The Ultimate Guide to Effortlessly Updating Drivers on Windows 11

Key Takeaways

In Windows 11, you usually don't need to update drivers unless you're facing specific issues or updating a graphics card driver.

Windows Update ensures that various drivers, such as touchpad and USB controller drivers, are constantly updated. For driver updates not covered by Windows Update, it is advisable to visit the official website of the device manufacturer. Here, trusted drivers can be manually downloaded and installed using the designated setup program.

If your Windows 11 PC requires new or updated drivers for hardware devices like USB controllers, video cards, printers, or other peripherals, the process of installing them is typically straightforward. Allow us to guide you through the steps.

Usually, You Don't Need To Update Drivers

Don't update your hardware drivers in Windows 11 unless necessary or if you're experiencing problems that can be resolved by a driver update. It's best not to make changes to a system that is already working fine, as updating drivers might unintentionally cause issues. Remember the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

The Safest Way to Update Your Drivers

When searching for driver updates, it is essential to understand that Windows 11 has an integrated feature called Windows Update that automatically keeps numerous drivers up-to-date. Hence, if there are any slight yet crucial updates required for components like touchpads or USB controllers, Windows will generally handle them automatically during your next PC update.

In addition, certain driver updates are categorized as "Optional Updates" within Windows Update. It is not recommended to install these updates unless you are specifically addressing a known issue with a particular device. However, if you are experiencing difficulties, it is advisable to check for any available Optional Updates. To do this, access Settings by pressing Windows+i. Within Settings, navigate to "Windows Update" in the sidebar, and then proceed to select "Advanced Options."

In Advanced Options, scroll down and click "Optional Updates."

In the "Driver Updates" section header, located in Optional Updates, expand it by clicking on it. Afterwards, go through the list and mark the checkboxes next to any driver that you wish to update. Once you have finished, click on "Download & Install."

Windows will automatically install the drivers you have chosen and may prompt you to restart your PC if needed. Once your computer reboots, you will be able to utilize the updated drivers. It is important to note that not all drivers can be found in the Windows Update. If this is the case, please refer to the section below.

The Best Place to Manually Download Updated Drivers

If Windows Update is not able to update a device like a graphics card, it is advisable to visit the official website of the device manufacturer. Navigate to the "Support" section on the website and search for "downloads," "updates," or "drivers" for your specific device.

However, exercise caution as there are numerous fraudulent driver sites that install malware instead of genuine drivers. Ensure that you have accessed the authentic manufacturer's website. It is recommended to avoid using online driver update utilities as they are often ineffective and may contain scams or malware.

After downloading a reliable driver package from the manufacturer of your device, extract it and locate a "Setup" or "Install" program. Proceed to run the program, which will typically install the updated driver automatically and prompt a system reboot. Once your PC restarts, the newly installed drivers are ready for use.

For GPU drivers provided by NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, the driver update program may also install a utility like GeForce Experience (specifically for NVIDIA hardware) to facilitate convenient driver updates in the future. This program allows you to update your GPU drivers from a trustworthy source whenever new games are released.

Manually Update Drivers with Device Manager

To switch or update drivers for specific devices in your Windows 11 PC, you can utilize Device Manager. However, it is important to note that most individuals do not require performing this task. To begin the process, access Device Manager by following these steps: Click on the Start button, search for "device manager," and then select the Device Manager logo from the search results.

To update the driver for a specific device on your PC, follow these steps in the Device Manager window:

1. Scroll through the list of installed devices and find the one you wish to update.

2. Right-click on the device and choose the "Update Driver" option.

In the "Update Drivers" window that appears, you have two choices. We'll cover both of them below, but first, here's a look at what each option does.

Automatically search for drivers: By selecting this option, Windows will search for suitable drivers and install them without requiring any manual intervention.

Manually browse for drivers: If you choose this option, you can personally indicate the location of the drivers you wish to install. This is useful if you have already obtained the drivers from the manufacturer's website or have a CD containing the drivers, but the usual driver installation program is missing or malfunctioning.

Choosing the option "Search automatically for drivers" initiates a scanning process on your computer's driver files by Windows. This scan aims to identify any available updates for the device drivers. If updated drivers are detected, Windows will proceed to install them and prompt you to restart your PC.

If not, you will encounter the message "The best drivers for your device are already installed." In this scenario, you can continue your exploration by selecting "Search for updated drivers on Windows Update," which will initiate the opening of the Settings > Windows Update menu. Alternatively, you can simply choose to "Close."

If you select "Browse my computer for drivers," you have the option to search for a specific location where the new driver files are stored. To do this, simply click the "Browse" button and follow the on-screen instructions. Alternatively, you can click "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer."

If the drivers you searched for on Windows have been recognized or if you opted for "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer," you will be presented with a list of compatible drivers to choose from for the device. Simply select an item from the list and click "Next."

If the message "The best drivers for your device are already installed" appears, there is no need for an update. Simply close Device Manager and you're finished. However, if the driver is newer than the existing one, it will be installed automatically. Following this, Windows will prompt you to restart your PC. Click "Yes."

When you log back in, your new drivers will be active. Happy computing!