Drivers are the software that lets Windows talk to your hardware, such as graphics, sound, Wi-Fi, and printers. Most driver updates arrive through Windows Update, and Device Manager handles the rest. You do not need a third-party driver updater.
Steps
Start with Windows Update. Open Settings, select Windows Update, then select Check for updates. Install any driver updates listed under Optional updates, by selecting Advanced options, then Optional updates, then Driver updates. On Windows 10, optional updates appear on the main Windows Update page.
Open Device Manager. Right-click Start and select Device Manager. If a device has a problem, it usually shows a yellow warning triangle.
Update one device. Find the device category, such as Display adapters for graphics or Network adapters for Wi-Fi, expand it, right-click the device, and select Update driver.
Let Windows search automatically. Select Search automatically for drivers. Windows checks its own driver store and Windows Update. If it says the best driver is already installed, that device is up to date through this route.
For a graphics card, use the maker update tool if Windows finds nothing. If the device still misbehaves, check the graphics maker own update app or support site for a newer driver, and install only a driver that matches your exact card model and Windows version.
Restart after installing a driver. Many drivers only take effect after a restart, and skipping it can leave the device in a half-updated state.
If a new driver makes things worse, roll it back. In Device Manager, right-click the device, select Properties, then the Driver tab, then Roll Back Driver, if the button is available. Pick the reason and confirm. If Roll Back Driver is greyed out, no earlier driver is stored on the system.
Do not install third-party driver updater programs. They often install wrong drivers, bundle unwanted software, and charge for something Windows does for free. Get drivers from Windows Update or the hardware maker only.
What if Windows says the best driver is already installed?
That means Windows Update has no newer driver for that device. If the device still does not work, the problem may be the device itself, a cable, or a Windows setting, rather than the driver. Checking the hardware maker support site for your exact model is the next step.
About this guide
This guide covers Windows 11 and Windows 10. Menu paths are the current ones for both versions, with differences noted where they occur.
Common questions
Do I need to update drivers regularly? No. Update them when hardware misbehaves, when Windows offers an update, or after a major Windows upgrade. Drivers that work do not need updating on a schedule.
Is it safe to update a graphics driver? Yes, from Windows Update or the graphics maker. Install one driver at a time, restart afterwards, and use Roll Back Driver in Device Manager if the new one causes problems.
Why is Roll Back Driver greyed out? Because Windows has no earlier driver stored for that device. It only becomes available when a driver has actually been replaced on that device.
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