How to Update Drivers in Windows 10/11/7: Step-by-Step Guide

If your printer suddenly refuses to print, or your graphics card stops delivering crisp frames, the culprit is often an outdated driver. Windows includes two built-in ways to refresh these small software pieces that run your hardware — Device Manager and Windows Update — and getting the hang of both takes about five minutes. This guide walks you through exactly how to update drivers in Windows, whether you’re running Windows 10, Windows 11, or even the aging Windows 7.

Primary Method: Device Manager · Secondary Method: Windows Update · Supported Versions: Windows 7, 10, 11 · Auto Updates: Enabled via Settings · Check Location: Driver tab in Properties

The key facts table below summarizes the primary tools and options for driver management across supported Windows versions.

How do I know if my PC needs driver updates?

Device Manager flags problem hardware with a yellow exclamation mark. When you see one next to a device name, that component either lacks a driver or is running a faulty one. Opening the Driver tab in any device’s Properties window shows the currently installed version and date, giving you a baseline for comparison against what the manufacturer currently offers.

How to check for outdated drivers?

• Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager
• Expand each category and look for yellow warning icons
• Right-click any device and choose Properties → Driver tab
• Note the driver version, date, and provider name
• Compare against the version listed on the manufacturer’s support page

How do I check if my PC drivers are updated?

• Open Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates
• If optional driver updates are available, they appear under Advanced options → Optional updates
• In Windows 11, navigate to Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates to see pending driver packages

The implication: A missing driver doesn’t always show a yellow mark — some hardware runs in a limited compatibility mode silently. Checking both Device Manager and Windows Update periodically catches these gaps before they cause problems.

Do PC drivers automatically update?

Windows Update automatically downloads and installs driver updates for standard hardware including network adapters, printers, scanners, and video cards. Microsoft Support confirms that drivers delivered through this channel are validated by Microsoft and typically recent and up to date.

Windows 10 update drivers automatically

• Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update
• Click Check for updates
• Select Advanced options and enable Receive updates for other products
• Return to Windows Update and install any available driver packages

Windows 11 update drivers automatically

• Navigate to Settings → Windows Update
• Select Check for updates
• Open Advanced options → Optional updates
• Manually check boxes for driver packages you want installed

The catch: Windows Update only delivers drivers that vendors have added and that have been validated by Microsoft — which may not include the specific driver version you need. For NVIDIA graphics cards, professional audio equipment, or peripherals with control software, Windows Update often falls short.

How do I manually update drivers in Windows?

Device Manager remains the workhorse for manual driver updates across all Windows versions. The process takes about two minutes once you know where to click, and it works whether you’re on Windows 7 or Windows 11.

How do I manually update a driver?

• Press the Windows key, type Device Manager, and press Enter
• Locate the device you want to update in the list
• Right-click the device and select Update driver
• Choose Search automatically for drivers
• If Windows finds a better driver, confirm the installation

Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows

• Before updating, create a restore point as a rollback plan
• Open Device Manager and expand the relevant hardware category
• Right-click the target device → Properties → Driver tab
• Click Update Driver → Search automatically for drivers
• If the new driver causes problems, return here and click Roll Back Driver

The implication: Device Manager’s automatic search queries Microsoft’s driver database, but this database lags behind what vendors publish on their own sites. For graphics cards, audio interfaces, and specialized peripherals, the manufacturer’s website is the more reliable source.

How do you update your driver via Windows Update?

Windows Update is Microsoft’s officially recommended path for automatic driver updates. According to Microsoft Support, it is the best way to get driver updates in Windows automatically. The interface differs slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the underlying logic stays the same.

Check for updates in Settings

• Open Settings → Update & Security (Windows 10) or Windows Update (Windows 11)
• Click Check for updates
• Wait for Windows to finish scanning and installing available updates
• Driver updates install alongside system updates automatically

Advanced options for drivers

• In Windows 10: Settings → Update & Security → Advanced options → Enable Receive updates for other products
• In Windows 11: Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates
• Review the list and manually select which driver updates to install
• Click Download and install for selected items

What this means: Microsoft validates every driver that passes through Windows Update, which adds a safety layer but creates delays. Vendor websites publish driver updates that haven’t yet been validated and submitted through Microsoft’s program — explaining why sometimes you find a newer version online than what Windows Update offers.

How to update drivers for beginners?

The core procedure is nearly identical from Windows 7 through Windows 11 — open Device Manager, right-click your device, and tell Windows to search automatically. Windows 11 added the Optional updates panel for manual driver selection, but it sits inside the same Settings menu you already use for system updates.

How to update drivers Windows 10?

• Press Windows key + X, choose Device Manager
• Find your device under the appropriate category (Display, Network, Sound, etc.)
• Right-click → Update driver → Search automatically for updated driver software
• Alternatively: Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → Check for updates

How to update drivers Windows 11?

• Press Windows key + X, choose Device Manager
• Right-click the device → Update driver → Search automatically for drivers
• For optional updates: Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates
• Check the boxes for driver packages and click Download and install

How to update drivers Windows 7?

• Open Start menu, right-click Computer → Manage → Device Manager
• Right-click your device → Update Driver Software
• Choose Search automatically for updated driver software
• Note: Windows 7 reached end of support on January 14, 2020 — consider upgrading if you haven’t already

The implication: Device Manager and Windows Update cover mainstream hardware well. But if you own a dedicated GPU, pro audio gear, or a peripheral with branded control software, those manufacturer installers almost always deliver fresher drivers than Microsoft’s channels.

How to update drivers for specific hardware

Different hardware categories call for different strategies. General-purpose drivers work fine through Windows Update, but specialized components benefit from going straight to the source.

Graphics card drivers (NVIDIA, AMD)

• Download the driver installer from NVIDIA.com/drivers or AMD.com
• Run the installer — it automatically detects your GPU model and Windows version
• Use manufacturer utilities like GeForce Experience or AMD Software for auto-updates
• For enterprise environments, use the enterprise driver packages with SCCM deployment tools

Audio interface drivers

• Download from the audio interface manufacturer’s website (Focusrite, Universal Audio, MOTU)
• Uninstall the old driver through Device Manager before installing the new one
• Restart your computer after installation completes
• Check for firmware updates that often accompany driver releases

The pattern: Windows Update handles general-purpose hardware adequately. Anything with proprietary control software — graphics cards, pro audio, specialized peripherals — almost always benefits from using the manufacturer’s own installer rather than waiting for Microsoft’s validation process.

The best way to get driver updates in Windows is automatically using Windows Update.

— Microsoft Support documentation (Official Microsoft Documentation)

Avoid third-party driver updaters; prefer vendor utilities or Microsoft channels.

— Windows Forum community discussion (Technical Community)

The implication: Device Manager and Windows Update cover mainstream hardware well. But if you own a dedicated GPU, pro audio gear, or a peripheral with branded control software, those manufacturer installers almost always deliver fresher drivers than Microsoft’s channels.

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These English steps closely mirror the practical advice in Dutch driver update guide, which stresses Device Manager alongside Windows Update for optimal results.

Frequently asked questions