What drivers are and why they need updating

A driver is software that lets your operating system talk to a piece of hardware — your graphics card, printer, network adapter, or sound card. When you plug in a device or turn on your computer, the driver translates commands from Windows or macOS into instructions the hardware understands.

Drivers become outdated for two reasons: manufacturers release updates that fix bugs, improve performance, or add support for new features, and your operating system itself updates, sometimes breaking older drivers. An outdated driver can cause crashes, slow performance, devices that stop working, or security gaps. Updating them is one of the easiest maintenance tasks you can do yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • Most drivers update automatically through Windows Update or macOS Software Update, but you can check manually by opening Device Manager (Windows) or System Report (Mac) and looking for warning symbols.
  • For graphics cards, printers, and other major devices, visiting the manufacturer's website and downloading the latest driver directly is often faster and more reliable than waiting for automatic updates.
  • Before updating a driver, restart your computer and note the current driver version in case you need to roll back to the previous one.
  • After installing a new driver, restart your computer again and test the device to confirm it works correctly.
  • If a new driver causes problems, you can uninstall it and reinstall the previous version through Device Manager or the manufacturer's support page.

How to check which drivers need updating on Windows

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it from the menu, or by typing "Device Manager" into the search box. Device Manager lists every piece of hardware connected to your computer, organized by category: Display adapters, Network adapters, Sound, video and game controllers, and so on.

Look for a yellow exclamation mark or red X next to any device name. These symbols mean the driver is missing, outdated, or broken. Even without a warning symbol, a driver may still be out of date. To check the version, right-click the device, select Properties, click the Driver tab, and note the date listed under "Driver Date". You can then visit the manufacturer's website to see if a newer version exists.

For a full picture of what is installed, click View at the top of Device Manager and select "Devices by connection" to see the hardware tree, or stay in the default category view to focus on one type of device at a time.

How to check which drivers need updating on Mac

macOS handles most drivers automatically and does not expose them the way Windows does. To see what is installed, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then click System Report. In the left sidebar, click Hardware and then select a category like Graphics/Displays, Network, or Printer to see what is connected.

macOS updates drivers through Software Update, which you reach by clicking the Apple menu, selecting System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), and clicking General, then Software Update. If updates are available, macOS will show them here. For printers and some third-party devices, you may need to visit the manufacturer's website to read and install drivers manually, just as on Windows.

Updating drivers automatically through Windows Update

Windows Update can install driver updates without you doing anything. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, click System, then About, and look for "System" on the left sidebar. Click Windows Update, then click "Check for updates". Windows will scan for available updates, including drivers, and install them automatically or prompt you to restart.

This method is convenient but sometimes slower than downloading directly from the manufacturer. Windows Update may lag behind the latest version, especially for graphics cards and gaming hardware. If a device is not working and Device Manager shows a warning, automatic updates may not fix it — in that case, read the driver directly from the manufacturer instead.

Downloading and installing drivers from the manufacturer

For graphics cards, printers, network adapters, and other major devices, the fastest route is the manufacturer's website. Go to the support or downloads section, enter your device model or serial number, and read the latest driver for your operating system and Windows version (32-bit or 64-bit).

Once downloaded, open the installer file and follow the on-screen prompts. Most drivers install in two to five minutes. When the installer finishes, it will ask you to restart your computer — do so when ready, because drivers do not fully set up until after a restart. After restarting, test the device to confirm it works: print a test page, check that your monitor displays correctly, or run a network speed test.

Common places to find drivers: NVIDIA and AMD for graphics cards, Intel for processors and network adapters, Realtek for sound cards, HP and Canon for printers, and Qualcomm for wireless adapters. If you do not know the manufacturer, right-click the device in Device Manager, select Properties, and check the Details tab — the manufacturer name is usually listed there.

Rolling back a driver if the new version causes problems

Occasionally a new driver introduces bugs or incompatibilities. If your device stops working or behaves strangely after an update, you can revert to the previous version. Open Device Manager, right-click the affected device, select Properties, click the Driver tab, and look for a "Roll Back Driver" button. If the button is available and grayed out, no previous version is stored on your computer.

If Roll Back is not available, uninstall the driver entirely: right-click the device, select Uninstall device, check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver software for this device", and click Uninstall. Restart your computer. Windows will reinstall a basic version of the driver automatically. Then visit the manufacturer's website, read an older driver version (usually listed in an archive section), and install that instead.

After rolling back, do not let Windows Update reinstall the problematic version automatically. Open Settings, click System, then Windows Update, click "Advanced options", then "Optional updates", and uncheck any driver updates you want to skip.

When to update drivers and when to leave them alone

Update a driver if: Device Manager shows a warning symbol, the device is not working, you are experiencing crashes or slowdowns related to that hardware, or the manufacturer has released a security patch. For graphics cards, updating every few months is common if you game or use graphics-heavy software, because new driver versions often improve performance.

You do not need to update a driver if the device is working correctly and no warning symbol appears. Older drivers that are stable are often safer than the latest version, which may contain new bugs. If your computer is running smoothly and all devices function, there is no benefit to chasing the newest driver version.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know what version of Windows I have so I can read the right driver?

Press Windows key + Pause, or open Settings, click System, then About. Look for "Edition" (Home, Pro, Enterprise) and "OS Build" (a number like 22621). Most driver downloads ask only for your Windows version (10 or 11) and whether you use 32-bit or 64-bit — you can find this under "System type" on the same About page.

Can updating a driver damage my computer?

Drivers from official manufacturers are tested and safe. The worst that usually happens is a device stops working or performs poorly, which you can fix by rolling back. Downloading drivers from unofficial websites or third-party "driver updater" software carries real risk — stick to the manufacturer's website or Windows Update.

Do I need to uninstall the old driver before installing a new one?

No. Most installer programs automatically replace the old driver with the new one. However, for graphics cards, some people prefer to uninstall the old driver first using the manufacturer's uninstall tool, restart, then install the new one — this can prevent conflicts, though it is not always necessary.

Why does my computer ask me to restart after installing a driver?

Drivers run at a deep level in your operating system. A restart ensures the old driver is completely removed from memory and the new one loads cleanly. Skipping the restart may leave both versions partially active, causing conflicts or unpredictable behavior.

What is a BIOS update and is it the same as a driver update?

BIOS is firmware that runs before your operating system starts — it is different from a driver. BIOS updates are rarer and riskier, and you should only perform one if the manufacturer specifically recommends it for a problem you are experiencing. Do not update BIOS on a whim or if your computer is working fine.