Outdated drivers can cause all sorts of annoying problems on Windows 11, from choppy graphics to printers that won’t connect. Windows 11 gives you a few built-in ways to update device drivers, and you can also go straight to the manufacturer if you need the very latest version. This guide walks you through each method.
Quick steps
- Open Settings and go to Windows Update.
- Look in the advanced or optional update settings for any driver updates Windows has listed for your device.
- Select the drivers you want and install them, then restart if you’re prompted to.
Before you start
A few things to check before you dive in:
- Make sure you’re signed in with an account that has administrator rights on the PC, since driver installs usually need that.
- Connect to a stable internet connection, ideally Wi-Fi or Ethernet rather than a mobile hotspot, since driver downloads can be fairly large.
- If you’re on a work or school managed device, your IT department may control driver updates through policy, so some of these options might be restricted or unavailable.
- Save your work and close anything important first, since some driver updates need a restart to finish installing.
Update drivers through Windows Update
This is the easiest method for most people, since it works from within the same screen you already use to check for other Windows updates.
- Open Settings (you can press the Windows key and type “Settings”).
- Select Windows Update from the left-hand menu.
- Select Check for updates to let Windows scan for anything new, including drivers that may be bundled with regular updates.
- Look for an advanced or optional updates section within Windows Update. If Windows has a driver update available for your hardware, it’s typically listed here.
- Select the driver or drivers you want to install, then follow the prompts to download and install them.
- Restart your PC if you’re prompted to, so the new driver can finish loading.
Not every device will show optional driver updates every time you check. That’s normal. Windows Update mainly offers drivers when there’s a known improvement or fix available for your specific hardware. Microsoft also publishes details of driver-related issues that have come up for specific Windows 11 versions, along with when they were resolved, which can be a useful way to check whether a problem you’re seeing is already known.
Update drivers using Device Manager
Device Manager is useful when you want to update, or troubleshoot, a specific piece of hardware like a network adapter, webcam, or graphics card.
- Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the menu.
- Expand the category for the hardware you want to update, for example Display adapters or Network adapters.
- Right-click the device and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers. Windows will look locally and online for a newer version.
- If Windows finds an update, follow the prompts to install it. If it reports that the best driver is already installed, your device is already up to date through this method.
- Restart your PC if asked to.
If you already have a driver file downloaded from the manufacturer, you can instead choose Browse my computer for drivers on that same screen and point Windows to the folder.
How to update graphics drivers on Windows 11
Graphics drivers are among the most common ones people need to update, especially for gaming, video editing, or fixing display glitches. You’ve got two main routes:
- Through Windows Update or Device Manager: Follow either of the methods above. Graphics drivers can appear as optional updates or through the Device Manager search.
- Directly from the GPU manufacturer: For the newest driver versions, including ones tuned for recently released games or apps, it’s often better to go straight to the source. Visit the official site for your graphics card maker (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download their dedicated driver tool or installer. These tools can detect your GPU model and offer a matching driver along with release notes.
Before installing a new graphics driver, check which GPU you have by opening Device Manager, expanding Display adapters, and noting the model name shown there. That way you download the correct driver for your hardware.
Checking which drivers are currently installed
If you just want to see what version of a driver you’re running, rather than install something new, Device Manager can show you that too:
- Open Device Manager as described above.
- Right-click the device and select Properties.
- Select the Driver tab.
- Here you’ll see the driver provider, version number, and the date it was released, which is handy for comparing against what’s available from the manufacturer’s website.
If it doesn’t work
No optional driver updates are showing up
This usually just means Windows doesn’t have a newer driver to offer for your current hardware at this time. Try checking again after a few days, or check the manufacturer’s support page directly for the latest version.
Device Manager says “the best drivers are already installed”
Windows checks its own update channels first, so this message doesn’t always mean there isn’t a newer driver available elsewhere. If you suspect there’s a newer version, download it manually from the manufacturer’s website and install it using the “Browse my computer for drivers” option in Device Manager.
A driver update causes a problem after installing
If something stops working properly right after a driver update, such as a display going black or a device disappearing, open the affected device’s properties in Device Manager and check the Driver tab. Look for an option to revert to the previously installed driver. This option only appears if a previous version is still available to restore.
Driver updates are restricted or missing from Windows Update
On work or school managed devices, administrators can control how drivers are delivered through policy. If you’re on a personal PC and still don’t see any options, make sure your Windows installation is fully up to date first, since older builds sometimes display a simplified Windows Update screen.
The update keeps failing to install
Try restarting your PC and checking for updates again, since a pending restart can sometimes block new installs. If it still fails, download the driver package directly from the manufacturer’s site as an alternative route.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to update drivers on Windows 11 regularly?
Not constantly, but it’s worth checking every so often, especially for graphics, network, and audio drivers, or if you’re running into a specific hardware issue. Windows Update will also install some driver fixes as part of regular updates in many cases.
Is it safe to update drivers through Windows Update?
For most people, yes. Checking through Windows Update is a straightforward and low-risk way to keep hardware current, since it uses the same update channel as the rest of your Windows updates.
What’s the difference between updating through Windows Update and the manufacturer’s website?
Windows Update tends to offer drivers that Microsoft makes available through its standard update channels, while manufacturer sites often release new versions faster, sometimes with extra features or performance tweaks for specific hardware like graphics cards.
Can I update drivers without an internet connection?
You can if you already have the driver installer file downloaded, by using the “Browse my computer for drivers” option in Device Manager. Otherwise, checking through Windows Update or downloading from a manufacturer’s site both require an internet connection.
Why doesn’t my PC show any optional driver updates?
This simply means Windows currently has nothing new to offer for your installed hardware. It doesn’t necessarily mean your drivers are out of date, just that there isn’t a flagged update waiting through this channel right now.
Related guides
If you’re working through other Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 settings, these guides might also help:
- How To Stop Teams Loading Up After Logging In
- How to Remove OneDrive from Your PC
- How to Disable OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11
Leave a Reply