How to Update Graphics Drivers on Windows 11

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    Updating your graphics driver on Windows 11 keeps your games, video editing apps, and everyday display performance running smoothly, and it often fixes crashes or glitches after a Windows update. You can update it through Windows Update, Device Manager, or directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, depending on which graphics card or chip you have. This guide walks through every method so you can pick whichever works best for your setup.

    Quick steps

    1. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
    2. Expand Display adapters and right-click your graphics card.
    3. Select Update driver, then choose Search automatically for drivers.
    4. Restart your PC once the update finishes.

    Before you start

    Know which graphics hardware you have before you start hunting for drivers. You’ll usually find an NVIDIA GeForce or RTX card, an AMD Radeon card, or Intel integrated graphics (sometimes alongside a dedicated card in laptops). Device Manager will show you this under Display adapters.

    It also helps to save any open work and plug in a laptop before updating, since some driver installs require a restart and a brief black screen while the new driver loads. Your PC may also use Secure Boot, a firmware setting that controls which software is trusted to start your device. This setting is unrelated to most day-to-day driver updates, but it’s worth knowing it exists in your firmware (UEFI) settings in case a specific hardware or software combination ever asks you to check it.

    Update graphics drivers through Windows Update

    Windows Update can deliver certified graphics drivers for your hardware, and it’s the simplest option if you just want something reliable without downloading extra software.

    1. Open Settings and go to Windows Update.
    2. Click Advanced options.
    3. Select Optional updates.
    4. Expand Driver updates if it appears, and check the box next to your graphics driver.
    5. Click Download & install.
    6. Restart your PC when prompted.

    Not every PC will show a driver listed here. If nothing appears, your current driver may already be up to date through Windows Update, or the manufacturer may only distribute updates through its own app instead.

    Update graphics drivers using Device Manager

    Device Manager works for any graphics card or chip and is a good fallback if Windows Update doesn’t show anything new.

    1. Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.
    2. Double-click Display adapters to expand it.
    3. Right-click your graphics adapter and select Update driver.
    4. Choose Search automatically for drivers to let Windows look locally and online.
    5. If Windows finds a newer driver, follow the prompts to install it, then restart your PC.
    6. If Windows says the best driver is already installed, that just means it can’t find anything newer than what you have through this method, so try the manufacturer’s own tool instead.

    Update an NVIDIA graphics driver

    If Device Manager lists an NVIDIA GeForce or RTX card, you’ll usually get faster access to the newest drivers straight from NVIDIA rather than waiting on Windows Update.

    1. Open the NVIDIA App (or GeForce Experience on older installs) if it’s already installed on your PC.
    2. Sign in or skip sign-in if prompted.
    3. Go to the Drivers tab.
    4. Click Check for updates.
    5. If a new driver is available, select Download, then Install.
    6. Choose Express installation for a straightforward update, or Custom installation if you want to do a clean install and reset your display settings.
    7. Restart your PC when the install finishes.

    If you don’t have the NVIDIA App installed, you can download it directly from NVIDIA’s own website and it will detect your card automatically.

    Update an AMD graphics driver

    AMD Radeon users can update through the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition app, which usually ships preinstalled on systems with AMD graphics or can be downloaded from AMD directly.

    1. Open AMD Software.
    2. Go to the Home tab or the Updates section.
    3. Click Check for updates.
    4. If a new driver appears, select Download, then Install.
    5. Choose a Factory Reset install if you want to clear old settings, or a standard install to keep your current configuration.
    6. Restart your PC once installation completes.

    Update an Intel graphics driver

    Many laptops and some desktops use Intel integrated graphics, and Intel offers its own tool for keeping that driver current.

    1. Open the Intel Driver & Support Assistant if it’s installed, or download it from Intel’s website.
    2. Let it scan your system.
    3. Under the graphics driver entry, click Download if an update is listed.
    4. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the prompts.
    5. Restart your PC when prompted.

    Alternatively, you can update Intel graphics the same way as any other driver through Device Manager or Windows Update’s optional updates section, which is worth trying first if you’d rather not install extra software.

    If it doesn’t work

    Windows says the best driver is already installed

    This usually just means Windows can’t find a newer driver through its own search. Check the manufacturer’s site or app (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) directly, since they often release drivers before Windows Update picks them up.

    Screen goes black or flickers after updating

    This is common during a driver install and usually resolves itself within a minute as the new driver loads. If your screen stays black for several minutes, restart your PC. If it still won’t display properly, boot into Safe Mode and roll back the driver in Device Manager.

    The installer won’t finish or crashes partway through

    Close background apps, especially anything using your GPU like games or video software, and try the install again. Restarting your PC first can also clear up whatever’s locking the driver files.

    A new driver causes stability issues

    Open Device Manager, right-click your graphics adapter, go to Properties, select the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver if that option is available. This reverts you to the previously installed version.

    The driver install won’t complete or the device won’t start

    Make sure you’re signed in with an account that has permission to install software, close any apps that might be using the graphics card, and try running the installer again after a restart. If the device still shows an error in Device Manager, reinstalling the driver from the manufacturer’s site rather than Windows Update (or vice versa) can sometimes resolve it.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do I know which graphics card I have?

    Open Device Manager and expand Display adapters. Your GPU or integrated graphics chip will be listed there by name, which tells you whether to look for NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel drivers.

    Do I need to update my graphics driver regularly?

    You don’t need to chase every release, but updating when you notice graphical glitches, before playing a new game, or after a major Windows update is a sensible habit. Many people just update every few months or when something stops working correctly.

    Is it safe to use third party driver update tools?

    Stick to Windows Update, Device Manager, or the manufacturer’s own app or website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel). These are the sources that actually test and sign drivers for your hardware, so there’s less risk of installing something incompatible.

    What’s the difference between updating through Windows Update and the manufacturer’s app?

    Windows Update delivers drivers that have gone through Microsoft’s certification process and tend to be more conservative. The manufacturer’s own app or site often has newer releases with the latest performance improvements and game-specific fixes, so it’s worth checking both.

    Why does my PC need a restart after a driver update?

    Graphics drivers control core parts of how Windows renders your display, so a restart (or at least a driver reset, which can look like a brief black screen) makes sure the new version loads cleanly instead of running alongside the old one.

    Sources

    Updated on November 8, 2026
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