A driver is software that lets your operating system talk to a piece of hardware
A driver is a small program that acts as a translator between your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) and a piece of hardware — your printer, graphics card, network adapter, or keyboard. Your operating system does not know how to speak directly to these devices. The driver knows the specific language that device uses, so it converts your operating system's instructions into commands that hardware understands, and sends back the results.
Without drivers, your operating system would see a printer as an unknown object and would not know what to do with it. With the driver installed, your operating system can send a print job to the printer, and the printer knows how to receive it and print the page. The same principle applies to every other piece of hardware connected to your computer.
Drivers are usually made by the hardware manufacturer — the company that built the device. A printer manufacturer writes the printer driver. A graphics card manufacturer writes the graphics driver. These companies know exactly how their hardware works, so they write the software that makes it work with your operating system.
Key Takeaways
- A driver is software that translates commands from your operating system into instructions your hardware can understand.
- Every piece of hardware — printers, graphics cards, network adapters, sound cards — needs a driver to work with your computer.
- Drivers are usually made by the hardware manufacturer and come on a disc, read from the manufacturer's website, or are already built into your operating system.
- Outdated or missing drivers can cause hardware to stop working, run slowly, or behave unpredictably.
- You can check which drivers are installed on your computer through Device Manager on Windows or System Report on macOS.
How drivers get installed on your computer
When you plug in a new piece of hardware, your operating system often recognizes it and installs a basic driver automatically. This is called a generic driver or standard driver, and it covers the most common functions. For a mouse or keyboard, the generic driver is usually enough — the device will work right away.
For more complex hardware like printers or graphics cards, the generic driver may not unlock all the features. The manufacturer's driver — called an OEM driver or proprietary driver — gives you access to all the settings and functions the hardware is capable of. You can read this driver from the manufacturer's website, or it may come on a disc in the box with the hardware.
Some drivers come pre-installed with your operating system. Windows and macOS include drivers for hundreds of common devices so you do not have to hunt them down yourself. If your hardware is very new or very specialized, you will need to read the driver from the manufacturer.
What happens when a driver is missing or outdated
If a driver is missing, the hardware will not work at all, or will work only partially. A printer without its driver will not print. A graphics card without its driver will display video, but slowly and without access to advanced features. A network adapter without its driver will not connect to the internet.
An outdated driver — one that has not been updated in months or years — can cause problems even if the hardware is working. The device may freeze, crash, or behave unpredictably. Performance may drop. New features added by the manufacturer may not work. Security vulnerabilities in old drivers can also expose your computer to risk.
You do not need to update drivers constantly. Most drivers work fine for years without updates. But if you are experiencing problems with a specific piece of hardware, an outdated driver is often the cause. Checking for driver updates is one of the first troubleshooting steps to try.
Where to find and read drivers
The safest place to read a driver is the manufacturer's official website. Search for the hardware manufacturer's support page, find your specific model, and read the driver from there. This ensures you are getting the correct driver for your exact hardware and operating system version.
On Windows, you can also check for driver updates through Device Manager. Right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, find the hardware in the list, right-click it, and select "Update driver." Windows will search for an updated driver online. On macOS, go to System Settings, select General, then Software Update to check for driver updates.
Avoid downloading drivers from third-party websites unless you have a specific reason to trust them. Stick with the manufacturer's website or your operating system's built-in update tools. This protects you from downloading malware disguised as a driver.
The difference between drivers and firmware
Drivers and firmware are both software, but they do different things. A driver runs on your operating system and talks to the hardware. Firmware is software that lives inside the hardware itself and controls how the hardware operates at the most basic level.
Think of it this way: firmware is the hardware's own brain. A driver is the translator that lets your operating system communicate with that brain. Most of the time you will only deal with drivers. Firmware updates are less common and usually only happen when the manufacturer releases a major update to fix a serious problem or add a new capability.
Common types of drivers you will encounter
Graphics drivers control your video card and affect how fast games run, how sharp your display looks, and whether advanced graphics features work. These are updated frequently by manufacturers like NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel.
Network drivers control your internet connection — whether through Wi-Fi or ethernet. Without the right network driver, your computer cannot connect to the internet or see other computers on your network.
Printer drivers let your operating system send documents to your printer and control print quality, paper size, and color settings. Audio drivers control your speakers and microphone. Chipset drivers help your operating system communicate with the main circuit board of your computer. Each type handles a different piece of hardware, but they all work the same way: translating between your operating system and the device.
How to check what drivers are installed
On Windows, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it from the menu. You will see a list of all the hardware on your computer, organized by type. Expand each category to see the devices and their drivers. A yellow exclamation mark means the driver is missing or has a problem.
On macOS, go to the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then click System Report. Select Hardware from the left sidebar to see information about your drivers and firmware. The information is more technical than Windows Device Manager, but it shows you what is installed.
You can also right-click a device in Device Manager (Windows) to see the driver version, when it was installed, and the manufacturer. This helps you decide whether an update is available or whether the driver is causing a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to update my drivers regularly?
No. Most drivers work without updates for years. Update only if you are experiencing problems with a device, if the manufacturer releases a security update, or if you are installing new hardware. Graphics drivers are an exception — gamers and video editors often update them monthly to get performance improvements.
What does it mean when Windows says a driver is unsigned?
An unsigned driver is one the manufacturer did not digitally verify with Microsoft. Windows will warn you before installing it. Unsigned drivers are usually safe, but they may indicate the driver is old or from a less established manufacturer. If you trust the source, you can install it anyway.
Can a bad driver damage my hardware?
A driver cannot physically damage hardware, but a faulty driver can cause the hardware to malfunction or behave unpredictably. If a driver is causing problems, uninstall it and reinstall the correct version from the manufacturer's website. Your hardware will be fine.
Why does my printer work sometimes and not other times?
An outdated or corrupted printer driver is a common cause. Uninstall the driver completely, restart your computer, then read and install the latest driver from the printer manufacturer's website. If the problem continues, the printer itself may have a hardware issue.
Is it safe to use generic drivers instead of manufacturer drivers?
Generic drivers work for basic functions, but you may lose access to advanced features and settings. For straightforward devices like mice or keyboards, generic drivers are fine. For printers, graphics cards, and network adapters, use the manufacturer's driver to get full functionality and better performance.