A device driver is a software program that allows your computer’s operating system to communicate with hardware devices. Common examples include printer drivers, graphics card drivers, network card drivers, and mouse drivers. Updating device drivers on Windows 10 ensures optimal performance and compatibility of your hardware. There are several methods to update drivers on Windows PC, including using Device Manager, Windows Update, and third-party tools to update drivers automatically. Each method has its own advantages: Device Manager lets you update specific drivers manually, Windows Update provides certified and stable drivers automatically, and third-party driver updater tools offer quick, automated updates from a wide range of sources.
When Do You Need to Update Your Drivers?
Outdated drivers can lead to a variety of issues, including sluggish performance, system crashes, and compatibility problems. If you notice that a device is not working correctly, such as a printer not printing or a graphics card not functioning as expected, updating the driver might resolve the problem. It’s also recommended to update drivers if you are experiencing compatibility issues with new software or operating system updates
- If a device isn’t working correctly, updating the driver can often resolve the issue.
- When you install new hardware, updating the drivers ensures compatibility and optimal performance.
- Security vulnerabilities in drivers can be exploited, so keeping them updated can protect your system.
- Some driver updates include performance enhancements, especially for graphics cards, which can improve gaming experiences.
- Drivers, like any software, can have bugs that are fixed in the latest updates
Updating drivers could also improve the overall performance of the system, address Wi-Fi connectivity issues and stabilize Bluetooth connections.
How to update drivers Windows PC
To update drivers on Windows 10, you can use Windows Update or Device Manager. Windows Update can automatically check for and install driver updates, while Device Manager allows you to manually update drivers for specific devices. Also, you can use third-party tools to update drivers automatically.
- Windows Update: This method is ideal for automatically receiving driver updates that have been tested and verified by Microsoft. It ensures better system stability and compatibility, especially after major Windows updates, and often includes security patches along with driver updates.
- Device Manager: This built-in utility allows users to manually update, uninstall, or roll back individual drivers. It’s useful when you want to target a specific hardware component like graphics, audio, or network adapters. It ensures you’re installing drivers that are certified and compatible with your specific system configuration.
- Third-party tools: Tools like Driver Booster, DriverPack Solution, or Snappy Driver Installer can scan your entire system for outdated drivers and install the latest versions directly from the manufacturers. These tools save time by automating the process and often offer access to a broader range of driver versions that might not be available through Windows Update.
Update Drivers Using Windows Update
Windows Update can automatically download and install the latest certified drivers for your system. It’s a safe and reliable way to keep drivers up to date.
- Open Windows Update settings using the Keyboard shortcut Windows + I
- Navigate to Update & Security and click on Windows Update.
- Click on “Check for updates” to search for available driver updates.
- Install any available updates to ensure your drivers are up to date.
In addition, go to Advanced options, then click on Optional updates. If any driver updates are available, check the boxes and click Download & install. Once done, reboot your PC to applay changes.
Update Drivers Using Device Manager
Device Manager is a built-in Windows utility that allows users to view, update, and troubleshoot drivers, as well as enable, disable, or uninstall devices.
- Press Windows + X and click on Device Manager from the menu.
- Expand the category of the hardware device (e.g., Display adapters, Sound, video and game controllers, Network adapters).
- Right-click the device you want to update and select Update driver.
- For example, i am trying to update audio driver. So expand Audio inputs and outputs, right click on Realtek audio driver, then Select Update Driver.
- Click Search automatically for drivers. Windows will search online for the latest driver and install it if available.
- If no update is found, you may see a message saying “The best drivers for your device are already installed.” In this case, consider downloading the driver manually from the manufacturer’s website.
How to update Graphics Drivers
- Press Windows + X keyboard shortcut and select Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters to see your graphics card details.
- Right-click on the installed graphics driver, select Update Driver,
- Click on Search automatically for updated driver software
- Your computer will scan for available updates and download and install them automatically.
Use Third-Party Driver Update Tools
If you want Windows 10 to update drivers automatically, third-party tools can help. Some of the Popular and trusted driver update tools include:
- Driver Booster by IObit
- Snappy Driver Installer
- Driver Easy
- DriverPack Solution
Always download these tools from their official websites and avoid bundled software during installation.
- Download and install your preferred tool.
- Launch the application and click Scan to detect outdated drivers.
- After the scan completes, review the list of drivers.
- Click Update All or manually select the drivers you want to update.
How to Roll Back the Device Driver
If a recent driver update causes issues, such as black screen at startup after Graphics driver update, Windows allows you to roll back to the previous version.
- Open Device Manager (Windows + X > Device Manager).
- Expand the device category and right-click the affected device.
- For example, expand Display adapter, right click on the installed Graphics driver, select properties.
- Go to the Driver tab. Here you will get:
- Update Drivers: This will start the Hardware Update Wizard.
- Roll Back Driver: This will uninstall the most recently updated driver and will roll back your configuration to the earlier version. You may need to roll back a driver if you find that your device fails after updating the driver.
- Disable (or Enable) Driver: This will disable the Driver until you enable it back again.
- Uninstall Driver: This will uninstall completely the driver’s files and registry settings for the selected hardware.
Click Roll Back Driver (if available) and follow the on-screen instructions. Restart your computer after the rollback is complete.
Note: This option is only available if a previous version of the driver was installed
Reinstall a Device Driver
If a device isn’t working properly, reinstalling its driver can often fix the issue.
- Open Device Manager.
- Right-click the device and choose Uninstall device.
- In the confirmation dialog, check Delete the driver software for this device (optional), then click Uninstall.
- Restart your PC. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically upon reboot.
- If not, go back to Device Manager > right-click the device > select Scan for hardware changes.
Alternatively, download the latest driver from the device manufacturer’s website and install it manually.
