To update drivers on Windows, let Windows Update install most of them automatically, use Device Manager for one specific device, and download graphics and chipset drivers straight from the hardware maker. A driver is the software that lets Windows talk to a piece of hardware, so an out-of-date one can cause crashes, display faults, or missing features. Windows Update covers roughly 90 percent of devices on its own. For the graphics card, use the vendor app (the NVIDIA App, AMD Adrenalin, or Intel Graphics Software). One rule matters most: a driver that works does not need updating unless an update fixes an actual problem.
Do You Actually Need to Update the Driver?
Before changing anything, decide whether the driver needs updating at all. A driver that works does not need a newer version. Updating for the sake of being current can break a stable setup, so update only when there is a reason:
- A device is faulty: crashes, no display, stutter, no sound, or a missing feature points to the driver.
- You need new support: a new game, a new monitor, or a Windows feature update calls for a current driver.
- A security fix is published: the maker flags a vulnerability in the driver you are running.
- A bug fix matches your symptom: the release notes name the exact problem you have.
If none of those apply and everything works, leave the driver alone. The graphics driver is the usual exception worth keeping current, because new versions add game-specific fixes and performance, which ties into the wider job of keeping a PC quick in how to speed up Windows 11.
What Is a Driver in Windows?
A driver is the software layer that lets Windows communicate with a hardware device, translating system commands into instructions the device understands. Every component relies on one, and the type of driver decides what breaks when it is out of date:
- Graphics (GPU): drives display output, gaming, and video acceleration. The driver with the biggest day-to-day effect.
- Chipset: runs the motherboard controllers for USB, storage, and power management.
- Network: operates the Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters that connect the system.
- Peripheral: runs printers, audio devices, webcams, and other attached hardware.
An outdated graphics driver shows up as display errors and stutter, while an outdated chipset driver causes USB and storage glitches. A bad graphics driver is also a common trigger for the stop-code covered in how to fix DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE.
Which Method Should You Use?
There are four routine ways to update a driver, each suited to a different job. Read the “Best for” line on each card, then jump to the method that matches your situation. Create a restore point first if you want an easy undo (search Start for “Create a restore point”).
Windows Update
Device Manager
GPU vendor app
Manufacturer site
The general rule is simple: let Windows Update handle the broad set, reach for Device Manager when one device acts up, and go to the vendor app or maker site for the graphics card and chipset. Note that Device Manager’s “Search automatically” only checks Windows Update, so it often says the driver is already up to date even when the maker has a newer one.
How Do You Update the Graphics Driver?
The graphics card is the one driver most worth keeping current, and the vendor app is the cleanest way to do it. NVIDIA retired GeForce Experience in late 2024; the NVIDIA App now handles updates and settings in one place and needs no account.
- Identify your card. Press Windows + R, type
dxdiag, open the Display tab, and read the GPU name and current driver version. - Install the right vendor app. The NVIDIA App for an NVIDIA card, AMD Adrenalin for an AMD card, or Intel Graphics Software for Intel graphics, each from the maker’s official site.
- Check the Drivers tab. The app shows the newest driver for your card and downloads it.
- Choose a clean install. Tick the clean-install or factory-reset option so old driver files are removed during the update.
- Restart. Reboot to finish applying the new graphics driver.
You can also download the driver straight from nvidia.com, amd.com, or intel.com if you prefer not to run the app. Either way, match the exact GPU model and your Windows version. A fresh graphics driver is a standard step after fitting a new card, which is walked through in how to install a graphics card.
How Do You Update Chipset and Other Drivers?
Chipset drivers keep the motherboard’s USB, storage, and power controllers current, and they come from the chip or board maker rather than Windows Update.
- AMD or Intel chipset: download the chipset package from amd.com or intel.com, or use AMD’s Auto-Detect and Install tool. Match the board and run the installer, then restart.
- Motherboard maker: ASUS, MSI, or Gigabyte list chipset, LAN, and audio drivers on the support page for your exact board model.
