![[Easy Guide] How to Update Your Graphics Driver In Minutes on Windows 10/11](https://www.auslogics.com/en/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Easy-Guide-How-to-Update-Your-Graphics-Driver-In-Minutes-on-Windows-1011-568x359.webp)
- How to Check Your Current Graphics Driver Version on Windows 10/11?
- How to Update Your Graphics Driver on Windows 10/11?
- How to Check if Your Video Driver Update Was Successful
- When Should You Update Graphics Driver?
- Common Problems After a Graphics Driver Update and How to Fix Them
- Don’t Update Your Graphics Driver Unless You Need To
- FAQ
Your graphics driver plays a crucial role in rendering everything you see on your screen, from images and videos to text and animations. These updates are particularly important if you are a gamer or designer.
This is because updating your graphics driver can lead to smoother gameplay, sharper images, better video playback, and fewer graphical glitches. For everyone else, it can also fix bugs, improve compatibility with new software, and optimize your GPU for better efficiency.
In this guide, we’ll show you quick and easy ways to update graphics drivers on Windows 10 and 11.
How to Check Your Current Graphics Driver Version on Windows 10/11?
Updating your graphics card is like replacing a car’s battery. Before you get a new battery, you need to know the specifications and ratings of the old one to guide you in buying a compatible battery.
Similarly, checking your present graphics card drivers is the first step before you try to update it. You need to check the old one for the following reasons:
- By checking it, you know if the update is necessary or if your current driver is already optimal.
- You can identify the exact model and version, ensuring you download the correct update. This will help prevent compatibility issues that could cause system crashes or performance drops after the video driver update.
The easiest way to check your current graphics driver is to use Device Manager:
- Press
Windows + Ron your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. - Then, type devmgmt.msc and press
Enter.
- Double-click on Display adapters to expand the category.
- Next, right-click your graphics card and select Properties.
- Go to the Driver tab, and the current version of the graphics driver will be displayed there.
Now that you’ve checked the current version of your graphics driver, let’s find out how to update it
Most computers use GPUs produced by NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. On the website, check for the latest driver for your graphics card. If the version on their website matches the one on your PC, your driver is up to date.
If not, your driver is outdated, and you should consider getting a video driver update. We will speak about it in more detail later.
How to Update Your Graphics Driver on Windows 10/11?
The following are some of the best methods to update your graphics driver on Windows 10 or 11.
Method 1: Use Windows Update
Sometimes, graphics driver updates are included in Windows updates. This means simply updating Windows could be a quick and easy way to keep your graphics driver up to date. To do that:
Step 1: Open Settings (press Win + I).
Step 2: Scroll down and click on Windows Update. On the right, click Check for updates.
Step 3: If an update is available, Windows will download and install it automatically. The update might include your graphics driver.
Step 4: Restart your computer if prompted.
Windows Update may not always have the newest driver, as Microsoft will only release a GPU driver update after thorough stability testing. As a result, the update you get with this method might be slightly older than the latest version available from your GPU manufacturer.
Method 2: Use Device Manager
Step 1: Open the Run box by pressing Windows + R. Then, type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open Device Manager.
Step 2: Double-click on Display adapters to see a list of your graphics cards.
Step 3: Right-click the graphics card you want to update and select Update driver.
Step 4: Select Search automatically for drivers to get an automatic update.
Windows will immediately search and install a newer version if it finds one. It is important to note that while this method works most times, Windows does not always find the latest drivers. However, if Windows fails to update your graphics card, the next method might work for you.
Method 3: Download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website
If Windows updates and Device Manager cannot find the latest driver, you can get it yourself from the website of the manufacturer of the graphics driver like NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, etc. So, before proceeding, check your current graphics card manufacturer in Device Manager and follow the steps below:
Updating NVIDIA graphics drivers
- Visit the NVIDIA Drivers page. Choose your graphics card details from the dropdown menus and click Find to see the latest driver.
- Make sure the recommended driver is compatible with your operating system architecture, then click Download.
- When the download is complete, open the .exe file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.
Updating AMD graphics drivers
- Go to the AMD Drivers page. Select your GPU model from the product list or search for it.
- Select your operating system to see the compatible driver, then click Download.
