On Windows, start with Settings > Windows Update, then check Advanced options > Optional updates for driver updates. If the right driver is not offered, get it from the official support page for your exact computer or device model. Update a driver to address a specific issue or need—not simply because a newer date appears, and not as routine maintenance for every device.
What a driver does—and when to update one
A driver lets an operating system communicate with a hardware device. Microsoft describes drivers as translators between Windows and a device; many are delivered through Windows Update and certified in collaboration with hardware or software providers. Microsoft’s driver overview explains how Windows selects drivers.
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Consider an update when a device is malfunctioning, the computer maker recommends a fix, or a release specifically supports a feature you need. A newer date alone is not proof that a package is a better match: Microsoft says driver dates are descriptive, provider-supplied information, while Windows uses targeting information in driver files to select a driver for the device. There is no universal update interval or guaranteed speed benefit.
Update a driver in Windows
1. Check Windows Update first
- Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
- Open Advanced options > Optional updates. If a relevant driver update is listed, select it and install it.
- Restart if Windows asks you to.
Some driver updates are optional, so check that section as well as the regular update list. Menu names can vary by Windows version. An empty optional-updates list does not by itself mean a device lacks a driver. See Microsoft’s instructions for updating drivers.
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2. Check a particular device in Device Manager
- Open Device Manager and expand the category for the device.
- Right-click the device and choose Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers.
- If Windows does not find a suitable update, check Windows Update or the official support page for the device or computer maker.
For a manual installation, download the package from the maker’s official support page. Match the exact device or computer model and your Windows version and architecture, such as 64-bit. Read the release notes and installation instructions before proceeding. Some packages use the maker’s installer; follow its directions. If the package provides extracted driver files instead, return to Device Manager, choose Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers, and select the folder containing those files.
Choose between Windows Update and a maker’s package
| Route | Best starting point | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Update | Usual first route; Windows distributes many drivers, and some appear under Optional updates. | Whether the offered update applies to the device and whether Windows requests a restart. |
| Computer or device maker | When Windows Update does not offer a needed driver, or the maker specifies a package for a particular fix or feature. | Exact model, Windows version and architecture, release notes, and the maker’s installation and recovery instructions. |
Microsoft recommends Windows Update first and directs users to the device maker when needed. The appropriate choice is the compatible package that addresses the problem or requirement—not necessarily the one with the newest-looking date.
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If a device stops working after an update
Read the device status before changing anything
Open Device Manager, inspect the device’s properties and status, and note any error code. Use Microsoft’s Device Manager error-code guide to identify the suggested remedy. A status or code can help distinguish a driver problem from other device issues.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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Reinstall or roll back only when appropriate
If troubleshooting calls for a reinstall, save your work and close apps first. Microsoft documents uninstalling a device through Device Manager and restarting so Windows can attempt to reinstall its driver; some devices may require manual installation instead. Consult the computer or device maker if its instructions differ.
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If the fault began immediately after an update, check the device’s driver properties for a rollback option and the maker’s guidance. Microsoft documents rollback in its audio troubleshooting instructions; that route is specific to the documented audio scenario, not a guarantee that every device offers a rollback button.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How driver updates work on Linux and Mac
Ubuntu and Linux
Ubuntu says most device drivers are installed by default, though some devices may need manual installation or may not have a driver available. Keep Ubuntu and its kernel current through the distribution’s package-update mechanism, and use the instructions for your Ubuntu release and hardware. Ubuntu’s hardware-driver help covers its driver tools. Its driver installation guidance describes the ubuntu-drivers tool and graphical Additional Drivers utility; it recommends the tool in Secure Boot scenarios because it selects pre-built signed drivers.
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macOS
Do not use Windows Device Manager or a generic Windows driver updater on a Mac. Support for devices is tied to macOS and, where applicable, software supplied by the peripheral maker for the specific Mac and macOS version. Apple warns that kernel extensions are no longer recommended and explains the approval and restart implications of loading third-party extensions in its kernel-extension security guidance. That page is security guidance, not a general step-by-step procedure for routine Mac driver updates.
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- Do not install a package for a similar-looking model. Confirm the exact model, Windows version, and architecture before downloading.
- Do not choose by date alone. Provider date conventions vary, and the date does not establish that a package is the best match for your device.
- Avoid third-party driver-download portals and vague “update all drivers” utilities. Prefer Windows Update or the official device or computer maker. Microsoft also describes signature requirements intended to protect kernel integrity in its kernel-mode code-signing policy.
- Do not uninstall a working driver as routine maintenance. Uninstalling is a troubleshooting step; know how to recover or reinstall the driver first, especially for an important device.
Available packages and menu labels vary by Windows release, manufacturer, and model. When the maker provides model-specific installation or recovery directions, use those rather than assuming every computer follows the same steps.
Quick Recap
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