Note:The best and safest way to get driver updates in Windows is always through Windows Update. If you are having problems with Windows Update, you might see if any of the links at Update Windows can help you out first.
Before you begin
Driver updates for Windows, along with many devices, such as network adapters, monitors, printers, and video cards, are automatically downloaded and installed through Windows Update. You probably already have the most recent drivers, but if you'd like to manually update or reinstall a driver, here's how:
Update the device driver
In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then selectDevice Manager.
Select a category to see names of devices, then right-click (or press and hold) the one you’d like to update.
Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
Select Update Driver.
If Windows doesn't find a new driver, you can try looking for one on the device manufacturer's website and follow their instructions.
Reinstall the device driver
In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then selectDevice Manager.
Right-click (or press and hold) the name of the device, and then select Uninstall.
You don't need to update your drivers every time a new version is available, unless there is a specific reason or problem that requires it. You also don't need to rely on automatic updates alone, as they may not always be accurate or reliable.
In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then select Device Manager. Select a category to see names of devices, then right-click (or press and hold) the one you'd like to update. Select Search automatically for updated driver software. Select Update Driver.
Manually installing drivers can cause compatibility issues, security risks, and performance problems. Incorrect drivers can cause device malfunctions, crashes, or reduced performance. Manually installing drivers can also cause conflicts with existing drivers, causing unexpected behavior or performance issues.
Ignoring driver updates can lead to several complications. One of the most apparent risks is reduced performance. Outdated drivers can slow down your system and cause your hardware to malfunction, leading to a poor user experience.
Sometimes, updating your graphics driver can fix performance bottlenecks and introduce improvements that make games run significantly faster — in our tests, by up to 104% for some games. Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most demanding PC games.
Windows can automatically check if there are drivers available for new devices that you connect to your computer. For hardware that you've connected to your computer in the past, updated drivers might become available at a later date; but those drivers aren't installed automatically.
When device drivers are outdated, computers can start becoming sluggish and cause noticeable performance problems that can be a serious annoyance. Device drivers are an essential piece of software that helps different hardware components work smoothly with your computer.
Every once in a while, though, those drivers may require updates to fix certain issues, introduce new features, or improve performance. In general, you shouldn't need to update your drivers very often.
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