- Once downloaded, open the .exe file and follow the instructions to install the driver.
Updating Intel graphics drivers
- Visit the Intel Download Drivers & Software page. Click Graphics under Select Your Product and enter your GPU details to find the latest version.
- Choose the correct driver for your operating system and click Download.
- Open the downloaded .exe file and follow the setup process to complete the installation.
| Graphics card brand | How to update drivers | Official download link |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA (GeForce, Quadro, RTX, GTX, Tesla) |
|
NVIDIA drivers |
| AMD (Radeon, RX, Pro, Instinct) |
|
AMD drivers |
| Intel (integrated graphics, Arc GPUs) |
|
Intel drivers |
| Apple (Apple Silicon—M1, M2, M3 & AMD GPUs in older Macs) |
|
Apple Support |
| Linux (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) |
– Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade – Fedora: sudo dnf update – Arch Linux: sudo pacman -Syu
|
Intel Arc drivers for Ubuntu |
Method 4: Install a new graphics driver automatically
One convenient way to update your graphics driver is by using a third-party tool. While there are many options for driver updates, Auslogics Driver Updater is designed to simplify the process and ensure your drivers stay up to date.
This driver updater scans your system and detects missing, outdated, or malfunctioning drivers. Then, it gets the latest versions from Microsoft-approved sources without you doing anything.
The best part is that Auslogics Driver Updater also keeps a backup of your drivers, allowing you to roll back to previous versions if necessary.
Here’s how the entire process works:
Step 1: Download the software from the Auslogics’ official website.
Step 2: Run the .exe file and install the program on your PC.
Step 3: After installing the program, run it. The software will immediately connect to the cloud and scan your system for drivers that are missing, corrupted, or outdated.
Step 4: When the scan completes, click Update next to your graphics driver to update it. Alternatively, you can click Update all drivers to automatically update all your outdated drivers.
Generally speaking, it’s better to update all of your drivers, like your Bluetooth, network, and audio drivers, at once to avoid compatibility issues, improve system performance, and prevent potential hardware conflicts.
How to Check if Your Video Driver Update Was Successful
It’s not enough to know how to update the display driver. After updating your graphics driver, it’s important to confirm that the installation was successful. Here are three simple methods to check:
1. Check the driver version in Device Manager
To ensure your graphics driver is up to date, open Device Manager, expand the Display adapters category, right-click your graphics card, click Properties, go to the Driver tab, and check its Driver Date. If it’s from the last month or two, the update was successful. If the date is significantly older, you may need to check for a newer version by comparing the driver version number in Device Manager with the latest version available on the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
2. Test performance in games or graphics-intensive applications
If you experienced performance issues before the update, testing your GPU’s performance can help determine if the update was successful.
Launch a game or a GPU-intensive application (e.g., video editing software or 3D rendering tools) and observe any improvements. Look for smoother performance, higher frame rates, and fewer graphical glitches.
3. Use benchmarking tools
Run benchmarking tools like 3DMark, Heaven Benchmark, or MSI Afterburner to compare performance before and after the update.
Check for improvements in frame rates, rendering speed, and system stability. If performance drops significantly, the new driver may not be optimal.
When Should You Update Graphics Driver?
While updating your graphics driver can improve performance, doing it at the wrong time can also cause problems. Therefore, knowing when to update a driver is just as important as the update itself and can save you from unnecessary issues.
First off, how do you know if your driver needs an update?
- Screen glitches: If you notice weird colors, lines, or flickering on your screen, an outdated driver might be the culprit.
- Frequent crashes: Unexpected system crashes like black screens during gaming or video playback may indicate a compatibility issue.
- Poor game performance: If your favorite game suddenly starts stuttering or experiencing low FPS, you may need to optimize your graphic driver for better performance. For example, if you are having performance issues with Cyberpunk 2077, updating your NVIDIA and AMD drivers can improve stability and FPS.
When not to update your graphics driver:
- Stable performance: If your system runs smoothly without any crashes, glitches, or performance drops, updating may introduce new problems.
- Compatibility risks: If the software you use frequently has known incompatibilities with newer drivers or if the update introduces performance issues in a program that you frequently use.
- Beta or unverified drivers: Avoid installing beta versions unless you’re testing features or need a fix for a specific issue.
