How To Update Drivers On Windows 10 | Fix Driver Problems Today

Drivers sit between Windows and your hardware. When one is out of date or corrupted, you may see Wi-Fi dropouts, audio glitches, missing USB devices, or random crashes.

This walkthrough keeps it simple: start with the built-in paths, move to vendor packages only when you need them, and keep a rollback option ready.

What Counts As A Driver Update

A driver update is a new version of the software that lets Windows talk to a device. It can come from Microsoft, your PC maker (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS), or the hardware brand (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, Realtek).

Windows 10 can install many drivers automatically. That’s fine for everyday devices. Graphics cards and chipset bundles often run best with the vendor’s installer because it ships the full package, not just a single driver file.

Before You Update Anything

Most updates go smoothly. Still, take two minutes to set a safety net and confirm the exact device you’re about to change.

Create A Restore Point

Type “Create a restore point” in Start search, open it, pick your system drive, then select Create. Name it with the date and the device you plan to update.

Confirm The Device Name And Current Version

• Right-click Start.
• Select Device Manager.
• Expand the device category.
• Right-click the device and choose Properties.
• Open the Driver tab for Provider, Date, and Version.

Update Drivers Using Windows Update

This is the safest first stop because it uses drivers published through Windows Update.

Run Standard Windows Update

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Update & Security.
3. Select Windows Update.
4. Select Check for updates, then install what’s offered.
5. Restart if Windows asks.

After the restart, test the device or app that was failing. If it’s fixed, stop there.

Install Optional Driver Updates

Windows 10 may list drivers under optional updates. These don’t install automatically, so they can be waiting even when standard updates show nothing.

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. Select View optional updates (wording varies by build).
3. Open Driver updates and select the driver you want.
4. Select Download and install.

Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers shows the Windows Update path and where optional drivers fit.

How To Update Drivers On Windows 10 Step By Step

Device Manager is best for a single device: a network adapter, a USB controller, an audio device, or a printer entry that’s misbehaving.

Search Automatically For A Driver

1. Right-click Start, then select Device Manager.
2. Expand the category for the device.
3. Right-click the device, then select Update driver.
4. Select Search automatically for drivers.

If Windows finds a newer driver, it installs it and may ask for a restart. If it says the best drivers are already installed, move to a vendor package or install a downloaded driver manually.

Microsoft’s steps match this flow in Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows.

Install A Driver You Downloaded

If you already downloaded a driver from an official vendor page, point Device Manager to that folder.

1. Download the driver to a folder you can find again.
2. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select Update driver.
3. Select Browse my computer for drivers.
4. Select Browse, pick the driver folder, then select Next.

If the download is a setup program, run the installer instead. Installers often include a control panel and extra components that a raw driver folder doesn’t.

Table: Best Driver Update Method By Situation

Use this table to pick the path with the least friction.

Situation	Best Update Method	Why This Works
Wi-Fi drops, adapter vanishes after sleep	PC maker Wi-Fi package	Model-matched packages cover power behavior and companion components
Bluetooth pairs, then disconnects	Windows optional driver, then OEM Bluetooth package	Optional updates can stabilize; OEM packages add the full stack
Printer installs, yet advanced features are missing	Manufacturer installer	Windows drivers cover basics; vendor installers add feature set
Game crashes or screen flickers	NVIDIA/AMD/Intel graphics installer	Graphics releases include driver plus settings and profiles
USB device not recognized	Device Manager update on USB controllers	Targets the controller entry tied to the failing port chain
No sound or mic disappears	OEM audio package	Laptop audio often relies on vendor tuning components
Device shows an error after a Windows update	Device Manager update, then rollback	Lets you change versions fast while staying inside Windows tools
Fresh Windows install on a laptop	Windows Update, then OEM updater	Gets you online, then fills in model-specific drivers

Use Manufacturer Tools For Model-Matched Packages

PC makers ship updater tools because laptop drivers can be tied to the exact board, firmware, and power profile. They’re often the cleanest route for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, touchpads, audio, hotkeys, and chipset bundles.

On desktops with off-the-shelf parts, the device brand’s installer can be the better fit for graphics and networking.

