What Drivers Are and Why They Need Updating

A driver is software that lets Windows 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, Windows uses drivers to send instructions to that hardware and receive information back.

Drivers need updating because manufacturers release new versions that fix bugs, improve performance, or add support for new features. An outdated driver can cause a device to work slowly, crash, or stop working altogether. A graphics driver update might make games run faster. A network driver update might fix connection drops. Updating takes 10 to 30 minutes per device and requires a restart.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Update handles most common drivers automatically, but manufacturers' websites have the newest versions for graphics cards, printers, and other major devices.
  • You can check which drivers are outdated by opening Device Manager, right-clicking a device, and selecting "Update driver" to see if a newer version is available.
  • Graphics drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) should be updated from the manufacturer's website or their dedicated software, not from Windows Update alone.
  • After updating a driver, restart your computer to complete the installation — the change does not take effect until you do.
  • If a new driver causes problems, you can roll back to the previous version through Device Manager in under five minutes.

Check Which Drivers Need Updating

Open Device Manager to see all your hardware and which drivers are out of date. Press the Windows key and type "Device Manager," then click the result. You will see a list of categories like "Display adapters," "Network adapters," and "Sound, video and game controllers."

Click the arrow next to each category to expand it and see the devices inside. A yellow exclamation mark next to a device means Windows does not have a driver for it or the driver is broken. A device with no mark usually has a driver installed. Right-click any device and select "Update driver" — Windows will search for a newer version. If it finds one, it will install it automatically. If it says your driver is up to date, you can still check the manufacturer's website, which often has newer versions than Windows has.

Update Drivers Through Windows Update

Windows Update is the easiest route for most devices. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to "Update & Security" (on Windows 10) or "System" then "Windows Update" (on Windows 11). Click "Check for updates." Windows will scan for driver updates along with system updates and install them automatically.

This method works well for network adapters, sound cards, and other standard hardware. However, it is usually slower than going directly to the manufacturer. Windows Update may lag weeks or months behind the latest driver version. For graphics cards and printers, you should check the manufacturer's website instead, because those devices benefit most from frequent updates.

Update Graphics Drivers from the Manufacturer

Graphics drivers control your display and are the most important to keep current. If you have an NVIDIA card, read the latest driver from nvidia.com/read/driverDetails. If you have AMD, go to amd.com/en/support. If you have Intel integrated graphics, visit intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/products/80939. Each site has a tool that detects your card automatically.

read the driver file, then run it. The installer will guide you through the setup — usually you just click "Next" and "Install." When it finishes, restart your computer. Do not skip the restart; the driver does not fully set up until you do. After restart, your graphics performance may improve noticeably, especially in games or video editing software.

NVIDIA and AMD also offer dedicated software — GeForce Experience for NVIDIA and Adrenalin for AMD — that checks for driver updates automatically and installs them with one click. If you use your graphics card regularly, installing this software saves time.

Update Printer and Peripheral Drivers

Printers, scanners, and other peripherals often need driver updates to work correctly with new Windows versions. Go to the manufacturer's support page — for example, hp.com/support for HP printers or canon.com/support for Canon. Search for your exact model number (usually on the device itself or in the manual) and read the driver for your Windows version.

Run the installer and follow the prompts. Some printer drivers include extra software like scanning tools or print management utilities. You can usually uncheck these if you do not want them. After installation, restart your computer, then test the device — print a test page or scan a document to confirm it works.

Restart Your Computer to Complete the Update

After installing any driver, you must restart your computer. Some drivers take effect when ready, but most do not fully set up until Windows restarts. If you skip the restart, the new driver may not work, or you may see errors when you try to use the device.

Windows will often prompt you to restart after a driver installation. If it does not, restart manually by clicking the Start menu, then the power icon, then "Restart." Save any open work first. The restart usually takes two to five minutes. After your computer comes back on, the driver is active and ready to use.

Roll Back a Driver If It Causes Problems

Occasionally a new driver causes crashes, freezing, or performance drops. If this happens, you can revert to the previous version in under five minutes. Open Device Manager, find the device that is causing trouble, right-click it, and select "Properties." Click the "Driver" tab, then click "Roll Back Driver." Windows will restore the older version and restart.

If "Roll Back Driver" is grayed out, the previous version is no longer available on your system. In that case, uninstall the current driver, restart, and let Windows reinstall an older version automatically. You can also read an older driver version from the manufacturer's website if you know which version worked well for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I update my drivers?

Check for updates once a month or when you notice a device is not working well. Graphics drivers can be updated more frequently — weekly or monthly — if you play games or do video work. Most other drivers change only a few times a year.

Will updating drivers speed up my computer?

Driver updates usually improve performance for the specific device they control. A graphics driver update may make games faster. A network driver update may improve internet speed. They do not speed up your entire computer, but they can fix slowdowns caused by outdated hardware communication.

What if I do not know what hardware I have?

Open Device Manager and look at the list. Each item shows the device name and often the manufacturer. You can also right-click the device and select "Properties" to see more details. If you still cannot find the model number, take a photo of the device itself — the model is usually printed on a label.

Can I update all drivers at once?

Windows Update can install multiple driver updates in one batch, but you still need to restart once to complete them all. For graphics and printer drivers, you must update each one separately from the manufacturer's website because each has its own installer.

Is it safe to update drivers?

Yes. Manufacturers test drivers before release. The only risk is that a new driver occasionally causes problems with your specific hardware combination, but you can roll back in minutes if that happens. Staying on old drivers is riskier because they may have security gaps or bugs.