Keeping your drivers up to date is essential for ensuring your Windows 11 PC runs smoothly. Outdated or missing drivers can cause performance issues, hardware malfunctions, and other sorts of problems.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about updating drivers on Windows 11.
Table of contents
What Are Drivers and Why Should You Update Them
Drivers are small pieces of software that allow your operating system to communicate with hardware components like your graphics card, sound card, network adapter, and more. Without the correct drivers, your hardware may not function properly — or at all.
Why Updating Drivers Matters
Think of drivers as translators between your hardware and Windows – when they’re out of date, communication breaks down. Regular updates bring:
- Smoother performance: New driver versions often include optimizations for speed and stability.
- Bug fixes: Updates resolve known issues that may cause crashes or errors.
- New features: Some driver updates add functionality or support for newer software.
- Game-ready optimizations: This is critical for new titles. For instance, AMD has released AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 25.4. 1 Optional Update to highlight support for new games, including The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
When Should You Update Drivers
You don’t always need to update drivers unless you’re experiencing issues. Here are some common scenarios where updating drivers is necessary:
- Hardware issues:
- Audio problems such as no sound or distorted sound. – Update audio or sound drivers.
- Display glitches or screen flickering. – Update graphics drivers.
- Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection issues. – Update network drivers.
- New hardware installation:
- After installing a new graphics card, printer, or external device, you’ll typically need to install the latest drivers for full functionality. However, some devices (like basic USB drives or keyboards) are plug-and-play and work automatically.
- Windows updates:
- Sometimes, Windows Update automatically installs driver updates.
- Gaming & Software requirements:
- Some games or applications require the latest GPU drivers for optimal performance.
If you’re unsure which drivers need updating, a driver updater tool like Driver Easy can scan your system and identify outdated or missing drivers automatically.
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How to Update Driver on Windows 11
There are several ways to update drivers on Windows 11. Below, we’ll cover the most effective methods.
Method 1: Update Drivers Automatically with Driver Easy (Recommended)
Keeping drivers updated can be tedious, but Driver Easy eliminates the hassle — no technical skills required. It’s a handy tool designed to simplify the driver update process. Driver Easy automatically detects missing or outdated drivers and installs the latest versions that are compatible with your system. Additionally, it gives users the option to select a specific driver version for download and provides the ability to roll back to a previous version — features that are especially helpful when certain programs run better with a particular driver version.
To update drivers with Driver Easy:
- Download and install Driver Easy.
- Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
- Check if your device is flagged in the scan results. If it is, click Activate & Update to start a 7-day free trial or upgrade to Driver Easy Pro. Either option will automatically download and install the latest graphics driver for you.
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Method 2: Update Drivers via Windows Update
Windows Update doesn’t just deliver OS patches – it also provides driver updates for many hardware components. Although it usually gives you the Windows recommended drivers, which may not be the atest and might not cover all devices, you can always give it a try:
- On your keyboard, press Win + R to open the Run box. Type or paste ms-settings:windowsupdate, then click OK. This will open the Windows Update window.
- Click Advanced options.
- Toggle On the option Receive updates for other Microsoft products.
- Go back and click Check for updates, and Windows should download and install the recommended new drivers.
- You can also click Optional updates in the Advanced options window to check for available driver updates provided by Windows.
Method 3: Manually Update Drivers Using Device Manager
Windows Device Manager lets you manually check for driver updates. Here’s how:
- Press Win + R to open the Run box. Type or paste devmgmt.msc and hit Enter. This will open the Device Manager.
- Locate your device. You need to expand the categories (e.g., Display adpaters for GPU drivers). Right-click the device and select Update driver.
- Click Search automatically for drivers.
- If no updates are found, Windows will state The best drivers for your device are already installed. You can try Windows Update by clicking the provided link or download drivers manually from the manufacturer.
Method 4: Download Drivers from Manufacturer’s Website
For the most up-to-date drivers, visit the official websites of your hardware manufacturers.
To find and install the right drivers:
- Identify your hardware:
Press the Win + R to open the Run box, then type devmgmt.msc to open the Device Manager. Note the device name (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060). - Visit the manufacturer’s support page. For example:
GPU
NVIDIA: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/
AMD: https://www.amd.com/en/support/download/drivers.html
Intel: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download-center/home.html
Motherboard:
ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte (check your model) - Find the right driver compatible with your Windows version. Then download and install the driver by following the on-screen instructions.
Wrapping Up
Keeping your drivers up to date may not always be top of mind, but it’s a key part of maintaining system performance, stability, and hardware compatibility — especially as software, games, and Windows itself continue to evolve. You can either let tools like Driver Easy handle the work for you or manage them manually. We hope this guide has been helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
