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, network adapter, printer, or motherboard. When you plug in a USB device or your screen flickers, a driver is doing the work behind the scenes.

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 in ways that make old drivers unreliable. A driver that worked fine last year may cause crashes, slow performance, or security gaps after a Windows or macOS update.

You do not have to update every driver when ready, but updating them when your hardware stops working smoothly, or when you notice performance problems, usually solves the issue. Some drivers update automatically through Windows Update or macOS Software Update; others you have to find and install yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Update and macOS Software Update handle many drivers automatically, but graphics cards, network adapters, and older hardware often need manual updates.
  • The safest way to find the correct driver is to visit the manufacturer's website — search for your device model and read the driver directly from them.
  • Device Manager on Windows and System Report on macOS show you what hardware you have and whether drivers are outdated or missing.
  • Before installing a new driver, restart your computer and note your current driver version in case you need to roll back.
  • Third-party driver update tools exist but carry risk; manual updates from the manufacturer are slower but more reliable.

Finding out which drivers you have and which 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. You will see a list of hardware categories — Graphics adapters, Network adapters, Sound, video and game controllers, and others. Click the arrow next to each category to expand it and see the specific devices.

A yellow exclamation mark next to a device means the driver is missing or broken. A right-click on any device shows you the driver version and manufacturer. Select "Update driver" to search for a newer one, though this often finds nothing — Windows Update usually catches the important ones, and manufacturers do not always upload drivers to Microsoft's servers.

On macOS, open System Report by clicking the Apple menu, selecting "About This Mac", and clicking "System Report". Go to the Hardware section and look for your graphics card, network adapter, or other components. macOS does not show driver versions the way Windows does; instead, it lists the firmware version. If you suspect a driver problem, check the manufacturer's website directly.

Updating drivers from the manufacturer's website

The most reliable way to get a current driver is to read it from the hardware maker. Go to the manufacturer's support or downloads page, search for your device model, and read the driver for your operating system version. For a graphics card, visit NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel depending on which you have. For a printer, go to HP, Canon, Brother, or whoever made it. For a network adapter or motherboard, visit the maker's site.

You will need to know your device model. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select "Properties" — the model number is usually listed there. If you are not sure, take a photo of the device itself or search for "how to find [device type] model number" along with your computer brand.

Once you have downloaded the driver file, double-click it to run the installer. It will guide you through the installation, and you will usually be asked to restart your computer. Do not skip the restart — drivers do not fully load until the system boots again.

Using Windows Update and macOS Software Update

Both Windows and macOS update many drivers automatically when you run their system updates. On Windows, go to Settings, select "Update & Security", and click "Check for updates". Windows will read and install driver updates along with operating system patches. This process can take 20 minutes or longer, and you may need to restart.

On macOS, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions), click "General", and select "Software Update". macOS will check for updates to the operating system and some drivers. Like Windows, this may require a restart.

These automatic updates work well for common hardware like network adapters and basic graphics support. They do not always include the latest drivers for specialized hardware like gaming graphics cards or professional audio interfaces, which is why manufacturers recommend checking their websites for the newest versions.

Rolling back a driver if an update causes problems

Occasionally a new driver causes crashes, freezing, or performance drops instead of fixing them. If this happens, you can revert to the previous version. On Windows, open Device Manager, right-click the problem device, select "Properties", go to the "Driver" tab, and click "Roll Back Driver". Windows will restore the version you had before the update.

If "Roll Back Driver" is grayed out, the previous driver was not saved. In that case, uninstall the current driver by clicking "Uninstall device" in the same menu, restart your computer, and Windows will reinstall an older version from its backup. This is slower but usually works.

On macOS, rolling back is harder because the system does not save old driver versions the way Windows does. If a driver update breaks something, restart your Mac in Safe Mode (hold Shift while it boots) and check the manufacturer's website for an older driver version to read and install manually. If that does not work, you may need to restore from a Time Machine backup made before the update.

When to use third-party driver update tools

Software like Driver Booster, DriverPack Solution, or Auslogics Driver Updater promise to scan your system and update all drivers at once. They are fast and convenient, but they carry real risks: they may install drivers that are not compatible with your specific hardware, they sometimes bundle unwanted software, and they can overwrite drivers that are working fine with versions that are not.

Use these tools only if you are comfortable troubleshooting if something breaks, and only after you have created a backup or restore point. A safer approach is to update drivers one at a time from the manufacturer, which takes longer but gives you control and lets you test each update before moving to the next.

Drivers for printers, external devices, and older hardware

Printers and external devices like scanners, webcams, and external hard drives often need drivers installed before they work. When you connect a new device, Windows or macOS may find a driver automatically, but for older hardware or specialized devices, you will need to read the driver from the manufacturer's website first.

For a printer, visit the maker's support page, enter your model number, and read the driver package for your operating system. Run the installer and follow the prompts. Some printer drivers are large and include scanning software, photo editing tools, and other utilities — you can usually uncheck these during installation if you only want the basic driver.

For devices no longer sold or supported, finding a driver can be difficult. Search the manufacturer's website for an archive or legacy drivers section. If the company no longer exists or has no driver available, try searching online for the device model plus your operating system version — other users may have found a working solution and posted it.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. If your hardware is stable and performing well, updating drivers is not necessary. Update them when you notice problems, when you upgrade your operating system, or when a manufacturer releases a driver specifically for a bug or security issue you care about.

What is the difference between a driver and firmware?

A driver is software that runs on your operating system and tells it how to use hardware. Firmware is software stored on the hardware itself. For most users, the distinction does not matter — both are updated the same way, through the manufacturer's website or system updates.

Can updating a driver damage my computer?

Updating from the manufacturer's website is safe. The risk comes from third-party driver tools or downloading drivers from untrusted sources. If a driver update does cause problems, you can roll it back to the previous version in Device Manager or by reinstalling the old driver manually.

Why does Windows say a driver is up to date when the manufacturer has a newer one?

Windows Update and the manufacturer's website do not always sync. Microsoft may not have the very latest driver, or the manufacturer may have released a version that is not yet in Windows Update. If the manufacturer's website shows a newer version, read it directly from them.

Should I update graphics card drivers for gaming?

Yes, if you game regularly. Graphics card makers release driver updates that improve performance in new games and fix crashes. Check NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel's website monthly if you play new titles. Older games usually work fine with older drivers, so updating is optional unless you are having problems.