How to Update Drivers on Windows 10/11

Update Drivers on Windows 10/11 is crucial for keeping your computer running smoothly. One of the most overlooked aspects of maintaining your system’s performance is updating your drivers – software components that allow your operating system to communicate with hardware devices such as graphics cards, printers, and webcams.

Outdated or incompatible drivers can lead to various issues, including system crashes, hardware malfunctions, and poor performance.

What are drivers, and why is it essential to update them?

device drivers @Linuxscreenshots

Drivers are software programs that translate the operating system’s instructions into a language that hardware devices can understand. With up-to-date drivers, your hardware devices may function correctly or not work. Outdated drivers can also cause compatibility issues, leading to system crashes, freezes, or other performance issues.

Benefits of Updating Windows Drivers

Keeping your drivers up-to-date offers several benefits:

1. Improved hardware performance: Newer drivers often include optimizations and bug fixes that enhance the performance of your hardware devices.
2. Increased system stability: Outdated drivers can cause conflicts and crashes, while updated drivers help ensure a smoother and more stable computing experience.
3. Access to new features: Hardware manufacturers frequently release driver updates to enable or enhance new features.
4. Better security: Driver updates often include patches that protect your system from vulnerabilities and potential malware attacks.

How to Automatically Update Drivers in Windows 11 and 10

Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 offers built-in tools to automatically update drivers.

Here’s how to enable automatic driver updates:

Update Drivers via Device Manager

1. Open the Start menu and search for “Device Manager.”
2. Click the “View” menu in the Device Manager window and select “Show hidden devices.”
3. Click on the > before the driver name to expand your options under that driver. Right-click on any device and choose “Update driver” or “Update driver software.”
4. Select “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

Windows will periodically check for and install any available device driver updates.

Update Drivers Automatically Using Fortect Driver Updater

Fortect Driver Updater can simplify finding and installing the latest drivers for your devices. These tools scan your system, identify outdated drivers, and provide a centralized location for downloading and installing updates automatically.

One such utility is Fortect, an all-in-one solution that updates your drivers and optimizes your PC’s hardware, security, and performance with malware and antivirus alerts. 

Download and install Fortect to keep your drivers updated and your PC running smoothly.

2 Best Ways to Update Drivers on Windows 10 Manually

While automatic updates are convenient, there may be times when you need to update your drivers manually. 

Here are the three best ways to do so:

1. Update drivers through the Device Manager

This process is the same as mentioned above, automatically updating drivers. You don’t need to go to select hidden devices. You check the available drivers after the Device Manager window.

1. Open the Device Manager by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Expand the category for the device you want to update.
3. Right-click on the device and select “Update driver.”
4. Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software.”
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.

2. Update drivers from the manufacturer’s website

1. Identify the device you want to update and locate the manufacturer’s website.
2. Navigate to the support or downloads section of the website.
3. Find the latest driver for your specific device model and operating system version.
4. Download the driver and follow the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer.

How to Diagnose Driver Issues with Windows Check

Windows has built-in tools to help diagnose driver issues:

1. Open Device Manager: Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Check for Warning Signs: Look for devices with a yellow triangle or red cross indicating issues.
3. View Device Status: Right-click on the problematic device and select Properties. Under the General tab, 4. check the Device status for error messages.
5. Run Windows Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot and select the appropriate troubleshooter for your hardware issue.

Conclusion

Keeping your drivers up-to-date is essential for ensuring optimal hardware performance, system stability, and security. By following the methods outlined in this article, you can easily update your drivers and avoid potential issues. Consider the options if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution to maintain your PC’s performance, security, and hardware health.