Where to find your driver information on Windows

The fastest way to see what drivers are installed on your PC is through Device Manager, a built-in Windows tool. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it from the menu, or by typing "Device Manager" into the Windows search box and pressing Enter.

Once Device Manager opens, you'll see a list of hardware categories — Display adapters, Network adapters, Sound, video and game controllers, and others. Click the arrow next to any category to expand it and see the specific devices installed. Each device listed has a driver assigned to it. If a device has a yellow exclamation mark or red X next to it, the driver is missing or not working properly.

To see more detail about a specific driver, right-click the device name and select Properties. A window will open showing the driver version, the date it was installed, and the manufacturer. The Driver tab within Properties shows the driver file name and location on your hard drive.

Key Takeaways

  • Device Manager is the main Windows tool for viewing installed drivers and is accessed through the Start menu or Windows search.
  • Yellow exclamation marks or red X symbols in Device Manager indicate a driver is missing, outdated, or not functioning.
  • Right-clicking a device and selecting Properties shows the driver version number, installation date, and manufacturer information.
  • Windows Update can install or update drivers automatically, though some manufacturers provide newer versions on their own websites.
  • Checking driver dates helps you understand whether hardware is using current software or may need an update for better performance or security.

How to check driver version numbers and dates

The Properties window for each device displays the driver version and the date it was released. This information matters because older drivers can cause performance problems, crashes, or security gaps. A driver from several years ago may not work well with newer software or Windows updates.

To find this information, open Device Manager, locate your device, right-click it, and select Properties. Click the Driver tab. You'll see fields for Driver Provider (the company that made it), Driver Date, and Driver Version. Write down the version number — it usually looks like 10.5.2 or similar — so you can compare it to the latest version available from the manufacturer.

Some devices show multiple drivers listed under one category. For example, under Display adapters you might see both an Intel integrated graphics driver and an NVIDIA discrete graphics driver. Check both if you have multiple graphics processors, since either one could be causing issues.

Using Windows Update to check for driver updates

Windows Update can install or update drivers automatically. To check whether updates are available, open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to Update & Security (or System > About on newer Windows versions). Click Check for updates. Windows will scan for driver updates along with operating system patches.

If updates are found, Windows will read and install them. You may need to restart your PC for the changes to take effect. This process is automatic and free, though it can take several minutes depending on your internet speed and how many updates are available.

Not all drivers come through Windows Update. Some manufacturers — particularly graphics card makers like NVIDIA and AMD, and motherboard makers — release newer drivers on their own websites before they reach Windows Update. If you want the absolute latest version, you may need to visit the manufacturer's support page directly.

Checking drivers from the manufacturer's website

For graphics cards, network adapters, and motherboards, the manufacturer often has newer drivers available than Windows Update provides. To find them, you need to know what hardware you have, then visit the company's support page.

Start by identifying the device. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select Properties. The General tab shows the device name. For graphics cards, you'll see either NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. For network adapters, look for Realtek, Intel, Broadcom, or another brand name. Write down the exact model number if it's shown.

Go to the manufacturer's website — nvidia.com, amd.com, intel.com, or the motherboard maker's site — and find the Support or Downloads section. Enter your device model and your Windows version (32-bit or 64-bit). The site will show you the latest available driver. Compare the version number to what Device Manager showed you. If the website version is newer, you can read and install it.

What to do if a driver is missing or not working

A yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager means Windows recognizes the hardware but doesn't have a working driver for it. A red X means the device is disabled or the driver failed to load. Either way, the device won't function until the driver is fixed.

The first step is to try updating the driver through Windows Update, as described above. If that doesn't work, right-click the device in Device Manager and select Update driver. Windows will search for a newer version online. If it finds one, it will install it automatically.

If Windows Update doesn't find a driver, you'll need to get it from the manufacturer. Identify the device model as described in the previous section, visit the manufacturer's website, read the correct driver for your Windows version, and run the installer. After installation, restart your PC and check Device Manager again — the yellow mark or red X should be gone.

Understanding driver categories in Device Manager

Device Manager groups hardware into categories to make it easier to find what you're looking for. The most common categories are Display adapters (graphics cards), Network adapters (ethernet and WiFi), Sound, video and game controllers (audio devices), and Storage controllers (hard drives and SSDs). Other categories include Mice and other pointing devices, Keyboards, and Universal Serial Bus controllers (USB ports and hubs).

Each category can contain multiple devices. For example, a laptop might have both an Intel integrated graphics driver and a dedicated NVIDIA graphics driver under Display adapters. A desktop might have both a Realtek audio driver and a separate driver for a gaming headset. Expanding each category shows you everything installed in that hardware type.

If you're troubleshooting a specific problem — like a monitor not displaying correctly, WiFi not connecting, or speakers not producing sound — look in the corresponding category first. That's where you'll find the driver that controls that hardware.

Checking drivers on older Windows versions

Device Manager works the same way on Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the path to open it differs slightly on older systems. On Windows 7, right-click Computer on the desktop and select Manage, then click Device Manager in the left sidebar. On Windows 8, right-click the Start button and select Device Manager directly.

The Properties window and driver information display identically across all Windows versions. The version number, date, and manufacturer information appear in the same location. Windows Update also works the same way — open Settings or Control Panel, find Windows Update, and check for updates.

If you're using Windows 7 or earlier, be aware that Microsoft no longer releases security updates for those systems. Updating drivers becomes even more important for security, since the operating system itself won't receive patches. Check the manufacturer's website regularly for the latest driver versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean if a driver says "Unknown Device" in Device Manager?

Unknown Device means Windows found hardware but couldn't identify what it is, so it has no driver. This usually happens with older hardware or devices that aren't common. Right-click the Unknown Device, select Properties, and look at the Hardware IDs tab. Search that ID number online to find out what the device is, then read the correct driver from the manufacturer.

Should I update drivers if they're working fine?

If hardware is working without problems, updating drivers is optional. However, newer drivers sometimes fix security issues or improve performance. Graphics drivers in particular are updated frequently to support new games and software. Checking for updates once every few months is a reasonable practice.

Can a bad driver cause my PC to crash or run slowly?

Yes. An outdated, corrupted, or incompatible driver can cause crashes, freezing, or poor performance. If your PC started crashing after a Windows update, a driver conflict may be the cause. Check Device Manager for yellow marks or red X symbols, and update or reinstall the affected drivers.

Is it safe to read drivers from websites other than the manufacturer?

No. Always read drivers from the official manufacturer website or through Windows Update. Third-party driver read sites can contain malware or outdated versions. Stick to NVIDIA.com, AMD.com, Intel.com, or the motherboard maker's official support page.

How do I know if my PC is 32-bit or 64-bit when downloading drivers?

Open Settings, go to System, then About. Look for System type — it will say either 32-bit or 64-bit. You must read the driver version that matches your system type, or it won't install. Most modern PCs are 64-bit.