How to Manually Update Your Device Drivers on Windows (2026 Guide)

Sommaire

1. Quick answer
2. When should you update a driver manually?
3. Before you start
4. Check the current driver version
5. Find the exact device model
6. Create a restore point
7. Download only from trusted sources
8. Method 1: Install optional driver updates from Windows Update
9. Method 2: Update a driver from Device Manager (automatic search)
10. Method 3: Install a downloaded driver with Device Manager
11. Method 4: Use the manufacturer’s installer or support app
12. Method 5: Install a driver with the pnputil command
13. Method 6: Update graphics drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)
14. How to roll back a driver that causes problems
15. Which method should you use?
16. Troubleshooting driver updates
17. Frequently asked questions
18. Does Windows 11 update drivers automatically?
19. Is it safe to update drivers manually?
20. How do I know which drivers need updating?
21. What’s the difference between Search automatically and Browse my computer?
22. How do I update drivers without internet?
23. How do I undo a driver update?
24. Should I use driver updater software?
25. How often should I update my drivers?
26. Conclusion

Quick answer

How do I manually update a driver in Windows? Right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand the device category, right-click the device and choose Update driver. Pick Search automatically for drivers, or Browse my computer for drivers if you downloaded the driver from the manufacturer’s website.

1. Right-click Start (or press Win + X) and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the category, for example Display adapters or Network adapters.
3. Right-click the device and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers, or Browse my computer for drivers to point to a downloaded driver folder.
5. Restart the computer if Windows asks you to.

When should you update a driver manually?

• A device stops working or shows a yellow warning icon in Device Manager.
• A new game or program asks for a newer graphics driver.
• Problems started after a Windows update and the manufacturer has released a fix.
• You plugged in a device (printer, scanner, USB adapter) that Windows doesn’t recognize.

If everything works, you usually don’t need to update drivers yourself: “newer” is not always better, and a stable driver is worth keeping.

Menu names are from Windows 11 24H2 and later. Windows 10 uses the same Device Manager steps, but it reached end of support on October 14, 2025.

Before you start

Check the current driver version

Knowing the installed version tells you whether a download is actually newer.

1. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select Properties.
2. Open the Driver tab.
3. Note the Driver Provider, Driver Date and Driver Version.

Find the exact device model

To download the right driver, you need the exact model, not just the brand.

• Laptop or PC model: press Win + R, type msinfo32 and press Enter. Note System Manufacturer and System Model.
• Unknown device: in the device’s Properties > Details tab, choose Hardware Ids. A value like PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_51F0 identifies the vendor (VEN) and device (DEV); search for it on the manufacturer’s site.
• Windows edition: check Settings > System > About for 64-bit or ARM64. Drivers for x64 PCs don’t work on ARM devices (Snapdragon).

Create a restore point

A restore point lets you undo a driver that breaks something.

1. Press Win, type Create a restore point and open it.
2. Select your system drive (C:) and click Create.
3. Give it a name like “Before driver update” and click Create.

If Create is greyed out, click Configure and turn on System protection first.

Download only from trusted sources

Use Windows Update, your PC maker’s support page or the component maker’s site (Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, Realtek, your printer brand). Avoid “driver updater” tools and driver-download sites: they often bundle adware or install the wrong driver.

Method 1: Install optional driver updates from Windows Update

Windows Update holds back some drivers as “optional”. This is the safest manual method, because these drivers are tested and signed for your PC.

1. Press Win + I and open Windows Update.
2. Select Advanced options > Optional updates.
3. Expand Driver updates.
4. Tick only the driver for the device that has a problem and click Download & install.
5. Restart when asked.

Only install an optional driver if you have a problem with that device; Microsoft recommends leaving them alone otherwise.

Method 2: Update a driver from Device Manager (automatic search)

1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
2. Expand the category and right-click the device.
3. Select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
4. If Windows says “The best drivers for your device are already installed”, click Search for updated drivers on Windows Update, which takes you to Method 1.

This method only finds drivers already on your PC or in Windows Update. If it finds nothing, use Method 3 or 4.

Method 3: Install a downloaded driver with Device Manager

Use this when the manufacturer provides the driver as a folder or ZIP of files (.inf, .sys, .cat) rather than an installer.

1. Download the driver for your exact model and Windows version from the manufacturer’s support page.
2. If it is a ZIP file, right-click it and choose Extract All.
3. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select Update driver.
4. Choose Browse my computer for drivers.
5. Click Browse, select the extracted folder, keep Include subfolders ticked and click Next.
6. Restart if Windows asks you to.

Tip: to pick a specific version that’s already on your PC, choose Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer at step 4. This is also a quick way to switch back to a generic Microsoft driver.

Method 4: Use the manufacturer’s installer or support app

Most drivers come as an installer (.exe or .msi). This is the usual way for printers, graphics cards, audio and laptop-specific drivers.

1. Go to the support page of your PC or device maker and enter your model or serial number.
2. Select your Windows version (Windows 11, 64-bit or ARM64).
3. Download the driver and run the installer, then follow the steps.
4. Restart the computer.

