How to Update Drivers on Windows
Outdated drivers cause crashes, missing features and poor performance — but updating them carelessly can break things too. Here is the safe, manufacturer-approved way to keep every driver current.
A driver is the small piece of software that lets Windows talk to a specific piece of hardware — your graphics card, Wi-Fi adapter, printer, touchpad or sound chip. When a driver is out of date you can see crashes, missing features, stuttering games, audio glitches or a device that simply stops working after an update. Keeping drivers current fixes a surprising number of everyday problems, and it is one of the first things worth checking when a computer starts feeling slow. The catch is that updating drivers badly can introduce new faults, so this guide sticks to the methods Microsoft and the hardware makers actually recommend.
Key takeaways
- Windows Update is the safe default. Most drivers arrive automatically and are tested for your hardware.
- Device Manager handles one stubborn device at a time without third-party tools.
- Graphics drivers are the exception worth updating manually — get them from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel directly.
- Skip third-party "driver updater" apps — they are often unnecessary and sometimes bundle unwanted software.
What a driver actually is
Hardware and the operating system do not speak the same language by default. A driver is the translator. Windows ships with thousands of generic drivers so most devices work the moment you plug them in, but the manufacturer's own driver usually unlocks the full feature set and the best performance — extra mouse buttons, a printer's duplex mode, or a graphics card's latest optimisations. Drivers also receive security and stability fixes over time, which is why keeping them reasonably current matters. The goal is not to chase every release, but to make sure nothing is badly out of date.
Use Windows Update first
For the vast majority of devices, Windows Update is the right tool and the safest one. Microsoft validates the drivers it distributes against specific hardware, so the risk of a bad install is low. Open Settings → Windows Update and click Check for updates. Then open Advanced options → Optional updates and expand Driver updates — Windows often holds newer drivers here that are not pushed automatically. Tick the ones you want and install them. Microsoft's own guidance, on support.microsoft.com, treats this as the primary route for keeping drivers current.
"Already up to date" is fine. If Windows Update reports no driver updates, that usually means your current drivers are validated and current. You do not need a separate app to "find" hidden updates — the exceptions are graphics drivers and the occasional vendor utility, covered below.
The Device Manager method
When one specific device is acting up — a touchpad that scrolls oddly, a webcam Windows cannot find, an adapter showing a yellow warning triangle — Device Manager lets you target it. Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager. Expand the relevant category, right-click the device, and select Update driver → Search automatically for drivers. If Windows says the best driver is already installed but the device still misbehaves, choose Browse my computer and point it at a driver you downloaded from the manufacturer's support page. A yellow exclamation mark next to a device means its driver is missing or broken and should be reinstalled.
| Situation | Best method |
|---|---|
| General maintenance | Windows Update → Optional updates |
| One faulty device | Device Manager → Update driver |
| Graphics performance / gaming | NVIDIA / AMD / Intel directly |
| Laptop-specific buttons or BIOS | Dell / HP / Lenovo support site |
| Mouse or keyboard extras | Vendor app (e.g. Logitech G HUB) |
Updating GPU drivers
Graphics drivers are the one category worth updating manually and regularly, because new releases bring real performance gains, bug fixes and support for new games. Do not rely on Windows Update for these — go to the source. NVIDIA, AMD and Intel each publish drivers directly and offer an official app that detects your card and installs the latest version: NVIDIA's app, AMD Adrenalin, and the Intel Driver & Support Assistant. When prompted, a clean install option removes old files and avoids leftover conflicts. For laptops with switchable graphics, check whether your maker (Dell, HP) provides a tailored version, as some OEM systems prefer the laptop vendor's build.
Why to avoid driver-updater apps
Third-party "driver updater" or "driver booster" programs promise to scan your PC and fix dozens of outdated drivers in one click. In practice they are rarely necessary and frequently counter-productive. They may install generic or mismatched drivers, flag drivers as "outdated" when they are working perfectly to push a paid upgrade, or bundle adware. Microsoft does not recommend them, and the methods above — Windows Update, Device Manager and the GPU vendors' own tools — cover every legitimate need for free. If a system is sluggish, the cause is more often startup clutter than drivers; our speed-up guide tackles that, and keeping Windows itself updated matters at least as much.
A note for Mac users
macOS handles drivers very differently. Apple bundles device support into the operating system itself, so there is no Device Manager and no separate driver downloads for most hardware. You keep everything current simply by installing system updates under System Settings → General → Software Update. The main exception is third-party peripherals — some printers, audio interfaces or gaming mice need a small app from the maker. Apple's guidance on support.apple.com centres on keeping macOS updated rather than managing individual drivers.
If an update breaks something
Occasionally a new driver causes more trouble than the old one — a black screen, a device that vanishes, stutter after a GPU update. Windows keeps the previous version so you can reverse it. Open Device Manager, right-click the device, choose Properties → Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver. If that option is greyed out, uninstall the device (tick "delete the driver software" for GPUs) and reinstall the known-good version from the manufacturer. Setting a System Restore point before a major driver change gives you an extra safety net for getting your machine back to a working state.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my drivers are out of date?
Open Windows Update and check Optional updates for any pending driver updates, and look in Device Manager for yellow warning icons. For graphics, the NVIDIA, AMD or Intel app will tell you if a newer version is available. If nothing is flagged and your hardware works correctly, your drivers are current and need no action.
Should I update all my drivers regularly?
No. Update graphics drivers fairly often for performance and game support, but for everything else the rule is 'if it works, leave it alone.' Update other drivers only when fixing a specific problem or when Windows Update offers them. Chasing every release on stable devices risks introducing new faults for no benefit.
Are driver updater apps safe to use?
Most are unnecessary and some are risky. They can install mismatched drivers, exaggerate 'outdated' warnings to push paid versions, or bundle unwanted software. Windows Update, Device Manager and the GPU makers' official tools cover every real need for free, which is why Microsoft does not recommend third-party updater apps.
Do Macs need driver updates like Windows?
Not in the same way. macOS includes device support inside the operating system, so you keep drivers current just by installing macOS updates via System Settings. Only some third-party peripherals such as certain printers or gaming mice need a separate app from their manufacturer.
Sources & further reading
- Microsoft — Update drivers in Windows
- Intel — Driver & Support Assistant
- Apple — Keep your Mac up to date
This guide is independently produced. We reference primary documentation from device makers and security authorities (NIST, CISA). Tudug is reader-supported and may earn from ads.