Unless you're experiencing particular problems or need to upgrade a graphics card driver, you shouldn't need to update drivers with Windows 11. If Windows 11 Update does not support your driver device, follow this instructions.
Unless you're experiencing particular problems or need to upgrade a graphics card driver, you shouldn't need to update drivers with Windows 11. Many drivers, such as touchpads and USB controllers, are automatically updated by Windows Update. Driver updates may be found by checking Optional Updates. If Windows Update does not support a device, go to the device manufacturer's official website to manually download trustworthy drivers and install them with the setup tool supplied.
Before delving into the driver update process, it's crucial to understand when updating might be unnecessary. In Windows 11, you typically don't need to update your drivers unless you're specifically upgrading a graphics card or addressing a known issue. If your devices are functioning smoothly, the age-old advice stands: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Windows 11 incorporates a built-in feature, Windows Update, which automatically keeps many drivers up-to-date. Common components like touchpads or USB controllers receive necessary updates seamlessly during regular PC updates. Additionally, some driver updates may appear as "Optional Updates" in Windows Update. While caution is advised with these, they can be useful in solving specific device-related problems.
To check for Optional Updates, open Settings by pressing Windows+i, navigate to "Windows Update" in the sidebar, and select "Advanced Options." In the Advanced Options menu, scroll down to "Optional Updates" and click "Driver Updates." Choose the drivers you want to update, click "Download & Install," and let Windows handle the rest.
For devices not covered by Windows Update, like graphics cards, the best approach is to visit the official website of the device's manufacturer. Look for a "Support" section and search for "downloads," "updates," or "drivers." Be wary of scam sites; ensure you're on the genuine manufacturer's website to avoid malware. Once you've downloaded a trusted driver package, run the setup or install program. After a reboot, your updated drivers will be ready to enhance your system's performance.
In the case of GPU drivers from major manufacturers like NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, the driver update program might install utilities such as GeForce Experience. These utilities facilitate quick and secure driver updates, especially relevant for optimal performance in new games.
If you prefer a hands-on approach, Windows 11's Device Manager allows you to update drivers for specific devices. While most users won't need to use this option, it's good to know the process. Open Device Manager by searching "device manager" after clicking the Start button.
In Device Manager, locate the device you want to update, right-click it, and select "Update Driver." You'll have two options: "Search automatically for drivers" or "Browse my computer for drivers."
If you select "Search automatically for drivers," Windows will examine your system's driver files for updated device drivers. If it discovers them, it will install them and prompt you to restart your computer.
If you don't, you'll get the message "The best drivers for your device are already installed." You may now narrow down your search by choosing "Search for updated drivers on Windows Update," which will take you to the Settings > Windows Update menu. If not, click "Close."
If you select "Browse my computer for drivers," you may navigate to a location on your computer where you know fresh driver files are stored by clicking the "Browse" button and following the on-screen instructions.
Alternatively, you may select "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer."If Windows recognized the drivers you searched for — or if you chose "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer" — Windows will give you a list of appropriate drivers for the device to choose from. Choose an item from the list and press "Next."
If you notice "The best drivers for your device are already installed," there is no need to upgrade. You may now close Device Manager and you're finished. Otherwise, if the driver is newer than the previous one, it will be installed. After that, Windows will prompt you to restart your computer. Select "Yes."