In this article, we will show you how to update drivers on PC to ensure optimal performance, fix issues, and keep your system up to date.

Keeping your PC’s drivers up to date is essential for smooth performance, security, and compatibility with new software or hardware.

Whether you’re troubleshooting issues or improving your computer’s speed, updating your drivers can make a significant difference.

Here, we will walk you through how to update drivers on your personal computer, step by step. However, if you are not a tech person like me and you need immediate help, you can hire trusted freelancers from Fiverr to help you update your drivers and fix other Windows system issues.

See Also: 4 Methods to Update Graphics Card Drivers on Windows

What Are Drivers and Why Are They Important?

Drivers are software programs that allow your operating system (OS) to communicate with hardware components like graphics cards, sound cards, printers, and more. Without up-to-date drivers, your hardware might not function correctly, leading to performance problems, crashes, or incompatibility with new software.

Updating drivers ensures that your system can fully utilize the latest features and fixes, improving overall stability and performance.

How to Update Drivers on Windows PCs

There are multiple ways to update drivers on a Windows PC. You can do it manually or use built-in tools. Let’s dive into both options.

1. Update Drivers via Windows Update

Windows offers an easy way to update drivers through the Windows Update feature. This is the simplest method and ensures that your PC stays up to date with all necessary patches.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Settings App: Press Windows + I to open the Settings window.
2. Go to Windows Update: Click on Update & Security, then select Windows Update on the left-hand side.
3. Check for Updates: Click on Check for updates. If any driver updates are available, they will be listed here.
4. Install Updates: If driver updates are found, simply click Install now to install them.

Windows Update automatically installs many hardware driver updates, especially for major components like graphics cards, network adapters, and more.

See Also: 4 Ways to Update Video Drivers on Windows

2. Use Device Manager to Manually Update Drivers

If you need to update a specific driver, Device Manager is a powerful tool for managing hardware and drivers.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Device Manager: Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the context menu.
2. Find the Device: Expand the category for the hardware you want to update. For example, if you’re updating your graphics card, expand the Display adapters section.
3. Update the Driver: Right-click on the device and select Update driver.
4. Choose the Update Option: You will be prompted to either Search automatically for updated driver software or Browse my computer for drivers.
   • Choose Search automatically to let Windows search for the latest driver online.
   • If you already have the driver file, select Browse my computer and navigate to where the driver is located.
5. Complete the Update: If Windows finds a new driver, it will automatically download and install it. Once done, restart your PC.

See Also: 4 Methods to Force Quit on Windows

3. Update Drivers from the Manufacturer’s Website

Sometimes, you may need a more recent driver version than what Windows offers. This often happens with graphics cards and specialized hardware. In these cases, visiting the manufacturer’s website directly is a great option.

Here’s how you can update your drivers from the manufacturer’s website:

1. Identify the Device: You need to know the model and make of your hardware. For example, for a graphics card, you need to know whether it’s an NVIDIA or AMD card.
2. Go to the Manufacturer’s Website: Once you know the model, go to the official website of the manufacturer. Some common websites include:
   • NVIDIA: https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx
   • AMD: https://www.amd.com/en/support
   • Intel: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/
3. Find and Download the Latest Driver: Use the driver download tool or search manually for the driver by entering your hardware details.
4. Install the Driver: Once the driver is downloaded, open the file and follow the on-screen instructions to install it. Restart your PC after installation.

See Also: 15 Best Free Screen Recorders for Windows

4. Use Third-Party Driver Update Software

If you prefer an automated way to update your drivers, third-party tools like Driver Booster or Driver Easy can be helpful. These programs scan your PC for outdated drivers and update them with just a few clicks.

1. Download and Install the Software: Search for a reputable third-party driver update tool and install it on your PC.
2. Scan for Outdated Drivers: Launch the tool, and it will automatically detect all outdated drivers on your system.
3. Update Drivers: Select the drivers you wish to update and click the Update button.

While these tools can be convenient, it’s important to choose a trusted program to avoid unwanted software.

How to Know When to Update Drivers

It’s a good idea to update your drivers regularly, but certain situations may require you to check for updates more often:

• New hardware: When installing new hardware, ensure you have the latest drivers for optimal performance.
• System performance issues: If you’re experiencing problems like lag, crashes, or other issues, updating your drivers might resolve them.
• Operating system updates: After a major Windows update, check for driver updates to ensure compatibility with the new version.

See Also: 4 Ways to Screen Record on Windows

Troubleshooting Driver Issues

If you run into problems after updating your drivers, there are a few things you can do:

• Roll Back Driver: In Device Manager, you can roll back to a previous driver version if the new one caused issues. Right-click the device, choose Properties, then the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver.
• Reinstall the Driver: If the update didn’t work properly, you can uninstall the driver and then reinstall it.

Conclusion

Regularly updating your drivers ensures that your PC runs efficiently and securely. Whether you use Windows Update, Device Manager, or the manufacturer’s website, staying up to date is key to maintaining a stable and optimized system. If you encounter problems, use troubleshooting steps like rolling back drivers or reinstalling them. Keep your drivers current, and your PC will run at its best!

By following these steps, you can easily update drivers and improve your system’s performance. However, if you are not a tech person like me and you need immediate help, you can hire trusted freelancers from Fiverr to help you update your drivers and fix other Windows system issues.

Share This Post: