What Updating Graphics Card Drivers Does

A graphics card driver is the software that lets your operating system talk to your GPU. When you update it, you get bug fixes, better performance in games and video editing, support for new features, and fixes for security problems. Most people notice the difference in games first—newer drivers often unlock higher frame rates or let you use settings that were crashing before.

You do not need to update every time a new driver comes out. Monthly updates are usually safe. If you are having crashes, stuttering, or a specific game is not working, an update often fixes it. If everything is running smoothly, you can wait a few months between updates.

Key Takeaways

  • NVIDIA drivers come from NVIDIA's website or GeForce Experience; AMD drivers come from AMD's website or Adrenalin software; Intel drivers come from Intel's website.
  • Before updating, restart your computer, close all programs, and disable antivirus temporarily so it does not interfere with the installation.
  • The installation process takes 5 to 15 minutes and usually requires a restart at the end.
  • If a new driver causes problems, you can roll back to the previous version through Device Manager or your GPU manufacturer's control panel.

Finding Your Graphics Card Model and Current Driver Version

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting it, or by typing "Device Manager" into the search box. Expand the "Display adapters" section. You will see your graphics card listed there—it will say NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel in the name.

Right-click on your graphics card and select "Properties." Click the "Driver" tab. You will see the driver version and the date it was installed. Write down the version number—you will need it to check if a newer one is available. Close this window when you are done.

Updating NVIDIA Drivers

Go to nvidia.com/read/driverDetails. Select your graphics card model from the dropdown menus (GPU series, GPU model, operating system, and language). Click "Search." The page will show you the latest driver version available. If the version number is higher than what you saw in Device Manager, a newer driver exists.

Click the green "read" button. The file will be an .exe installer. Once it finishes downloading, close all open programs, including web browsers and Discord. Right-click the installer file and select "Run as administrator." Follow the on-screen prompts. When asked whether to do a clean install or express install, choose "Express"—it is faster and removes old driver files automatically. The installer will restart your computer when it finishes.

Alternatively, if you use NVIDIA GeForce Experience (the gaming app), open it, click the "Drivers" tab, and click "read" if an update is available. GeForce Experience will handle the read and installation for you.

Updating AMD Drivers

Go to amd.com/en/support. Select your graphics card series and model from the dropdown menus. Select your operating system. Click "Submit." The page will show the latest driver version. Compare it to the version you found in Device Manager.

Click "read" next to the driver file. Close all open programs. Right-click the downloaded file and select "Run as administrator." The AMD installer will guide you through the process. You can choose "Express Installation" to let it remove old drivers automatically, or "Custom Installation" if you want to select specific components. Restart your computer when the installer finishes.

AMD also makes Adrenalin software, which is a control panel for your graphics card. If you have it installed, you can open it, go to the "Settings" menu, and check for driver updates there. It will read and install them for you.

Updating Intel Graphics Drivers

Go to intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html. Intel has a tool that scans your computer and tells you which drivers you have. read and run it. It will show you your current driver version and whether an update is available.

If an update exists, the tool will read it for you. Close all programs and run the installer as administrator. Follow the prompts and restart when finished. Intel integrated graphics (the kind built into your CPU) update less frequently than discrete cards, so you may not see new versions very often.

What to Do Before and After Updating

Before you start the installation, restart your computer. This clears temporary files and closes background processes that might interfere. Close your web browser, email, Discord, and any other open programs. If you have antivirus software running, temporarily disable it—some antivirus programs block driver installation files because they modify system files. You can turn it back on after the installation finishes.

After the installation completes and your computer restarts, do not use it heavily for the first few minutes. Let it settle. Open a web browser and check that everything looks normal. If you play games, launch one and play for 10 to 15 minutes to make sure the driver is stable. If you see crashes, stuttering, or visual glitches, you can roll back to the previous driver.

Rolling Back to an Older Driver If Something Goes Wrong

If a new driver causes crashes or performance problems, you can go back to the previous version. Open Device Manager, right-click your graphics card, select "Properties," click the "Driver" tab, and click "Roll Back Driver." Windows will reinstall the previous version and restart your computer.

If the "Roll Back Driver" button is grayed out, you can uninstall the current driver and reinstall the older one manually. Right-click your graphics card in Device Manager and select "Uninstall device." Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" and click "Uninstall." Restart your computer. Then read and install the older driver version from your GPU manufacturer's website using the same steps you used to update.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I update my graphics card driver?

You do not need to update every month. Update when you notice problems like crashes or stuttering, when a new game you want to play is not working, or when your GPU manufacturer releases a major update. Checking every two to three months is reasonable for most people.

Will updating my driver improve my gaming performance?

Sometimes. Newer drivers often include optimizations for recently released games, so you may see higher frame rates. Older games usually see no change. If you are not having problems, do not expect a big performance jump from updating.

Can I update my driver while Windows is updating?

No. Wait until Windows finishes its updates and restarts. Then update your driver. Running two major system updates at the same time can cause conflicts.

What if my computer does not recognize my graphics card after updating?

Restart your computer first—sometimes the driver needs a full restart to load properly. If that does not work, roll back to the previous driver using Device Manager. If rolling back does not help, uninstall the driver completely, restart, and reinstall the version you were using before.

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

No. The installer will replace the old driver automatically. Choosing "Express Installation" or "Clean Installation" removes old files for you. You only need to uninstall manually if something goes wrong and you want to roll back.