GetMyDrivers: what it is and how to remove it
GetMyDrivers - the potentially unwanted application that in reality is considered to be intrusive due to false detection result that appears on the screen when the tool is launched as trusted software. The program itself has been detected as a PUP by AV engines, malware-fighting tools.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
Programs like GetMyDrivers usually arrive in groups; a free scan lists the companions that are easy to miss.
Do it yourself · free Remove GetMyDrivers yourself 4 steps, about 12 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
GetMyDrivers: summary
| Distribution | Freeware installations can lead to downloads of such shady programs because PUAs often get included as additional parts of the bundle, so when people choose recommended or quick options during the installation process of any program or tool they allow all the programs to get downloaded.[2] There are promotional sites and pages that focus on the distribution of these applications, so users can get tricked into installing the PUP |
|---|---|
| Name | GetMyDrivers |
| Type | Potentially unwanted program/ Fake driver updater tool |
| Symptoms | The application claims to offer functions resembling driver updaters and even malware scanners, so the person falls for the promotional material and installs the program willingly. Those offers encourage users' choices, so people use the program that delivers false results with claims about non-existent issues and malware |
| Issues | The tool shows false positives to encourage people to install other tools or pay for the licensed version of the initial program by delivering results injected with fake issues and detections |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 5 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | GetMyDrivers |
| First seen | 2 September 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is GetMyDrivers safe? Why it is flagged
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
GetMyDrivers is the program that claims to offer functions of a malicious program detection tool
GetMyDrivers - the potentially unwanted application that in reality is considered to be intrusive due to false detection result that appears on the screen when the tool is launched as trusted software. The program itself has been detected as a PUP by AV engines, malware-fighting tools. So experts report the application as a scammy program claiming about driver issues and malware risks.
However, it is known that a particular program cannot be useful or provide any needed functions. PUP.Optional.GetMyDrivers is the detection name that indicates a particular intruder and the application that affects the system in a significant way. Promotional advertisements and sites that push the installation of the program can list various features and claim to offer functions that are not related to this software at all.
GetMyDrivers claims to be a driver updater software that, unfortunately, triggers PUP detection rules, so it is considered to be useless and deceptive. This is the program that should be valuable and make peoples' time online more pleasant. However, this is not the application that could do so.
PUP.Optional.GetMyDrivers detection indicates that this program is useless and categorized as a potentially unwanted program for a reason. The rogue tool is affecting the machine in the most sophisticated way - it manages to alter various settings, preferences, add shortcuts, other files, and programs, so the computer runs slow, and PUP triggers processes that resemble a system scan.
This is how GetMyDrivers can claim to check the machine for malware - by showing the pop-up that allegedly looks like a scanning process windows. There are no real features that could allow such an application to fully scan the machine, so driver issues or even malware detections could appear.
You might find the icon of this tool added on the taskbar or on the desktop, so this is how you notice the infection. Unfortunately, it is not easy to remove GetMyDrivers when it manages to alter those settings, add files, and functionalities, install other applications.
However, PUP.Optional.GetMyDrivers detection should indicate that it is needed and possible to terminate this program and clear the intruder off of the machine properly. You should note that the PUP gets detected as suspicious or possibly dangerous, this tool is not a virus that could damage the machine significantly.
However, even though GetMyDrivers virus is not the proper term used to describe the intruder, you need to get the anti-malware tool that could find all the shady programs and traces associated with this application. Security tools, AV detection engine-based programs like or should work for this.
Of course, there are some additional steps in this GetMyDrivers removal process because anti-malware tools are not the only ones that should be employed. Besides the cleaning of the system, you need to repair the damaged files, fix issues with the corrupted functions, and restore the machine to smooth behavior.
GetMyDrivers is not the program that is recommended to use for any driver or system file issues, especially malware-related files. Get a tool similar to that can focus on checking files, functions, and repairing those issues automatically for you.
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
Make sure to keep the machine clear of malware by running security tools more often
Potentially unwanted programs are the ones that can appear on the machine when the user is involved in insecure freeware installation procedures.
The tool is added as the extra on a bundle with popular applications, so once the person agrees to install the package and skips through the steps providing full control all pre-packed applications end up installed.
Unfortunately, relying on shady sources, questionable pages, promotional ads, torrent sites, and similar sources for the program downloads can lead to issues with the security of your device. You cannot be sure that there is no shady background business when you are not using the official source, the proper program provider.
Of course, you can choose Advanced or Custom installation options to be able to control the processes and see the list with programs included for the download. You can de-select any applications that are suspicious or possibly dangerous. Experts always note how important it is to choose the right option.
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on GetMyDrivers
- The best option for the GetMyDrivers removal – anti-malware tools, programs designed to keep the system clean of malware and secure
- Note that proper PC repair tools or system optimization programs should also get employed here.
- You need to find and fix possible damage that the rogue tool caused, so programs like can help you with that
How to uninstall GetMyDrivers
How to remove GetMyDrivers
Uninstall it, then remove its startup entries.
Windows Update and your PC maker's site provide drivers for free.
Step 1: Uninstall GetMyDrivers
GetMyDrivers is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Select GetMyDrivers, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 2: Remove it from startup
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and select Startup apps (Windows 11) or the Startup tab (Windows 10). Disable entries you do not recognise, especially ones with no publisher or with a name that copies a Windows component.
