FIX: Windows cannot verify digital signature

Well, we can’t have a blog post without something to fix. Here’s an easy one: The latest version of Windows, Windows 10, has a bug that prevents it from verifying digital signatures that you’ve signed elsewhere. This means that when you install apps from the Windows Store, you have to manually re-sign them to ensure that they work properly.

Microsoft once again has an issue with digital signature issue. The error “Windows cannot verify the digital signature for file X” is the one that appears when you install a pre-release application after you already have the official version installed.

It is possible to have a bad file in a folder with bad file signatures. I am thinking of one folder that has a very large number of files in it, but their signatures are all bad. This folder is not cleaned out (nuked) or deleted. Instead, it is left with a bunch of bad signatures and the folder cannot be opened.

Tyrsina, Radu

CEO & Founder

Since his first PC, a Pentium III, Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan (a monster at that time). For most of his generation’s youth, the Internet was a source of entertainment… Read more

• If you receive the notice “Windows cannot validate the digital signature – Code 52,” you should assume a driver problem. 
• When this issue occurs, your USB ports may fail to identify any hardware that is connected to them.
• Manually downloading and updating the drivers may be the solution to this problem, so follow the steps below.
• Another easy tip is to use the UEFI Firmware Settings to reset your BIOS.  

   

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Because it is caused by one’s device drivers, Error Code 52 is considered a Device Manager issue. It can occur on any OS version, from Windows 7 to the most recent Windows 11.

Some of the best features in Windows 11 to upgrade for are already known to our readers, and they’ve taken the first step in that direction. However, several of them have asked us what they should do if they get a notice in Device Manager or DXDiag saying Windows cannot validate digital signature – Code 52.

Having a greater grasp of why this problem occurs, as well as how to better care for your equipment and avoid this issue from recurring, has become a requirement.

Is a digital signature required?

The major objective of a digital signature, according to Microsoft, is to actively safeguard your system from threats and infections by ensuring that the signer is trustworthy and that the files have not been altered after they were published.

As a result, before you install and execute any driver or software on your device, it must be digitally certified. This isn’t always the case, as not all publishers and vendors, as well as their products, are confirmed.

Microsoft simply cannot examine all of the drivers or apps that are released on a regular basis and have them digitally signed for your device’s protection.

Because the OS will not enable an unsigned valid software or driver to run or load as it should, you may encounter driver issues.

The most common causes of Error Code 52

You’re about to learn how to fix this problem, but first realize that the most common culprit is wrongly signed driver files on your PC, which usually happens when you update or upgrade Windows.

Those who found that their PC qualifies for a free upgrade after using WhyNotWin11 are in the same boat. They’ve figured out how to get Windows 11, and it appears that this issue is included in the release.

This issue can also be caused by corruption in the Windows Registry as a result of a recent program change, as well as malfunctioning USB or incompatible driver filters installed in the system.

Damaged hardware, poor software installation or uninstallation, and a virus or malware infection that has corrupted Windows system files are some of the other causes.

That’s why we strongly advise you to choose one of the top antivirus alternatives for Windows 11 based on features like scanning, ransomware protection, malware/virus removal, and resource usage.

Even if you don’t want to be in this scenario, rest assured that we have a solution for you. Below you’ll find some step-by-step instructions, so take a look.

On Windows 11, how can I fix the digital signature – Code 52 error?

1. Remove the driver from your computer by hand.

1. Select Device Manager with a right-click on Start.
2. Expand the options in the Universal Serial Bus controllers area.
3. Right-click on the defective driver (the one with the yellow exclamation mark next to it) and select Properties.
4. From the menu, select Uninstall.
5. To continue with the uninstallation, select Yes.
6. You should repeat the instructions for each malfunctioning driver if you have more than one.
7. To save the changes, restart your computer.

2. Get the driver and install it.

1. As with the last solution, open the Device Manager once more.
2. Right-click your defective driver again, but this time select Update driver from the menu.
3. Choose the first alternative. Updated driver software is automatically sought.
4. Windows will now attempt to locate and install the most recent driver for your computer.
5. To complete the installation, follow the on-screen directions.
6. Restart your device after the update is complete.

If you do not want to go through the preceding procedures to update your problematic drivers, you can use DriverFix, a driver updater utility that will do it for you.

Furthermore, by using this software, you will avoid endangering your computer by downloading the incorrect drivers and having to deal with issues all over again.

3. To fix the corrupt system files, run SFC scannow.

1. Type command prompt into the search box and select Run as administrator.
2. Enter the following commands into Command Prompt once it has started: sfc/scannow
3. The System File Checker process will now begin if you press the Enter key.
4. Because the repair process can take some time, be patient and don’t close the window until it’s finished.
5. Restart your computer after the scanning is complete to see whether the error Code 52 is still present.

There’s no need to be concerned if the scannow command terminated the process before it completed. As always, we have a simple solution for you.

4. Delete the USB Upper and Lower Filter entries.

1. By hitting the Windows + R keys and typing regedit in the run box, you may access the registry.
2. HKEY LOCAL MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000HKEY LOCAL MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000HKEY LOCAL MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass36FC9E
3. Locate and right-click the UpperFilters in the right pane, then select the Delete option.
4. If you have the choice, repeat the process for the LowerFilters as well.
5. To save your changes, restart your computer.