- Laptop drivers: Dell, HP, and Lenovo bundle model-specific drivers behind a service tag or model lookup on their support sites.
- Everything else: printers, webcams, and audio devices are usually handled by Windows Update, or by the maker’s own utility if a feature is missing.
Chipset drivers rarely need frequent updates, but a fresh Windows install or a new CPU is a good reason to fetch the current package. After installing, restart so the controllers load the new versions.
When Do You Need DDU for a Clean GPU Swap?
Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) removes every trace of a graphics driver, and it is a last resort, not a routine step. Most people never need it. Reach for DDU only when a graphics fault survives a normal reinstall, or when switching between NVIDIA and AMD cards.
- Download the installers first. Get DDU from its official source and the fresh graphics driver from the GPU maker, so you can reinstall while offline.
- Boot into Safe Mode. Safe Mode is where DDU removes a driver most completely.
- Run DDU and pick your GPU brand. Choose NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, then select Clean and Restart. DDU wipes the driver files and registry entries.
- Reinstall from the maker. After Windows restarts, run the official driver installer for a clean driver state.
Last Thoughts on Updating Drivers
Updating drivers on Windows comes down to using the right source for each job. Let Windows Update install the broad set automatically, since it covers most hardware with Microsoft-tested versions. Use Device Manager when a single device acts up, and go to the vendor app or the manufacturer site for the graphics card and chipset, where the newest verified drivers live. The graphics driver is the one most worth keeping current; the rest can usually wait.
Above all, do not update a driver that already works unless an update fixes a real problem, and stay away from third-party driver-updater apps that bundle junk. Keep DDU in reserve for a stubborn graphics fault. For more step-by-step maintenance, the PC tutorials hub collects the related guides in one place.
Key Takeaways:
- A driver that works does not need updating unless an update fixes an actual problem.
- Let Windows Update handle most drivers; check Optional updates for the driver list.
- Use Device Manager for one misbehaving device, or to install a driver you downloaded.
- Update the graphics driver from the vendor app: the NVIDIA App, AMD Adrenalin, or Intel Graphics Software.
- Get chipset, motherboard, and laptop drivers from the maker’s support site, not Windows Update.
- Avoid third-party driver-updater apps, and keep DDU (in Safe Mode) for a stubborn GPU fault only.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I update drivers on Windows 11?
Let Windows Update handle most drivers: open Settings, Windows Update, Check for updates, then look under Advanced options and Optional updates for any driver updates. For one misbehaving device, use Device Manager. For graphics and chipset, download from the hardware maker.
Do I need to update drivers if everything is working?
No. A driver that works does not need updating unless an update fixes a specific bug, adds support you need, or resolves a security issue. Updating a working driver can introduce new faults, so there is no reason to chase the latest version for its own sake.
Should I update graphics drivers from Windows Update or the GPU maker?
Use the GPU maker for graphics. Windows Update ships tested but older display drivers, while NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel publish the newest versions with game-specific fixes. Get them from the NVIDIA App, AMD Adrenalin, or Intel Graphics Software, or from the maker’s download page.
Are third-party driver-updater apps safe?
Avoid them. Most third-party driver-updater apps bundle adware, push paid subscriptions with exaggerated warnings, and sometimes install the wrong driver. Windows Update, Device Manager, and the manufacturer site already cover every driver you need at no cost.
What is DDU and when should I use it?
DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) wipes every trace of a graphics driver, including registry entries and leftover files. It is a last resort for a stubborn graphics fault that a normal reinstall cannot fix. Run it in Safe Mode, then reinstall the driver from the GPU maker.
Whatever happened to GeForce Experience?
NVIDIA retired GeForce Experience in late 2024 and replaced it with the NVIDIA App, which now updates drivers and manages settings in one place and does not require an account. If you still have GeForce Experience installed, switch to the NVIDIA App for current drivers.
