How to properly update device drivers on Windows 10

Windows 10 update drivers Source: Windows Central

On Windows x, a device driver is an essential piece of code, which allows the organization to interact with a specific hardware (such as graphics menu, storage driver, network adapter, Bluetooth, etc.), also as peripherals, including mice, keyboards, printers, monitors, and many others.

Usually, the detection and installation of device drivers happen automatically using the built-in driver library and the Windows Update service. Still, sometimes, yous may still need to update some devices manually for a number of reasons. For example, when Windows 10 cannot recognize a component. The device stops working after an upgrade. Windows Update installs a generic packet, or you accept to apply a critical fix or access a new feature chop-chop.

Whatever the reason information technology might exist, Windows ten comes with several options to manually update a device driver, including using Windows Update, Device Managing director, and machine-update assistants from device manufacturers.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk y'all through three different methods to properly update hardware drivers on your computer. Also, we outline the steps to determine if the driver was updated successfully.

How to update drivers on Windows 10 using Windows Update
How to update drivers on Windows 10 using Device Manager
How to update graphics drivers on Windows 10
How to decide if a driver updated successfully on Windows 10*

How to update drivers on Windows 10 using Windows Update

Usually, it takes fourth dimension for manufacturers to make newer drivers available through Windows Update. However, information technology'southward notwithstanding the best option to download and install drivers manually. The reason is that only the packages compatible with your system configuration will be listed on this page, minimizing the chances of adding the wrong update. Likewise, the drivers in this channel have been tested, verified, and signed past Microsoft.

To quickly update device drivers using Windows Update, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Check for updates push (if applicable).
Click the View optional updates selection.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Driver updates tab.
Select the commuter you want to update.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Download and install push.

One time you consummate the steps, the newer commuter will download and install automatically on your device.

If the "View optional updates" link is not available subsequently checking for updates, and so Windows Update doesn't have whatsoever new drivers or whatever update for other products at that particular fourth dimension.

How to update drivers on Windows 10 using Device Director

Alternatively, you lot can also update drivers for a printer, wireless adapter, monitor, and other components using Device Managing director.

If the driver isn't available on Windows Update considering it'south besides recent or available only in beta, you will have to download and install the package from the manufacturer'south support website manually.

Unremarkably, when downloading an update from the manufacturer, you should always apply their instructions first. If the support website doesn't offering any assistance, then double-click the installer and continue with the on-screen directions to complete the update.

In the case that you're dealing with a cocky-extracting bundle, double-click the file to excerpt its content. Or utilize this guide to extract the content of the ".nothing" compressed file, and then proceed with these steps:

Open up Start.
Search for Device Managing director and click the superlative effect to open the tool.
Double-click the branch with the hardware you want to update.
Right-click the hardware and select the Update commuter option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Browse my computer for commuter software selection.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Browse button.

Source: Windows Central
Select the binder with the extracted commuter files.
Click the OK button.
Check the Include subfolders option to allow the wizard to discover the correct ".inf" file that includes the instructions to update the driver.
Click the Next button.

After you complete the steps, the wizard will scan, detect, and install the newer driver on your device to improve the overall experience and support with fixes and new features.

While yous can manually update a component using this method, typically, yous would use these steps to update the controllers for an older slice of hardware. In the example that y'all want to install an old printer, you can use these steps.

Historically, you lot could too use Device Manager to download drivers directly from the Windows Update service. However, it's no longer possible since Microsoft has removed the option from Device Managing director during a quality update released for the Windows 10 May 2022 Update. As a event, moving forward, when a new commuter update is detected on your computer, information technology'll appear automatically in the Windows Update settings, more than specifically, within the optional updates page.

How to update graphics drivers on Windows 10

Typically, if the graphics card is working, it'southward never a skilful idea to update its driver. However, graphics card manufacturers are known to rollout updates periodically to amend the experience, support, gear up bugs, and add together more functionalities, especially for games.

If you lot have to be on the nearly recent version of the graphics driver, instead of waiting for it to arrive through Windows Update, y'all can employ the graphics command panel available from Nvidia, AMD, or Intel to download and install the latest updates.

You tin utilise the links below to download the software for the brand yous're using:

Nvidia GeForce Experience.
AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition.
Intel Driver & Back up Assistant.

After you download the app, installing it should be as easy as double-clicking the installers and going through the usual next, side by side, next wizard. Once you're in the command panel, you tin click the check for updates button from the driver's section to download and install the latest driver.

Nvidia driver app Source: Windows Key

Download graphics driver manually

In the example that you don't desire to install another piece of software, you should be able to download the latest graphics driver directly from the manufacturer'southward support website.

The list below includes the links to download the latest update for your graphics card direct from your manufacturer support website:

Nvidia.
AMD.
Intel.

Once you downloaded the bundle, use the manufacturer instructions to complete the update installation. If no instructions are available, usually, you only need to launch the installer, get trough a couple of clicks, and the wizard will remove the quondam driver and supercede it with the new version automatically.

In the case that you lot're dealing with .zero or a self-extracting package, y'all can refer to our previous steps to complete the commuter installation using Device Manager.

Download graphics driver automatically

Alternatively, if you lot don't know the brand and model of the video card, some manufacturers oftentimes provide a tool to observe the driver you need automatically.

Yous can use the links beneath to download and run the auto-notice and install driver assistant for your reckoner:

Nvidia.
AMD.
Intel.

While on the website, download the assistant, and so double-click the executable, and continue with the on-screen directions to complete the driver update.

If you're using an OEM device (such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, etc.), consider that many manufacturers (especially Intel) modify their drivers to limit, expand, or optimize the functionalities of the integrated graphics menu. This means that if yous accept a branded device, it's always recommended to download the latest updates from the computer manufacturer support website instead of Intel. Otherwise, your device might experience unexpected behaviors, missing configurations, or you may not be able to access all the features.

You lot may also exist able to check the device model and brand using Device Manager with these steps:

Open Beginning.
Search for Device Manager and click the top consequence to open the tool.
Expand the Display adapters branch.
Confirm the brand and model of the graphics card.

Source: Windows Central

Afterward you lot complete the steps, you can utilise the data to download the correct driver update for your computer. If the data isn't bachelor, then you may accept to apply one of the available tools from Nvidia, AMD, or Intel to discover the driver you need. Or you lot could as well consult your device manual to determine the hardware configuration to find the correct driver update.

How to determine if a driver updated successfully on Windows x

Once the update has been applied, you may desire to ostend that the latest version was installed correctly using Device Director.

To run across the current driver version details on Windows ten, use these steps:

Open up Get-go.
Search for Device Director and click the acme issue to open the tool.
Expand the branch with the hardware yous updated.
Correct-click the hardware and select the Properties choice.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Driver tab.
Ostend the "Commuter Appointment" and "Driver Version" information.

Source: Windows Central

Once yous complete the steps, if these details match the manufacturer'south support website's data, then the device has the latest version of the driver on Windows 10.

If the driver didn't update correctly, repeat the steps i more time. If y'all continue with the same problem, make certain to inquire for assistance in the Windows Central forums.