5. Restore the system to its original state.

1. To open the Run box, use Windows + R on your keyboard.
2. In the search box, type sysdm.cpl and press OK.
3. Select System Protection from the drop-down menu.
4. Select System Restore from the drop-down menu.
5. To perform the system restore, click Next and select the desired System Restore point, then follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Check to see whether the problem still exists.

System Return is a Windows operating system function that allows you to restore your computer to a previous state.

You can establish a restore point manually, but your PC will normally do it automatically when you install new software, drivers, or update your system.

6. Disable the enforcement of driver signatures.

1. Type command prompt into the search box and select Run as administrator.
2. Start Command Prompt and type the following commands:
   • configure loadoptions DDISABLE INTEGRITY CHECKS
   • bcdedit -set bcdedit -set bcdedit – SIGNING ON TESTSIGNING ON
3. Restart your device after closing Command Prompt.

If you’re experiencing problems using Command Prompt as an administrator, take a look at our tutorial. In no time, this problem will be a thing of the past.

NOTE

Before deactivating the driver signature enforcement, you must suspend or turn off BitLocker for the OS drive and disable Secure Boot.

7. Turn off the hardware driver updater.

1. Select Settings from the Start menu.
2. Scroll down until you find About under the System option and click it.
3. Select Advanced System Settings from the drop-down menu next to Related links.
4. Go to the Hardware tab in the new window.
5. Select No from the Device Installation Settings menu, then Save Changes.
6. This will prevent future Windows updates from interfering with your hardware drivers while still allowing you to install crucial security upgrades.

8. Restart your computer and turn off driver signing enforcement.

1. Open Settings by pressing the Start button.
2. Scroll down until you locate Recovery under the System option and click it.
3. Next to Advanced startup, press Restart now.
4. A pop-up will display, prompting you to click Restart Now once more.
5. Select the Troubleshoot option from the Choose an option screen.
6. Now select Advanced settings from the drop-down menu.
7. Choose Startup Options.
8. Restart the computer by pressing the Restart button.
9. Your computer will restart and display various boot options. Disable driver signature enforcement by pressing the 7 or F7 key.
10. The driver signature enforcement will now be disabled when the machine restarts.

Your hard disk, where the operating system is installed, is the default boot location. If the previous technique isn’t for you, take a look at our instructions to see how easy it is to boot from a USB drive.

9. Restart your computer’s BIOS.

1. Follow the steps above until you reach the blue screen with Advanced choices (step 7) or step 8. Select UEFI Firmware Settings from the drop-down menu.
2. To continue, click Restart.
3. After your computer has shut down, a setup menu should appear. Look for the button that says “Reset the system.”
4. Pay attention to phrases like Load Setup Defaults or Load Default Options because the interface may differ. A dialog window will appear when you select one of these alternatives. If you choose Yes, your default settings will be restored.
5. Simply exit and restart your computer as usual.

If you’re experiencing difficulties resetting your BIOS, you should read this article to learn how to update your BIOS quickly. You’ll gain access to new features as well as greater stability as a result of this.

What happens if I don’t enforce driver signatures?

As previously stated, this Windows function almost ensures that your drivers are genuine and unaffected by malicious software.

A digital signature is a feature of every operating system that protects your system by preventing you from installing untested drivers.

When it comes to Windows, the operating system truly demands that a driver originate from a trusted developer and that the driver recognizes that it cannot be fake.

If you turn off signature enforcement, you’ll have no way of knowing if you’re installing defective, poorly-written, or malicious drivers, which can cause your system to crash.

You can also turn it off for a while, as the lack of verification can cause poor computer performance.

So, if you don’t want to turn off driver signature verification permanently, or if you want to know how to turn it back on, read our whole guide to driver signature verification.

We hope that this tutorial was helpful in addressing the problem and that your computer is now error-free. Furthermore, learn everything there is to know about the latest Windows 11 preview build 22000.65 and be on the lookout for issues as well as new features.

Tell us which method helped you solve the problem in the comments area below. If you have any ideas or know of a different solution, please share them with us as well.

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Last week I received a rather strange email from a reader after he tried to install a Malwarebytes program on his Windows 8 machine. When he went to run the program, the program could not verify the digital signature from the publisher and therefore it could not be installed. He emailed me asking what was wrong. I did some research and found that the problem was that Microsoft had blocked the program from being installed. The easiest way to fix this problem is to run this registry hack:. Read more about msert windows cannot verify the digital signature and let us know what you think.

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This error is caused by a corrupted file. You can try to download the file again and if it still does not work, you can use the Windows System Restore feature to go back in time before the corruption occurred.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How do I fix my digital signature in Windows 10?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”
To fix your digital signature in Windows 10, you must first open the Command Prompt by pressing the key combination Windows-X and then typing cmd into the search bar. Once you have opened the command prompt, type regedit and press enter.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How does Driver verify digital signature?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”
Driver verifies digital signature by checking the public key against a list of trusted keys.”}}]}

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you fix Windows Cannot verify the digital signature for this file error in Windows 8.1 8 7 & Vista?

This error is caused by a corrupted file. You can try to download the file again and if it still does not work, you can use the Windows System Restore feature to go back in time before the corruption occurred.

How do I fix my digital signature in Windows 10?

To fix your digital signature in Windows 10, you must first open the Command Prompt by pressing the key combination Windows-X and then typing cmd into the search bar. Once you have opened the command prompt, type regedit and press enter.

How does Driver verify digital signature?

Driver verifies digital signature by checking the public key against a list of trusted keys.

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