Outdated drivers cause more odd PC behaviour than most people expect: a Wi-Fi adapter that drops every hour, a second monitor that flickers, a microphone that works in one app and not another. Updating the driver usually fixes it, and on Windows 11 and 10 you have three ways to do that. Start with the built-in options before you install anything from outside Microsoft.
Quick Answer: Open Device Manager, right-click the device, and choose Update driver. If Windows finds nothing, check Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates for driver packages, or download the driver from the PC or component maker's support page. Roll back a driver if the update made things worse.
Steps checked against Microsoft's current Windows Update and driver documentation, October 2026.
Before you start
Make a note of the problem device and its model. Open Device Manager (press Windows + X, then choose Device Manager). A yellow warning icon on a device usually means Windows has a driver problem. A device with no problem can still have an old driver, so check the ones you care about, such as graphics, network, audio and chipset.
If the update causes a crash, you can roll back the driver later, so there is little reason to avoid trying an update. Creating a restore point first is a sensible habit for any driver change.
Method 1: Update a driver in Device Manager
1. Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand the category that holds the device, such as Network adapters or Display adapters.
3. Right-click the device and choose Update driver.
4. Pick Search automatically for drivers. Windows checks its own catalogue and installs what it finds.
5. If you already downloaded a driver package, choose Browse my computer for drivers and point to the folder where you saved it.
6. Restart the PC when Windows asks, then test the device again.
Windows may tell you the best driver is already installed. That message means Windows has no newer version in its catalogue, not that the driver is current. The manufacturer's site may still have a newer release.
Method 2: Check optional driver updates in Windows Update
Microsoft installs recommended drivers automatically through Windows Update. Some newer or more specific drivers appear only as optional updates, so you have to choose them yourself.
1. Go to Settings > Windows Update.
2. Select Advanced options, then Optional updates.
3. Expand Driver updates, tick the drivers you want, and select Download and install.
If the section is empty, Windows has no optional drivers for your device at that time. Microsoft's guide to automatically getting recommended and updated hardware drivers explains how these updates are delivered and which settings control them.
Method 3: Download from the manufacturer
For graphics cards, chipsets and specialised hardware, the manufacturer's support page is often the most up to date source. Find the exact model number first. If you are updating a graphics card, how to install AMD drivers in Windows 11 and 10 walks through the vendor install flow. You can get it from the device's label, from the system information panel, or from the Properties window in Device Manager under the Details tab.
For chipset packages in particular, is it necessary to install chipset drivers? explains when they matter. Install the package from the official site only. Avoid driver sites that ask you to install a separate "updater" first, because those tools often bundle extra software you did not ask for.
Method 4: Third-party driver updaters
Driver update utilities scan your PC and list what they consider outdated. They can save time on a machine with many devices, but read the install screens carefully and decline any bundled extras. Some of these tools charge for the full update function. Use Windows Update and the manufacturer's site first, and treat a third-party tool as a shortcut rather than a requirement.
If the new driver causes problems
Sometimes an update makes a device less stable. Go back to Device Manager, right-click the device, choose Properties, open the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver, if the button is available. Rollback is only offered when Windows still holds the previous driver.
If there is no rollback option, uninstall the device from Device Manager, tick Delete the driver software for this device when prompted, and restart. Windows will reinstall a driver on restart. Then install the version you trust from the manufacturer.
What changed since the original guide
The earlier version of this article focused on a third-party updater and on screenshots from an older Windows 10 layout. The steps above rely on built-in tools that have stayed in place since Windows 10 and on Windows 11's current Windows Update menu. Microsoft's September 2026 update notes also say Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro reach the end of updates on October 13, 2026, so check your version in Settings > System > About before you rely on any of these steps. If you are on that version, plan an upgrade to a supported release.
Still not working?
If the device still misbehaves after a clean driver install, the cause may be hardware, a conflicting app, or a power setting that cuts power to the device. Check the Event Viewer for repeated errors that name the device, and look at how to fix audio driver problems in Windows 11 if sound is the issue. For graphics or chipset problems, the manufacturer's support team is the next stop, especially if the device is still under warranty.
Which device gives you the most driver trouble on your PC? Tell us in the comments, and we will look at the fix for that one.
