PC drivers are software that facilitates communication between your operating system and the hardware devices connected to your computer, such as graphics cards, printers, and network adapters. Drivers play a crucial role in ensuring compatibility and optimal performance within your system, which is why you need to keep them constantly updated. In this article, you will learn how to update drivers in Windows 10.

How Do Device Drivers Work in Windows?

Driver software acts as a translator that converts the high-level commands generated by your operating system into specific instructions that your hardware devices can comprehend. This mechanism allows your computer to function properly.

Drivers also provide your Windows OS with the necessary instructions and most relevant configurations to ensure your hardware’s features and capabilities are utilized efficiently. Without proper, up-to-date drivers, your hardware devices may fail to work correctly or may not work at all. This is why you need to update drivers regularly.

How Do I Know If My Drivers Need Updating?

Outdated drivers can lead to various problems, such as poor performance, crashes, freezes, and hardware malfunctions. There are several symptoms indicating that it may be time for a driver update:

  • Devices not functioning as expected: If you regularly observe hardware-related malfunctions, it may be a sign that your drivers need updating. For instance, if your printer cannot print, try and update the printer driver. If your graphics card displays visuals incorrectly, figure out how to update the graphics driver. And if you encounter audio stuttering, you should learn how to update audio drivers in Windows 10.
  • Poor performance: Have you, by any chance, been asking, why is my computer so slow? Well, your hardware devices and software programs not operating at their best is another signal that you need to update drivers. Unless you do so promptly, you are likely to face slow boot times, sluggish browsing and unresponsive apps.
  • Error messages: If error messages related to specific hardware appear on your Windows 10 PC, it could be an indication that the corresponding driver software is incompatible, corrupt or outdated. Some errors may even produce driver-related messages, like Printer driver is unavailable, Bluetooth peripheral device driver not found, or A media driver is missing.
  • System crashes or blue screens of death (BSoDs): Corrupt, old or incompatible drivers can make your system unstable, triggering sudden and recurrent system crashes. You may even start running into the dreaded blue screen errors, like the INVALID_FLOATING_POINT_STATE BSOD error, the Ntoskrnl.Exe BSOD error, and the BSOD error FAT FILE SYSTEM (fastfat.sys). In such a case, you need to quickly learn how to update drivers on a PC.
  • Recognition problems: In some cases, when you connect a new hardware device to your computer or install a new app, it may fail to get recognized or to install automatically. Examples of such issues are your gamepad not recognized, Blue Yeti drivers not detected, and Bluetooth peripheral device driver not found. Recognition issues could indicate a driver problem. So, to eradicate them, you may need to update device drivers.
  • Security issues: Drivers that are out of date may contain security vulnerabilities that could open the door to cyber criminals. For instance, they could provide attackers with unauthorized access to your PC or cause other security breaches. Keeping your drivers updated ensures that they are protected and reduces the risk of exploitation.

Why Should I Keep My Drivers Updated?

Microsoft claims that Windows 10 is nearing its end, yet it is still essential to keep your drivers up to date if you want your OS to function properly. Here are the most important reasons why you should regularly update drivers:

  • Performance: Driver updates usually arrive with enhancements and optimizations designed to improve system performance, efficiency, and stability. If you want your hardware devices to operate at their full potential, make sure you know how to update drivers in Windows 10.
  • Security: Developers often include security patches and fixes in driver updates. By keeping your driver software updated, you ensure that your PC is safeguarded against potential security threats and exploits.
  • Compatibility: Outdated drivers may trigger compatibility issues when they try to communicate with your system’s software and hardware components. Keeping your drivers up to date at all times reduces the risk of compatibility problems on your PC.
  • Stability: Out-of-date drivers can result in system instability, triggering crashes and errors. Updating driver software helps ensure system reliability, resolve issues, and facilitate correct, error-free communication between your operating system and hardware devices.
  • New features: Unfortunately, Microsoft has stopped feature updates for Windows 10. That said, you still need to make sure your system is up to date. By updating drivers, you get access to new features, capabilities, and configurations. This will help improve your user experience and speed up Windows 10.

Below you will find tips and instructions on how to update drivers on a PC and enjoy the benefits of improved performance, security, compatibility, stability, and functionality for your system.

How to Update My Drivers in Windows 10?

Regularly checking for driver updates from the manufacturers’ official websites is one of the available options to update device drivers in Windows 10. That said, this method is, by all accounts, time-consuming and may not always be effective. We recommend utilizing dedicated tools to stay current with the latest driver versions.

How to Update Drivers in Windows 10 With the Device Manager Tool

If you are in search of an easily accessible driver updater, a free option like the built-in Device Manager will help you out. The tool comes pre-installed in Windows 10 and is basically the hub for managing your hardware and devices. Here is how you can update drivers in Windows 10 using Device Manager:

  1. Right-click the Start button on the taskbar and select “Device Manager” from the context menu.
  2. Expand the category where the device whose driver you wish to update is located. 
  3. Right-click the device’s entry and select “Update driver” from the menu.
  4. Then click the “Search automatically for drivers” option in the Update Drivers window.
  5. Let Device Manager search for and install new driver software for your device.
  6. Once it is done, restart the PC.

update drivers Windows 10

You can roll back any driver in Windows 10 if something goes astray – like if it turns out to be problematic or incompatible with your system:

  1. Launch Device Manager by right-clicking on the “Start” button and selecting the corresponding option from the menu.
  2. Locate the device whose driver you would like to roll back.
  3. Right-click it and select “Properties.”
  4. Proceed to the Driver tab and then click the “Roll Back Driver” option. 
  5. Restart the PC.

update drivers Windows 10

While Device Manager is a useful tool for managing and updating device drivers, it’s important to note that it may not always succeed in installing the latest drivers available. In some cases, using specialized driver update software is a more convenient way to obtain up-to-date driver versions.

