Update device drivers in Windows 10 In Windows 10, a device driver is a set of files with instructions that allow the system to interact with specific hardware (such as a graphics card, hard drive, and network adapter) and peripherals, including mice, keyboards, printers, monitors, and many others. other.
Windows usually detect and install the device automatically using a combination of the local core driver library and Windows Update. However, sometimes you may need to update some drivers manually. For example, when Windows 10 can’t recognize a component, a device stops working after an upgrade, Windows Update installs a generic package, or you need to quickly apply for a critical patch or access a new feature.
Regardless of the reason, Windows 10 has several ways to update a device driver, including Windows Update, Device Manager, and automatic update assistants from device manufacturers.
This guide will guide you through three ways to update your computer’s hardware drivers. We also describe the steps to determine if the driver was successfully applied.
How to update drivers in Windows 10 using Windows Update
Although it takes some time for the latest driver updates to appear on Windows Update, it’s still best to download and install them manually. This is not only because you are getting updates from a trusted source, but also because only packages compatible with your system will be available through the service, minimizing the possibility of confusion that can cause many problems.
To update device drivers using Windows Update, follow these steps:
Open Settings.
Tap Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
You should click on “Show optional updates”.
Click the Driver Update tab.
Select the device driver you want to update in Windows 10.
Click the “Download and Install” button.
After completing these steps, the newer driver will be automatically installed on your computer.
If you don’t see the option to “Show optional updates” on the page, then Windows Update doesn’t have any new drivers or updates for other products at that time.
How to update drivers in Windows 10 using Device Manager
You can also use Device Manager to update drivers for your printer, wireless network adapter, monitor, and other components.
If the driver is not available on Windows Update because it was recently available or the company has it in beta, you will need to download and install the package manually from the manufacturer’s support site.
Usually, when you download an update from the manufacturer, you should always use their installation instructions. If the support website does not have helpful information, double-click the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
If you have a self-extracting package, double-click the file to extract its contents. Or use this guide to extract the contents of the compressed “.zip” file and then continue with these steps.
To update a device driver from Device Manager in Windows 10, follow these steps:
Open Start.
Search for Device Manager and click on the top result to open the application.
Double-click the branch with the hardware you want to update.
For hardware updates drivers right click on the update
Click on “Browse for drivers on my computer”.
Click Browse.
Select the folder with the extracted driver files.
Click the OK button.
Check the Include subfolders option to allow the wizard to find the correct “.inf” file containing the driver update instructions.
Click Next.
After completing these steps, the wizard will scan, detect and install a newer driver on your computer to improve the overall experience.
Although you can update the component manually using this method, you would typically use these steps to update drivers for older hardware, such as an old printer.
How to update video card drivers in Windows 10
Updating the driver is never a good idea if the graphics card is working as expected. However, graphics card manufacturers regularly release updates that improve the experience, expand support, fix bugs, and add more features, especially for games.
If you need the latest version of your graphics driver, instead of using Windows Update, you should use the Graphics Control Panel available from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel to install the latest updates.
NVIDIA GeForce Experience.
AMD Radeon Software Adrenaline Edition.
Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
Once you get the app, installing it should be as easy as double-clicking on the installers and going through the usual next, next, next wizard. In the Control Panel, click the Check for Updates button in the Driver section to install the latest driver.
Download the graphics driver manually
You should be able to download the latest graphics driver directly from the manufacturer’s support site.
The list below contains links to download the latest update for your graphics card directly from the manufacturer’s support site:
NVIDIA.
AMD.
Intel.
Once you’ve downloaded the package, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to complete the installation. If you can’t find the instructions, run the installer and the wizard will automatically remove the old driver and replace it with the new version.
If you have a “.zip” or self-extracting package, you can follow our previous steps to complete the driver installation using Device Manager.
Download the graphics driver automatically
Alternatively, if you don’t know the make and model of your graphics card, some manufacturers provide a tool to automatically detect the required driver.
Intel.
On the website, download the assistant, double-click the executable file, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver update.
If you have an OEM device (for example, Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, etc.), please note that many manufacturers (especially Intel) modify their drivers to limit, extend or optimize the functions of the integrated graphics card. If you have a branded computer, it is always recommended to download the latest updates from the Intel support site. Otherwise, your device may experience unexpected behavior or missing configurations, or you may not have access to all intended features.
To check your device model and brand using Device Manager in Windows 10, follow these steps:
Open Start.
Expand the View Adapters branch.
Confirm the brand and model of the graphics card.
After completing the steps, you can use this information to download the correct driver update. If the information is not available, you may need to use one of the available tools