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How to Update Graphics Drivers and Windows to Troubleshoot PC Game Errors

A safe troubleshooting path for Windows and graphics-driver updates, including vendor-specific routes, laptop compatibility, and when to consider rollback.
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Updating Windows and the graphics driver can resolve some game errors caused by outdated software or compatibility problems, but it is not a guaranteed fix: crashes can also come from game files, launchers, hardware, heat, or network issues. First note the exact error and your PC details, then check Windows Update and install a driver from the GPU maker or your computer maker. Restart and retry the game; if the error remains, follow the game publisher’s guidance for that specific message.

Before you update, record the error and your PC details

Write down the game name and the full error text or code, along with your Windows version and build, GPU model, and installed driver version. Those details help you avoid installing a package meant for different hardware or Windows. You can find the GPU in Device Manager > Display adapters; the PC manufacturer’s support page may also identify the installed graphics hardware and model-specific downloads.

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Do not choose a driver solely because its version number looks newer. Driver numbering differs by vendor, and release notes apply to the products and operating systems they list.

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How do I update Windows for games?

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update. In Windows 10, the page is under Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
  2. Select Check for updates, then install applicable updates offered for your PC.
  3. Restart if Windows asks you to, and try the game again.

If Windows Update fails, use Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooting steps. They cover common errors and include the Get Help troubleshooter, cache-related steps, and repair options for supported Windows versions.

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Windows 10’s standard support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says it no longer provides free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. See Microsoft’s Windows update guidance for its current information.

How do I update my graphics driver to fix a game error?

Identify whether the GPU is NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, then use that manufacturer’s official driver route. Confirm the exact GPU model and Windows compatibility before downloading. For a notebook or all-in-one PC, check the computer maker’s support page first: its model-specific driver may be needed for full system compatibility.

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GPU maker Official driver route What to check
NVIDIA NVIDIA driver downloads or the NVIDIA App Choose a package for the installed GPU and Windows. NVIDIA distinguishes Game Ready drivers for gaming from Studio drivers for creative applications. For notebook models, NVIDIA recommends checking the notebook maker’s certified-driver recommendations; see the NVIDIA driver listing.
AMD AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and its release notes Check that the release supports your GPU and Windows, and read its version-specific known issues. AMD advises laptop and all-in-one users who encounter trouble with AMD.com packages to install OEM-provided drivers for full support and compatibility; see the AMD release notes.
Intel Intel Download Center or Intel Driver & Support Assistant Use Intel’s guidance to identify the device and determine whether a newer compatible graphics driver is needed, including when an app reports that the graphics driver needs an update.
  1. Download the compatible driver from the relevant official vendor route or your computer maker’s support page.
  2. Run the installer and follow its prompts. Restart Windows when requested, or after installation if no restart prompt appears.
  3. Launch the game and note whether the original error disappears, changes, or remains.

Release pages can list support for particular games or known issues, but those notes are tied to the named release and hardware. Do not assume an issue or fix listed for one GPU or driver version applies to every system.

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Why does my game say my graphics driver needs an update?

The game or launcher may be detecting a driver it considers too old for the game, or it may be reporting a compatibility requirement. Intel’s guidance for this prompt is to identify the graphics device and check for a newer driver through Intel Download Center or Intel Driver & Support Assistant. If your PC has NVIDIA or AMD graphics, use the matching vendor route instead. Verify the GPU model and supported Windows version; on a laptop or all-in-one, also check the system maker’s driver page.

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A prompt does not establish that the driver is the only cause of a game problem. If a compatible driver update does not resolve the exact message, use the game publisher’s support instructions for that error.

Should I roll back a graphics driver if a game started crashing?

If crashes began after a graphics-driver update, rolling back is a reasonable diagnostic step when Windows makes the option available. Microsoft documents rollback for display-driver problems and device-driver errors.

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  1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Display adapters, right-click the GPU, and select Properties.
  3. Open the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver, if available. Follow the prompts and restart Windows.
  4. Retry the game and check whether the crashes change.

If the button is unavailable, Windows does not currently offer that rollback through this control. Do not treat rollback as proof that every crash is driver-related.

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If the error persists after updating

Use the game publisher’s support steps for the exact error text or code. An update alone does not diagnose a game-file or launcher problem, compatibility issue, overheating, hardware fault, or network issue.

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For screen flicker rather than a game crash, Microsoft says display-driver issues or incompatible apps commonly cause flickering. Its Windows guidance also describes resetting the graphics driver with Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B and rolling back after a recent update. That shortcut and advice are for display troubleshooting, not a universal game-crash fix: Microsoft’s screen-flickering troubleshooting steps.

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