Right-click an entry and choose Open file location to see where it runs from: programs in
%AppData%or%Temp%deserve a closer look. Some entries are not listed there but in the registry Run keys, which the procedure below shows how to check.Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 3: Delete the folders left behind
Uninstalling often leaves the program's folders, and some threats reinstall themselves from them.
Press Windows + R, type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter, then do the same for%AppData%and %ProgramData%, and look for folders named after GetMyDrivers, its publisher or created on the day the problem started. Delete those folders, and check C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) too.If Windows says a file is in use, end it in Task Manager or delete the folder after a restart in Safe Mode. The folders are the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of GetMyDrivers that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
Recover from the infection by removing all things related to GetMyDrivers PUP
Make the system clear of intruders by properly clearing the machine.
There are some ways helpful for this GetMyDrivers virus termination, but we should first note, those manual procedures shouldn't be the only ones that you go for. This is the intruder that can affect more than the user sees.
When the rogue program adds files and programs on the machine, the whole process of GetMyDrivers removal becomes difficult and merely possible. Especially when you try to get rid of the tool manually only. This is why we offer to get automatic tools and also focus on system repair.
Make sure to remove GetMyDrivers as soon as you notice those changes settings and other issues regarding the installation or speed problems. You need to rely on proper anti-malware tools, so all the associated programs get to be deleted and fully eliminated.
Questions about GetMyDrivers
Is GetMyDrivers a virus?
Most programs that appear the way GetMyDrivers did are not viruses in the strict sense. They are potentially unwanted programs:
- real software that arrives bundled with other downloads and then shows offers
- changes browser settings
- starts with Windows
Some are harmless, some are annoying and a few carry adware. What makes it worth removing is that you did not choose it.
Uninstall it from Installed apps and check the startup list and the browsers for anything added the same day. If it refuses to uninstall or returns after a restart, treat it as more serious and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan.
How do I stop programs like GetMyDrivers from being installed again?
Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.
Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped GetMyDrivers before it reached the app list.
Can GetMyDrivers see my passwords?
There is no report of that. Unwanted programs make money from ads, offers, data about your browsing or the use of your connection, not from stealing passwords, and the sign reported here is getMyDrivers in the list of installed apps.
That said, a bundle can contain more than one program, and you cannot be sure what else ran on the day it arrived. After removing GetMyDrivers, run a full scan in Windows Security.
If it finds a password stealer or a trojan, change your passwords from another device. If the scan is clean and you see no unknown sign-ins, there is no need to change them.
Why does GetMyDrivers reinstall itself?
Programs like GetMyDrivers are often installed with an updater or a companion app whose job is to keep them present. When you uninstall the main program, the helper downloads it again at the next scheduled run or restart.
Find the helper by sorting Installed apps by date and by checking Task Scheduler and Services for entries with the same name or publisher. Remove them all, then delete leftover folders. Turning on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security also stops many reinstall attempts.
Is GetMyDrivers safe to keep?
It is not dangerous in the way malware is: it does not steal passwords or encrypt files. It can still cost money through subscriptions, show ads that lead to scam pages, collect usage data and slow the start of Windows. If you installed GetMyDrivers on purpose and find it useful, you can keep it:
- turn off start with Windows
- offers and data sharing in its settings
- choose Custom during updates
If you do not know where it came from, remove it, together with anything installed on the same day.
How do I stop programs like GetMyDrivers from installing?
Turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings, with both Block apps and Block downloads checked. Download programs from the developer's own site or the Microsoft Store, choose Custom in installers and untick extra offers, and treat large download buttons on file sites as ads.
Apps from the Microsoft Store are checked by Microsoft and uninstall cleanly. Keep real-time protection on, so that bundled offers flagged as unwanted are stopped before they install.
GetMyDrivers will not uninstall. What can I do?
Close it first: in Task Manager, select every process with its name and click End task, and exit its tray icon. Then uninstall it from Settings > Apps > Installed apps. If the uninstaller fails, shows an error or just reopens offers, restart Windows in Safe Mode, where third-party programs do not start, and uninstall from there.
Afterwards, delete its folders in C:\Program Files and %AppData%, remove its scheduled tasks and run a full scan in Windows Security. As a last step, System Restore to a date before the install can help.
GetMyDrivers has no uninstall option. What now?
Some unwanted programs leave no entry in Installed apps on purpose. Find the program's files instead:
- open Task Manager while getMyDrivers in the list of installed apps is visible
- right-click the process
- choose Open file location
End the process, then look in that folder for an uninstall file. If there is none, delete the folder after checking that it holds nothing you need.
Before deleting, remove the startup entry and any scheduled task that points to it, otherwise it may be recreated. A restart and a full scan in Windows Security finish the job and catch files stored elsewhere.
Do I need special software to remove GetMyDrivers?
No. Windows has everything needed:
- Installed apps for the uninstall
- the Startup list and Task Scheduler for what restarts it
- Windows Security for a scan afterwards
The steps in this guide take about fifteen minutes. A dedicated tool is a convenience when you would rather not check each place yourself or when the program keeps coming back.
Whatever you use, finish by confirming that getMyDrivers in the list of installed apps is gone after a restart, and avoid downloading removal tools from pages that promote them through scary warnings.
Will Fortect remove GetMyDrivers?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For GetMyDrivers, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Potentially unwanted program (read October 6, 2026)
- CSOonline: Social engineering explained: How criminals exploit human behavior (read October 6, 2026)
- Dieviren: Dieviren (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)