How to update drivers: A step-by-step guide

What are device drivers?

Device drivers are software programs that let your operating system “talk” to your hardware devices. Their primary purpose is to ensure optimal performance when applications exchange data with connected hardware, from your graphics and Wi-Fi cards to your printer, keyboard, or Blu-ray disk drive.

Device drivers are extremely important. Every piece of hardware, whether plugged in or built-in, needs a driver to function. That includes internal components like network drivers, which let your device connect to a LAN, WAN, or Wi-Fi. If your screen flickers or your internet randomly cuts out, an outdated driver could be the reason.

How to update drivers on Windows devices: 4 methods

Windows gives you a few ways to update drivers. The easiest option is letting Windows handle it for you, but if you want more control, you can also do it manually. We'll go over four ways to get it done.

How to update drivers using Windows Update

Windows Update can handle drivers for devices like network adapters and printers, often without you lifting a finger.

1. 1.Click the Start button and open "Settings."
2. 2.Select "Update & security."
3. 3.Click "Windows Update."
4. 4.Click "Check for updates."
5. 5.If driver updates are available, they'll be listed under "Optional updates." Click to expand and install them.
6. 6.Once updates are installed, restart your Windows device.

How to update drivers using Windows Device Manager

Device Manager gives you more control than Windows Update, especially if you're targeting a specific piece of hardware.

1. 1.Press the Windows key and type "Device Manager."
2. 2.Select "Device Manager" from the search results.
3. 3.Find the device you want to update (e.g., "Display adapters" for graphics).
   
4. 4.Right-click the device and select "Update driver."
   
5. 5.Select "Search automatically for drivers."
   
6. 6.If Windows finds a newer version, it will install it.

How to manually download and update the drivers

Want the latest version straight from the source? Skip Windows tools and go to the hardware manufacturer's site. This method is especially useful for graphics cards, network drivers, and anything that needs specific support.

1. 1.Go to the manufacturer's website (e.g., Intel, Realtek, NVIDIA, AMD).
2. 2.On the support page, look for a section titled "Download drivers" or similar.
3. 3.Find and download the relevant driver(s) based on your operating system version and hardware model number.
4. 4.Run the installer and follow the steps.
5. 5.Restart your computer if prompted.

Note: Consider using a network monitoring tool to help spot any weird traffic during the download, especially if you're troubleshooting network drivers.

[H3] How to update drivers using third-party software 

Third-party tools for driver updates come in two types: official ones from hardware brands and generic driver updater programs.

Official software (recommended)

These tools are built by the people who make your hardware, so you can safely trust them. If you've got one of these components, use the tool that goes with it:

• GeForce Experience for NVIDIA graphics cards.
• AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition for AMD graphics cards.
• Intel Driver & Support Assistant for Intel-based components.

Steps:

1. 1.Download the official updater from the manufacturer's website.
2. 2.Install and launch the tool.
3. 3.Follow the on-screen instructions to scan for and install driver updates.

Generic tools (use with caution)

Programs like Driver Booster or DriverPack Solution promise to update all your drivers in one click. While some are legit, others may install the wrong driver or contain bloatware or malware.

Use these only if you know exactly what you're doing, and avoid anything that seems shady or overly pushy. Before running the installer, scan the file with a reliable file checker to verify its integrity and rule out malware. 

If you accidentally download the wrong file and end up with a security issue, you can still get rid of malware or a virus using reputable cleanup tools. But it's always better to prevent the problem in the first place. Tools like Threat Protection Pro™ offer extra layers of defense while you browse, blocking harmful files before they reach your device. 

How to update graphics drivers

Your graphics driver does a lot more than just power games — it affects video playback, rendering, and overall display performance. If your screen stutters, apps crash, or games run poorly, an outdated graphics driver could be the reason, so make sure to keep it up-to-date.

If you're using NVIDIA:

1. 1.Go to NVIDIA's driver download page.
2. 2.Enter your GPU model and download the latest Game Ready or Studio driver.
3. 3.Install it manually.

Alternatively, use GeForce Experience to automatically update the driver.

If you're using AMD:

1. 1.Go to AMD's Drivers and Support page.
2. 2.Enter your graphics card details.
3. 3.Download the latest version.

You can also use AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition to automate the update.

Common issues when updating your drivers and how to fix them

Even though updating drivers usually goes smoothly, sometimes you might encounter some issues. Watch for the following:

• Update fails or crashes midway. Try restarting your Windows device and updating again. If it keeps failing, download the driver manually from the manufacturer’s website.
• The new driver breaks functionality. Roll back to the previous version using Windows Device Manager:
  1. 1.Press the Windows key and type "Device Manager."
  2. 2.Select "Device Manager" from the search results.
  3. 3.Right-click the problematic device.
  4. 4.Select "Properties" > "Driver" tab > "Roll back driver."
• Wi-Fi or network stops working. You may have installed the wrong network driver. Reconnect using an Ethernet cable if possible and reinstall the correct driver manually.

Note: Always download drivers over a secure connection. Avoid public Wi-Fi unless you're using a VPN, which uses end-to-end encryption to protect your downloads from tampering or snooping. For added protection, make sure your device has solid endpoint security in place.

Should you leave the driver auto-updates on? 

Most hardware and software providers recommend automatic driver updates. It's less work, and you get the latest features and security fixes without having to think about it.

Sure, sometimes a new version might come with a bug or two. But outdated drivers can be a much bigger risk for both performance and security. Once vendors stop supporting older versions, they stop patching them too. That means vulnerabilities go unaddressed.