Updating drivers on Windows 10 is pretty much essential to keep everything running smoothly. Sometimes, hardware stops behaving, or you notice performance drops—drivers might be the cause. Doing this can fix bugs, give your hardware a boost, or add some new features. Plus, it’s not hard to do once you get the hang of it—though, of course, Windows has to make it a tiny bit more complicated than necessary. Like, you can’t just click an update button and be done, no, you gotta dig into Device Manager most of the time. Anyway, here’s how you can tackle it step by step.
How to Update Drivers on Windows 10
Open Device Manager and find the problem device
This is where most issues start—locating the device you wanna update. Open Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button (or press Win + X), then select Device Manager. You’ll see a list of all your hardware. Sometimes, if there’s a problem, a device might have a yellow exclamation mark—meaning something’s up. Find that device or just scroll through categories like Display adapters, Network adapters, etc., until you see the one you want to update. Doesn’t matter if it’s a graphics card or a disk controller, the process is similar.
Right-click and choose “Update Driver” — then get ready to search
Right-click on the specific device, then click Update Driver. This action opens a tiny window asking if you want Windows to search online or browse your PC. The reason why this helps: sometimes Windows has the latest driver cached, but mostly, it fetches updates directly from Microsoft’s servers or the device manufacturer. A trick I’ve found is to try both, especially if the auto-search doesn’t seem to find anything. Not sure why it works, but on some setups, the automatic search fails the first time, then works after a reboot or trying again.
Choose your search method and stick with it
- If you pick Search automatically for updated driver software, Windows scans online and installs the latest driver it finds. This is usually enough if you’re just fixing minor bugs or want the latest stuff without downloading anything manually.
- If you downloaded a driver from the manufacturer’s website (like NVIDIA, AMD, Intel), then choose Browse my computer for driver software. You’ll have to point to the folder where you saved the driver files.
Pro tip: For some devices, especially older or niche hardware, downloading the latest driver manually from the manufacturer’s site (like NVIDIA driver page) can save a lot of headaches. Saves you from Windows messing up and installing a generic driver you don’t want.
Follow prompts and restart if necessary
Just follow whatever instructions pop up. Usually, it’ll say “Driver updated successfully” after a few seconds. Sometimes, a restart is required—so count on that. On some machines, the driver update seems to go fine, but the device still acts wonky until you reboot. That’s normal, really, old Windows habits die hard.
After all this, you should see the hardware working better, with less errors or lag. Updating drivers isn’t the magic fix for everything, but it’s a key step. Plus, staying current with driver updates prevents more serious issues down the line.
Tips for a smoother driver update experience
- Check for driver updates regularly—every few months just to keep stuff fresh.
- Backup your current drivers with a tool like DriverPack or use Windows’ built-in backup in Device Manager > Action > Export List.
- Use Windows Update for common drivers, but go direct to manufacturer websites when needed, especially for graphics cards or Wi-Fi adapters.
- Be cautious with third-party driver tools; they often promise quick fixes but can install outdated or wrong drivers—sometimes worse than nothing.
- If a new driver causes issues, you can roll back to the previous one by right-clicking the device, choosing Properties, navigating to Driver tab, and clicking Roll Back Driver. Might save your sanity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I update my drivers?
Honestly, every few months is enough—unless a device acts flaky or a new Windows update is out. Then, it’s worth checking.
Is it safe to update drivers manually?
Usually, yes. Just make sure you grab drivers from official sources or trusted sites. Avoid sketchy links.
What if a driver update breaks something?
Quick fix: roll back to the previous version in Device Manager or use System Restore if things get really bad.
Do all devices need regular driver updates?
Not really. Critical ones like graphics cards or network devices benefit most. Others, like printers, can wait unless they’re acting up.
Summary
- Open Device Manager
- Locate your device
- Right-click, pick “Update Driver”
- Select auto search or manual installation
- Follow prompts, reboot if needed
Wrap-up
Updating drivers on Windows 10 is kinda straightforward once you know where to look. Sometimes it’s a little annoying dealing with Windows’ sometimes slow or flaky update process, but in the end, it’s worth it. It can fix weird hardware hiccups, improve performance, or even unlock new features. Just be cautious about where you get your drivers and back things up if you can. It’s not a magic fix for all problems, but it often gets you halfway there. Fingers crossed this helps someone save a ton of trouble down the road.