How to Update Drivers on a PC Using Windows Update

Windows Update is a built-in Windows feature that offers a straightforward way to download and install updates, including device driver updates. It can help users get updated driver versions without manually searching for them. Here is how to update drivers in Windows 10 via Windows Update:

  1. Press the “Windows key + I” combination on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
  2. Open the “Update & Security” category.
  3. Click on the Search for updates button. Among other things, Windows Update will search for new driver versions for your hardware.
  4. Install the suggested updates if any are available.
  5. Restart your computer to make sure the updates are applied correctly.

Keep in mind that although Windows Update is a reliable option to update drivers and provides many benefits, it might not always deliver the latest drivers available since not all device manufacturers release updates through it.

How to Always Keep Windows Drivers Up to Date

In many cases, using dedicated driver updating software may be the most convenient way to update drivers on a PC. Such tools maintain an extensive database of drivers, automate and simplify the driver updating process, and even provide backup and restore features. An example of such software is Auslogics Driver Updater – an app that allows you to update all your drivers in one click.

Auslogics Driver Updater allows you to effortlessly update device drivers:

  1. Download the Auslogics Driver Updater app and install it on your PC.
  2. In Auslogics Driver Updater, a free driver scan is available. You can try it before you upgrade to the full version of the software. Click Scan for driver issues.
  3. Wait until the tool is done checking your hardware and drivers.
  4. Let the tool fix the detected issues and restart your computer.

You can also configure Auslogics Driver Updater to automatically scan and update drivers to make sure they are always in their top condition:

  1. Run the Auslogics Driver Updater app.
  2. Navigate to the Scheduler tab.
  3. Check the “Enable automatic maintenance” option.
  4. Configure when and how often you want your driver software checked.

update drivers on Windows 10Conclusion

Both hardware and software evolve constantly, meaning you need to keep your drivers up to date to avoid compatibility issues, vulnerabilities, and poor performance. If you are wondering how to update drivers in Windows 10 and looking for a driver updater, free options such as Device Manager and Windows Update will prove helpful. To get access to more advanced driver management features, including automatic driver check-ups, consider employing an app like Auslogics Driver Updater.

FAQ

How Do I Update All My Drivers?

As we have outlined above, there are four major ways you can update all your drivers in Windows 10:

  • Search for each driver update manually on the Internet and install them all one by one on your PC. This method is the most time-consuming. What’s more, you need to know the exact make and model of each driver your system needs.
  • Update drivers one by one using Device Manager. While this method is more reliable and less painstaking then the former one, it requires plenty of time and effort and may fail to yield positive results in terms of relevant driver software.
  • Another tip on how to update computer drivers is to use Windows Update. This strategy is quite convenient, yet not all device manufacturers prefer to distribute driver updates through this channel. Chances are you won’t get the updates your system needs to function as expected.
  • Update all your drivers with dedicated software. If you are looking to quickly update all your drivers, a specialized driver updater may be your best bet. For example, with Auslogics Driver Updater, you can update all your drivers to manufacturer-recommended versions with a click of a button and configure regular automatic driver updates.

Do I Need to Manually Update Drivers?

While it is possible to update driver software manually in Windows 10, we do not recommend this approach. You may accidentally install the wrong driver or miss an important upgrade. To update drivers on a PC quickly, safely and efficiently, you may need a certain amount of assistance. You can get help from either built-in Windows tools, like Windows Update or Device Manager, or dedicated third-party software, such as Auslogics Driver Updater.

How to Check for Driver Updates?

You can check whether fresh driver updates are available via Windows Update: Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update -> Check for updates.

update drivers Windows 10_6Alternatively, you can open Device Manager by pressing Win + X and selecting Device Manager, right-click a device and select Update driver. 

update windows 10 drivers

Another option is to run the Auslogics Driver Updater tool and click Scan for driver issues – it will show you which of your drivers are out of date and install available updates.

 

update drivers windows 10

How to Check If My Drivers Are Up to Date?

The Device Manager tool will show if a piece of hardware requires a driver update. Launch the Device Manager app by pressing Win + X and selecting Device Manager, right-click a device and select Update driver. If the current driver version is up to date, Device Manager will indicate that.

update drivers windows 10

Another option to check your drivers is by using the Windows Update feature:

  1. Fire up the Settings app and then click on Update & Security.
  2. Select Windows Update. You will see the You are up to date message if your system is running the latest versions of software.

update drivers on windows 10

You can also use Auslogics Driver Updater to check whether your drivers are up to date: run the tool and let it scan your system for driver issues. If your drivers are outdated, the tool will offer you an upgrade.

update drivers windows 10How to Update the Display Driver in Windows 10?

You can update your display driver in Windows 10 via Windows Update, by using the one-click driver scan option in Auslogics Driver Updater or through Device Manager. On the other hand, you can go to the manufacturer’s website and download and install the required update manually. However, we recommend you to automate the process so as to avoid potential complications.