PC makers also offer support apps that find the right drivers for your exact model: HP Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage, Dell SupportAssist / Dell Command Update, MyASUS and Acer Care Center. For printers, use the brand’s full software package (HP Smart, Canon, Epson, Brother) to get scanning and maintenance tools too.

Method 5: Install a driver with the pnputil command

For advanced users, pnputil installs .inf drivers from the command line, which is handy for several devices or scripted installs.

1. Right-click Start and choose Terminal (Admin).
2. Install a driver from an extracted folder:

pnputil /add-driver "C:\Drivers\MyDevice\*.inf" /subdirs /install

3. List the third-party drivers installed on the PC:

pnputil /enum-drivers

4. Remove an old driver package using its published name (for example oem12.inf) from the list:

pnputil /delete-driver oem12.inf /uninstall

Method 6: Update graphics drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)

Graphics drivers change most often and matter most for games, video editing and multiple monitors.

Graphics	Where to get the driver	Tool
NVIDIA GeForce	nvidia.com > Drivers	NVIDIA app
AMD Radeon	amd.com > Drivers & Support	AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition
Intel Arc / Iris Xe / UHD	intel.com > Download Center	Intel Driver & Support Assistant

On laptops, the PC maker’s graphics driver is sometimes customized. If the generic driver from Intel, AMD or NVIDIA causes problems, go back to the one on your laptop maker’s support page.

Clean install: if the screen flickers or games crash after an update, choose the clean install or factory reset option in the NVIDIA or AMD installer. It removes old settings before installing the new driver.

How to roll back a driver that causes problems

If a device works worse after an update, go back to the previous driver.

1. Open Device Manager, right-click the device and select Properties.
2. On the Driver tab, click Roll Back Driver.
3. Choose a reason and click Yes, then restart.

If Roll Back Driver is greyed out, there is no previous version saved. Use Uninstall device, tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device, restart, and let Windows reinstall a basic driver. You can also restore the restore point you created earlier.

Stop Windows from reinstalling a bad driver: after rolling back, Windows Update may push the same driver again. Microsoft’s Show or hide updates tool (wushowhide) can hide that one driver update until a fixed version arrives; check that it is still offered for your Windows version.

Which method should you use?

Situation	Best method
A device stopped working after a Windows update	Roll back the driver, then Method 1
Device shows a yellow warning icon	Method 2, then Method 4
Manufacturer gives a folder of .inf files	Method 3
Printer, scanner or laptop-specific hardware	Method 4 (maker’s installer or support app)
New game needs a newer graphics driver	Method 6
Several PCs or scripted installs	Method 5 (pnputil)

Troubleshooting driver updates

Problem	Fix
“The best drivers for your device are already installed”	Windows only checked locally. Use Method 1 or download from the manufacturer (Method 3 or 4).
“Windows could not find driver software” when browsing	You picked the wrong folder or a driver for another model or architecture. Extract the ZIP and check 64-bit vs ARM64.
“The third-party INF does not contain digital signature information”	The driver is unsigned. Get a signed driver from the official site instead of disabling signature checks.
Error code 10 or 43 in device Properties	Reinstall the driver: Uninstall device > restart > install the maker’s driver. Code 43 can also mean a hardware fault.
Black screen after a graphics driver update	Wait 1–2 minutes, then press Win + Ctrl + Shift + B to restart the graphics driver. If it stays black, boot into Safe Mode and roll back.
Device keeps disappearing (USB, Wi-Fi)	Device Properties > Power Management > untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Frequently asked questions

Does Windows 11 update drivers automatically?

Yes. Windows Update installs most drivers automatically. Some newer drivers are offered as optional updates in Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, and graphics or printer software often comes from the manufacturer.

Is it safe to update drivers manually?

Yes, if you download drivers only from Windows Update, your PC maker or the component maker, and create a restore point first. Avoid third-party driver-updater tools.

How do I know which drivers need updating?

Open Device Manager and look for devices with a yellow warning icon. Also check Optional updates in Windows Update and your PC maker’s support app, which compares your drivers with the latest versions for your model.

What’s the difference between Search automatically and Browse my computer?

Search automatically looks for a driver already on your PC or in Windows Update. Browse my computer installs a driver from a folder you downloaded yourself.

How do I update drivers without internet?

Download the driver on another computer, copy it to a USB drive, then install it with Device Manager > Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers, or run the installer.

How do I undo a driver update?

Open the device’s Properties > Driver tab in Device Manager and click Roll Back Driver. If it’s greyed out, uninstall the device and restart, or use a restore point.

Should I use driver updater software?

No. These tools often install wrong or outdated drivers and may bundle adware. Windows Update and the official manufacturer apps do the same job safely and for free.

How often should I update my drivers?

Only when something doesn’t work, when the manufacturer releases a security or bug fix, or when new software needs a newer version. Graphics drivers for gaming are the exception: update them every few months.

Conclusion

To manually update a driver on Windows, start with Optional updates in Windows Update, then Device Manager > Update driver, and use the manufacturer’s installer when Windows finds nothing. Always note the current version and create a restore point first, so you can roll back in one click if the new driver causes trouble.