Updating drivers in Windows 10 can feel kind of like giving your PC a quick tune-up. Sometimes, things just start acting weird—screens flicker, sound drops out, or maybe a device isn’t recognized properly. It’s frustrating, and you wonder if all those hardware hiccups are just Windows being Windows, or if there’s actually something outdated. Well, usually, it’s driver stuff—those tiny pieces of software that tell your hardware what to do. The good news? Updating them isn’t too complicated, but it’s one of those things that’s often overlooked until you have a problem. This guide aims to demystify the process, so you can keep things running silky smooth and avoid those annoying glitches.
How to Update Drivers in Windows 10
Open Device Manager and locate your device
First, you wanna jump into Device Manager. You can get there by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting Device Manager or by pressing Windows key + X and choosing it from the menu. This is basically your hardware hub—it shows all connected devices and drivers in one place. Sometimes, drivers get cluttered or outdated, especially after Windows updates or hardware swaps, so it’s good to check if anything’s flagged with a yellow warning triangle.
Find the device you want to update
Scroll through the list and find the device causing trouble or that you just want to update. Devices are grouped (like Display adapters, Network adapters, Sound, video, and game controllers).Expanding these categories helps you see all the hardware. Keep an eye out for a yellow exclamation mark—that’s a sign Windows noticed a problem with that device, which could mean a driver needs refreshing.
Right-click and hit “Update Driver” — what comes next?
Once you find the device, right-click it and pick Update driver. This opens a little window with two main options: Search automatically for updated driver software or Browse my computer for driver software. The first one is the easiest on most setups—Windows will try to find the latest driver online. But if you’ve already downloaded a driver from the manufacturer (maybe from AMD, Intel, Realtek, etc.), you can point it there. More on that below.
How to actually choose the way you want to update
Select Search automatically for updated driver software. Usually, this works fine, especially if your machine is connected to the internet. Windows will peek into its databases and download the latest stuff it can find. If that doesn’t yield results, or if you’ve got a driver file saved somewhere, choose Browse my computer for driver software. Navigate to where your driver files are stored, and follow the prompts. Pro tip—sometimes, device manufacturer sites like ASUS Support or HP Support have latest drivers you need to get from there, especially for graphics cards or Wi-Fi modules.
Follow the prompts and restart if needed
Just follow the wizard’s instructions. If Windows finds a newer driver, it’ll install it—sometimes, it prompts you to restart the system. On some setups it’s weird, but a reboot is often necessary to make sure everything’s properly updated. Also, keep in mind—sometimes, the latest driver isn’t necessarily the most stable if it’s a beta or preview version. So, don’t skip the backup step just yet.
Tips for making this easier and safer
- Set a Restore Point before updating. Just in case things go sideways and Windows decides to throw a tantrum. To do this: Search for “Create a restore point” in the start menu, then click Create.
- Stick with trusted sources. Manufacturer websites are usually the safest bet to avoid bad drivers or malware. For example, Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Realtek—download drivers directly from their official pages.
- If updating from Device Manager doesn’t fix the problem, visit the device’s support page or try driver update tools like Driver Booster—just be cautious and read reviews; not all tools are trustworthy.
- On some gear, it’s worth removing the device from Device Manager and scanning for hardware changes—this can sometimes force Windows to reconfigure and install the correct driver again.
What if driver updates fail or cause problems?
If an update causes instability or the device stops working, don’t panic. You can roll back the driver: right-click the device, pick Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver if that option is available. Sometimes, the new driver just isn’t compatible with your hardware, and this bypasses the problem.
And if that doesn’t work, reacquire the previous driver version or use Windows’ built-in troubleshooters. A reboot in safe mode can also help you do clean driver removals if needed.
Bonus tip: You can also use tools like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) when you’re dealing with stubborn graphics card issues—kind of overkill for regular updates but useful if things have gone totally sideways.
Summary
- Open Device Manager.
- Find the device needing an update.
- Right-click > Update driver.
- Select search or browse options.
- Follow instructions, restart if prompted.
Wrap-up
Keeping drivers fresh isn’t just about dodging bugs—it’s about making sure your hardware plays nice with Windows and updates. Yeah, it’s a bit of a hassle sometimes, especially when things don’t go as planned, but practicing the process makes it less intimidating. Usually, it’s just a matter of a few clicks and a restart. If things break, rolling back is your friend, and tools like driver download pages exist for a reason. Just don’t be lazy about it—checking in every few months keeps your PC humming along without surprises.