Roll Back Or Remove A Driver When Things Get Worse

If a new driver causes new glitches, roll back first. It’s quick and usually restores the last working version.

Roll Back A Driver

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Right-click the device and choose Properties.
3. Open the Driver tab.
4. Select Roll Back Driver, pick a reason, then confirm.

If Roll Back is greyed out, Windows doesn’t have the prior version stored. Use System Restore, or install an older driver from the PC maker’s support page.

Uninstall And Reinstall

When a device keeps failing, a clean uninstall can help.

1. In Device Manager, right-click the device and choose Uninstall device.
2. If you see “Delete the driver software for this device,” tick it only when you already have a replacement driver.
3. Restart the PC.
4. Run Windows Update again, or install the vendor package.

Fix Common Driver Update Snags

Most failed updates come down to a mismatch or a blocked install.

Read The Device Status Line

In Device Manager, open the device Properties and read the Device status text. If Windows can’t start the device, the status line often points you to the next step.

Match The Hardware ID For Manual Drivers

If you’re installing a driver you downloaded, confirm it fits your hardware:

• Open the device Properties.
• Go to the Details tab.
• Select Hardware Ids from the drop-down.

Compare the IDs with what the vendor lists for that driver package. If they don’t line up, grab the right package.

Restart And Try Again With Fewer Extras Plugged In

Restart the PC, unplug unneeded USB accessories, then rerun the update. A clean boot cycle clears many stalled installs.

Which Drivers To Prioritize

If you’re updating drivers because something broke, start with the category tied to the symptom. If you’re doing routine cleanup after months of updates, start with drivers tied to power, graphics, and networking.

Graphics

Graphics drivers affect games, video playback, screen scaling, multi-monitor setups, and sleep behavior. If you see flicker, black screens, or crashes inside a game, grab the newest driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, then install it like a normal app.

On laptops, check the PC maker driver page first if your model has switchable graphics or special display features. Those builds can include tweaks for the internal panel and power states.

Chipset, Storage, And USB Controllers

Chipset and storage drivers shape how Windows talks to USB, PCIe devices, and drives. A messy chipset set can show up as flaky USB ports, random disconnects, or slow wake from sleep. Motherboard and laptop makers often bundle these as one installer.

Wi-Fi And Bluetooth

Network drivers are worth updating when you see drops, weak speed, or adapters that vanish after sleep. Many laptop Wi-Fi cards also carry Bluetooth, so one package can fix both.

Audio

If your sound output disappears, your mic stops showing up, or your jack detection is wrong, install the OEM audio package. It often includes companion components that Windows Update won’t add on its own.

Get The Right Driver From The Right Place

When Windows Update and Device Manager don’t solve it, use an official source tied to your exact model. That usually means the PC maker support page for laptops, and the motherboard vendor page for desktops.

• Use your device model name from the sticker, box, or System Information.
• Match your Windows 10 edition and 64-bit architecture.
• Prefer packages dated after your last major Windows update.

Download drivers one category at a time, install, restart, then test. That makes it easy to spot which change fixed the problem.

Table: Quick Checks After Updating A Driver

Run these checks right after an update so you catch trouble while the change is fresh.

What To Check	How To Check It	Good Result
Restart completed cleanly	Boot to desktop with no loops	Normal sign-in, no repair screens
Device shows as working	Device Manager > device Properties	Device status says it’s working properly
Core task works	Try what failed earlier	Wi-Fi holds, audio plays, monitor stays on
No new warning icons	Scan related devices in Device Manager	No yellow marks
Sleep and wake works	Sleep, wake, test peripherals	Devices reconnect without delay
Performance feels normal	Open your usual apps	No new stutter, lag, or freezes

Driver Update Habits That Keep Windows 10 Stable

Once your PC is stable, you don’t need to chase every version number.

• Update when you’re fixing a problem, adding hardware, or a vendor release adds something you need.
• Write down the device name and driver version after a change.
• Skip third-party “driver updater” apps. Stick with Windows Update, Device Manager, and official vendor installers.

Follow this order—Windows Update, then Device Manager, then official vendor packages—and you’ll solve most driver problems on Windows 10 without guesswork.