Guide to Fix Driver Error 48 – Software for This Device Has Been Blocked from Starting

device-manager-errors_48_code

You may come up with Device Manager Error Code 48 – The Software for This Device Has Been Blocked from Starting when trying to open apps in your Windows 10, 11 & 8 machines. This error falls under the driver’s error category and you can fix it by modifying some settings in your windows machine.
Error message:

The software for this device has been blocked from starting because it is known to have problems with Windows. Contact the hardware vendor for a new driver. (Code 48)
Why does driver error 48 occurs?

The driver error 48 occurs due to corrupted or outdated drivers, outdated windows updates, installing malware/viruses, corrupted registry files, or missing system files like EXE files, DLL files, SYS files, etc.

How to Fix this error?

There are a few ways by which you can remove this error and use your apps. The best solutions are given below. Apply all these methods one by one and resolve your issue.

Method 1: Fix using DriverEasy Driver Repair Tool

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Method 2: Update the faulty Driver

It is recommended to update your faulty driver and install the latest compatible version to fix error code 48. If you don’t know how to manually update the driver, then follow the given guidelines.

Step 1: Open Device Manager. Right-click on Start and select Device Manager.

open_device_manager

Step 2: Right-click on your faulty driver and select Update.

update_driver

Step 3: Select Search Automatically for Drivers.

search_automatically_driver

Step 4: If it cannot find the driver then you can use DriverEasy – Driver Repair Tool to update the driver.

Method 3: Re-install the driver.

If updating the driver doesn’t solve your problem, then you must re-install the driver and install a fresh and latest version of the driver.

Step 1: Open Device Manager. Right-click on the faulty driver and select Uninstall device.

uninstall_device

Step 2: Download the latest and compatible version of the driver from the manufacturer sites and install them.
Step 3: Reboot your PC and analyze whether the problem has been gone or not.

Method 4: Run System File Checker Tool

If there are missing or corrupted system files, then you may also get the same error. You must check Windows file’s integrity using the System Files Checker Tool.

Step 1: Open Elevated Command Prompt.

cmd

Step 2: Type the following commands and execute them.

sfc /scannow
sfc_scannow

Step 3: Wait until it scans and fixes the problem. It may take 1 to 30 minutes to complete.

Method 5: System Restore

If none of the above methods works for you then the last option is to restore your system. If you have installed some application recently, this application may change some system settings that may cause “Driver Error Code 48 – Software for This Device Has Been Blocked from Starting”. By restoring your PC, you will be able to remove recent changes and eliminate the error code 48.

Step 1: Click on Start Menu and Search “Create a Restore Point”.

create_restore_point

Step 2: Click on System Restore.

system_restore

Step 3: It will open “Restore System files settings”. Select “Choose a different restore point” and click Next.

system_restore

Step 4: Select the latest Restore Point and click Next then Finish. Wait until it finishes the process. You must keep your laptop fully charged because it may take several minutes to several hours.

Summary

In this article, I have discussed, how you can fix Driver Error Code 48 – Software for This Device Has Been Blocked from Starting on Windows 11, 10 & 8 machines.