What Driver Updates Do and How to Find Them

A driver is software that lets your operating system talk to hardware — your printer, graphics card, network adapter, or motherboard. When manufacturers release updates, they usually fix bugs, improve performance, or add support for new devices. You can update drivers through your device maker's website, through Windows Update, or through built-in system tools, depending on which hardware you're updating and which operating system you use.

Most of the time, your computer handles driver updates automatically in the background. But if a device stops working, performs poorly, or you want the latest version, you can update manually. The process differs slightly between Windows and Mac, and between different types of hardware.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Update automatically installs many driver updates, but you can also check manually by opening Settings, going to System, then Update & Security, and clicking Check for Updates.
  • For specific devices like graphics cards or printers, visit the manufacturer's website directly and read the driver for your exact model and Windows version.
  • Device Manager on Windows shows which drivers are installed and whether any have problems — right-click a device and select Update Driver to search for newer versions.
  • On Mac, most drivers update through System Settings under General > Software Update, and third-party hardware usually includes its own updater process.
  • After installing a driver update, restart your computer to may support the change takes effect properly.

Updating Drivers on Windows Through Settings

The easiest route on Windows is to let the system check for updates automatically. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the app. Go to System, then select Update & Security on the left side. Click Check for Updates. Windows will scan for driver updates along with operating system updates and install them in the background.

This method works well for common hardware like network adapters, sound cards, and some printers. However, Windows Update does not always have the newest drivers, especially for graphics cards or specialized equipment. If you need a more recent version, you will need to visit the manufacturer's website instead.

Finding and Installing Drivers from the Manufacturer

For graphics cards, printers, motherboards, and other specific devices, the manufacturer usually has the latest driver on their support page. Go to the company's website — NVIDIA, AMD, Canon, HP, Asus, Gigabyte, or whoever made your hardware. Look for a Support, Downloads, or Drivers section. Enter your product model and your Windows version (check by pressing Windows key + Pause/Break, or go to Settings > System > About).

read the driver file to your computer. Most driver downloads are .exe files that you double-click to run an installer. Follow the on-screen prompts, which usually ask you to accept a license agreement and choose an installation location. The installer will place the driver files in the correct system folder. After installation finishes, restart your computer so the new driver loads when Windows starts up.

Some manufacturers, especially for graphics cards, include a control panel process in the installer. NVIDIA's GeForce Experience and AMD's Radeon Software let you check for updates within the app itself, which is often faster than visiting the website each time.

Using Device Manager to Update Drivers on Windows

Device Manager shows every piece of hardware Windows recognizes and whether its driver is working. Open it by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager, or by pressing Windows key + X and choosing it from the menu. You will see categories like Display Adapters, Sound, Printers, and Network Adapters.

If a device has a problem, it will show a yellow exclamation mark or a red X. Right-click the device and select Update Driver. Windows will offer two options: search automatically for updated driver software, or browse your computer for driver software. Choose the automatic search first — it checks Windows Update and the manufacturer's website. If that finds nothing, you can manually browse to a driver file you downloaded earlier.

Device Manager is also useful for rolling back a driver if a recent update caused problems. Right-click the device, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver. This restores the previous version.

Updating Drivers on Mac

On Mac, most drivers update through the built-in Software Update tool. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), then go to General. Click Software Update. Your Mac will check for updates to the operating system and bundled drivers. If updates are available, click Update Now or let your Mac install them automatically overnight.

For third-party hardware like printers, external hard drives, or gaming peripherals, the manufacturer usually provides its own updater process. When you install the device's software from the manufacturer's website or disc, it often includes an updater that you can run later to check for new drivers. Some applications, like printer software from Canon or Epson, sit in your Applications folder and have their own update menu.

Unlike Windows, Mac does not have a built-in Device Manager. If a device is not working, open System Settings, go to General > About, click System Report, and look at the Hardware section to see what devices are connected and recognized.

What to Do After Updating a Driver

After any driver installation, restart your computer. This ensures the new driver loads completely and any old version is fully removed from memory. On Windows, the installer often prompts you to restart — do not skip this step.

After restart, test the device to confirm it works. If you updated a printer, try printing a test page. If you updated a graphics card driver, open a game or graphics process to see if performance improved. If the device still does not work or performs worse than before, you can roll back the driver in Device Manager (Windows) or reinstall the previous version from the manufacturer's website.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

If a driver update fails to install, the most common cause is that the installer is not compatible with your Windows version or system architecture. Check whether you downloaded the 32-bit or 64-bit version — open Settings > System > About and look at System Type. read the matching version and try again.

If a device stops working after an update, restart your computer first. If that does not help, open Device Manager, right-click the device, and select Roll Back Driver. If no rollback option appears, uninstall the device (right-click and select Uninstall Device), restart, and let Windows reinstall the previous driver automatically.

If you cannot find a driver for your hardware, check the manufacturer's website for end-of-life notices. Very old devices sometimes stop receiving driver updates. In that case, the device may not work on newer Windows versions. Contact the manufacturer's support to confirm whether a driver exists for your specific hardware model and operating system version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to update drivers if my device is working fine?

No. If your hardware works without problems, you do not need to update. Driver updates are most important for security patches, performance improvements, or fixing a specific bug. Let Windows Update handle routine updates automatically.

What is the difference between a driver and firmware?

A driver is software that runs on your computer and tells the operating system how to use a device. Firmware is software stored on the device itself. Some hardware, like motherboards or routers, has firmware that updates separately from drivers. Check the manufacturer's website to see whether your device needs a firmware update in addition to a driver update.

Can a driver update break my computer?

It is rare, but a driver update can cause problems if the new version has a bug or is incompatible with your system. This is why you can roll back to the previous version in Device Manager. If your computer becomes unstable after a driver update, restart in Safe Mode, roll back the driver, and restart normally.

Why does my device manager show unknown devices?

An unknown device means Windows does not have a driver for that hardware. Right-click the unknown device, select Update Driver, and search automatically. If Windows cannot find a driver, visit the manufacturer's website, find the device model, and read the driver manually. Then use Device Manager to browse to the file you downloaded.

Should I update drivers for devices I do not use?

You can, but it is not necessary. If you have a printer you rarely use or a network adapter you do not connect to, updating its driver will not affect your daily work. Focus on drivers for devices you use regularly, like your graphics card or audio adapter.