update service (WUS).

> [!IMPORTANT]
> If you restrict the WUS to only allow drivers explicitly signed and published by Microsoft, automatic Red Hat `virtio-win` driver updates are disabled. For information about enabling automatic Red Hat VirtIO driver updates, see "Enable automatic updates for Red Hat virtio-win drivers".

**Prerequisites**

- The cluster must have internet connectivity. Disconnected clusters cannot reach the WUS.

**Procedure**

1. In the Windows Guest operating system, click the **Windows** key and select **Settings**.
2. Navigate to **Windows Update** → **Advanced Options** → **Optional Updates**.
3. Install all updates from **Red Hat, Inc.**.
4. Reboot the VM.

**Verification**

1. On the Windows VM, navigate to the **Device Manager**.
2. Select a device.
3. Select the **Driver** tab.
4. Click **Driver Details** and confirm that the `virtio` driver details displays the correct version.

> [!TIP]
> To view the individual driver versions included in the `virtio-win` container disk, open the `release-drivers-versions.txt` file at the root of the `virtio-win` CD drive.

**Additional resources**
{._additional-resources}

- [Allow signed updates from an intranet Microsoft update service location](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/waas-wu-settings#allow-signed-updates-from-an-intranet-microsoft-update-service-location)
- [Do not include drivers with Windows Updates](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/waas-wu-settings#do-not-include-drivers-with-windows-updates)