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Drivers become outdated when manufacturers release newer versions that fix bugs, improve performance, or add support for new features. An outdated driver can cause a device to work slowly, crash, or stop working entirely. Updating drivers is one of the first troubleshooting steps when hardware misbehaves.

Windows can update some drivers automatically through Windows Update, but many manufacturers release updates on their own websites first. The most important drivers to update manually are graphics cards (Nvidia, AMD, Intel), network adapters, and any specialized hardware you use regularly.

Key Takeaways

  • You can check which drivers need updating by opening Device Manager, right-clicking a device, and selecting "Update driver."
  • Windows Update handles some driver updates automatically, but graphics card and network drivers usually update faster through the manufacturer's website.
  • To find the correct driver, you need your device name and model number, which you can find in Device Manager or on the device itself.
  • After downloading a driver from the manufacturer, run the installer file and restart your computer to complete the update.
  • If an update causes problems, you can roll back to the previous driver version through Device Manager in about two minutes.

Finding outdated drivers in Device Manager

Device Manager is the built-in Windows tool that shows every piece of hardware connected to your computer and whether its driver is current. To open it, right-click the Start button and select "Device Manager," or press the Windows key, type "Device Manager," and press Enter.

Look for a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark next to any device name — that symbol means the driver is missing or outdated. Even without a warning symbol, a driver can still be old. Right-click any device and select "Update driver" to see if a newer version is available. Windows will search for updates and tell you whether one exists.

Write down the exact name of any device that shows a warning or that you want to update. You will need this name to find the correct driver on the manufacturer's website.

Updating drivers through Windows Update

Windows Update can install driver updates for many devices automatically. To check manually, open Settings (press the Windows key and type "Settings"), go to "System," then "Windows Update," and click "Check for updates." Windows will read and install any available driver updates along with system updates.

This method is safe and requires no work on your part, but it is often slower than downloading directly from the manufacturer. Windows Update may take weeks to release a driver update that the manufacturer published days earlier. If a device is not working properly, do not wait for Windows Update — go to the manufacturer instead.

Downloading drivers from the manufacturer's website

For graphics cards, network adapters, and other hardware that updates frequently, downloading directly from the manufacturer is faster and more reliable. Go to the manufacturer's support or downloads page, search for your device model, and read the driver file for your version of Windows (32-bit or 64-bit).

To find your Windows version, right-click "This PC" or "My Computer," select "Properties," and look for "System type." It will say either "64-bit Operating System" or "32-bit Operating System." read the matching driver version.

Common manufacturer websites include nvidia.com (graphics), amd.com (graphics and processors), intel.com (graphics, processors, and network), and realtek.com (audio and network). If you do not know the manufacturer, look at the device name in Device Manager — it usually includes the brand.

Installing a driver update

Once you have downloaded the driver file, locate it in your Downloads folder and double-click it to run the installer. Follow the on-screen prompts — most installers ask you to agree to terms and then proceed automatically. Do not interrupt the installation or restart your computer until the installer tells you to.

Many driver installers will ask you to restart your computer at the end. Do this right away — the driver does not fully take effect until after the restart. If the installer does not ask for a restart, restart anyway to be safe. This takes two to five minutes and ensures the driver loads correctly.

After the restart, open Device Manager again and confirm the yellow warning symbol is gone. If it is still there, the update did not install correctly — try downloading the driver again or contact the manufacturer's support.

Rolling back a driver if an update causes problems

Occasionally a new driver causes crashes, freezing, or performance problems. If this happens, you can revert to the previous driver version in about two minutes. Open Device Manager, right-click the device that is causing trouble, and select "Properties."

Click the "Driver" tab, then click "Roll Back Driver." Windows will restore the previous version and ask you to restart. After the restart, the old driver will be active again. If "Roll Back Driver" is grayed out, no previous version is available — in that case, uninstall the driver, restart, and let Windows reinstall an older version automatically.

Updating drivers for devices without a manufacturer website

Some older or generic devices do not have an active manufacturer website. In these cases, Windows Update is your best option — let it search and install any available updates. If Windows finds nothing, the device may be too old to update, or the current driver may already be the latest available.

If a generic device is not working, try uninstalling it in Device Manager (right-click and select "Uninstall device"), then restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver, which sometimes fixes problems caused by a corrupted installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I update my drivers?

Check for updates once a month or when a device stops working properly. Graphics card manufacturers release updates every few weeks, while other devices update less frequently. You do not need to update every single driver — focus on graphics, network, and any hardware you use regularly.

Is it safe to update drivers myself?

Yes. Downloading from the official manufacturer website and following the installer prompts is safe. The only risk is that a new driver might not work well with your system, but you can roll back in two minutes if that happens.

What if I cannot find my device on the manufacturer's website?

Search for the exact device name from Device Manager on the manufacturer's site. If nothing appears, try searching the model number on the device itself or in your computer's documentation. If the manufacturer has no driver available, Windows Update is your only option.

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

No. Running the new installer automatically replaces the old driver. Uninstalling first is unnecessary and can cause the device to stop working until you restart.

Why does my computer ask to restart after a driver update?

Drivers run at a deep level in Windows. A restart ensures the old driver is completely removed from memory and the new one loads fresh. Skipping the restart can leave both versions partially active, causing conflicts.