Here’s a table summarizing when to update, when not to update, and when to roll back your graphics driver:
| When to update | When not to update | When to roll back |
|---|---|---|
| Screen glitches (weird colors, lines, flickering) | Your system is running smoothly without issues | Performance drops after a driver update |
| Frequent crashes (black screens during gaming or video playback) | Newer driver version is incompatible with older games or software | Crashes, freezing, or black screens immediately after updating |
| Poor game performance (stuttering, low FPS) | Only beta or unverified drivers are available (unless you have specific needs) | Specific programs or games stopped working correctly after updating |
| New game or software requires the latest driver | Newer driver version has been reported to cause issues for other users | System instability or new bugs introduced by the update |
| Security patches or major improvements in the latest update | No significant improvements or fixes relevant to your needs | GPU overheating or increased power consumption due to a faulty update |
It is important to know that the frequency of the updates is equally important. The frequency largely depends on what you use your PC for. For example, if you’re a gamer or your work involves heavy graphics, you should check for updates often. But if your PC is for general use, updating it regularly is not critical unless you’re experiencing any of the issues discussed earlier.
Common Problems After a Graphics Driver Update and How to Fix Them
Updating graphics drivers is essential for optimal performance, but it can sometimes lead to issues. Below is a brief description of common problems and possible solutions.
![IMG]()
Screen flickering or resolution issues
After updating, the screen may flicker, or the resolution might not display correctly, causing distorted visuals. This can occur due to driver conflicts, incorrect resolution settings, or issues with the refresh rate after an update.
✅ Possible solutions:
- Roll back the driver to the previous version via Device Manager.
- Adjust display settings (resolution/refresh rate) in the graphics control panel (e.g., NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software).
- Reinstall the driver using a clean installation option to remove corrupted files. A clean installation is when you completely remove the previous version, ensuring no leftover files or settings cause issues. You can find the clean installation option during the installation of the new driver, usually under advanced or custom settings.
![IMG]()
Games crashing or lagging
You may notice your games stop working unexpectedly or experience poor performance post-update. The newly updated driver may not be optimized for the game, leading to instability, crashes, or performance drops. For instance, if Conquerors Blade is crashing, it’s usually because the driver is not compatible.
✅ Possible solutions:
- Lower in-game graphics settings to reduce strain on the GPU.
- Download an older, stable driver version if the latest one is incompatible.
![IMG]()
Black screen after update
You may experience the black screen of death after installing the driver. That is, the screen becomes black, making the system unusable. Most of the time, this is caused by critical errors or conflicts that force Windows to stop working.
✅ Possible solutions:
- Boot into Safe Mode and see if there are any conflicts with the update.
- Check hardware connections (e.g., monitor cables, GPU seating) for issues.
![IMG]()
Error messages during installation
Errors or compatibility warnings might appear if a driver fails to install when you try to update your graphics driver. This can happen due to corrupted installation files, compatibility issues, or interference from existing drivers. In some cases, security software may block the update process.
✅ Possible solutions:
- Ensure the driver matches your GPU model and OS version; download from the official site (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
- Disable antivirus temporarily during installation to prevent interference.
- Update Windows to the latest version to resolve compatibility conflicts.
![IMG]()
Overheating
If your computer starts overheating after a graphics driver update, it might be due to a buggy or incompatible driver, changes in power or fan settings, or increased GPU load from new optimizations. A faulty installation can also cause abnormal GPU behavior, leading to excessive heat.
✅ Possible solutions:
- Roll back the driver to the previous stable version using Device Manager.
- Check fan settings: Use software like MSI Afterburner to monitor temperatures and adjust fan speed.
- Uninstall the driver completely with the Device Manager and install a clean version from the GPU manufacturer’s website.
Don’t Update Your Graphics Driver Unless You Need To
When timed correctly, updating your graphics driver boosts performance, enhances stability, and unlocks new features tailored to your hardware. However, rushing into an update without a clear need can backfire, introducing issues like screen flickering, game crashes, black screens, or installation errors.
To avoid these issues, you should take a cautious approach to updating your graphics driver. Before starting the process, take a moment to review the driver’s release notes. Also, check out what users say about the updates in online communities to see if there are no reports of widespread issues.
