How to Update Device Drivers in Windows 11

How to Update Drivers in 🪟 Windows 11

Windows 11 usually handles updates automatically. Sometimes, you need to step in to fix a specific issue.

Step 1Open System Settings

Press Win+I to open Settings, or click the Start button ⊞ and select the gear icon.

Step 2Navigate to Device Manager

Open the Start menu ⊞, type Device Manager in the search 🔍 bar, and select the best match from the results. Note: You must be signed in as an administrator to complete this step.

Step 3Find Your Device

Look through the list for your hardware. Click the arrow to expand a category.

Step 4Search for Updated Drivers

Right-click your device and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for drivers. Windows will then search its database for a matching driver.

Step 5Install Drivers from the Manufacturer

If Windows can't find a driver, you'll need to get it directly from the manufacturer. Visit the official support page for your device's manufacturer, download the driver file, and then return to Device Manager. Select 'Browse my computer for drivers' and navigate to your download folder.

Step 6Restart Your Computer

Always restart to ensure the new driver files replace the old ones correctly.

Troubleshooting: What If an Update Fails?

Fixing a bad update in Windows 11 starts with Device Manager (a tool for managing hardware). Open Device Manager, right-click the device causing trouble, select Properties, open the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver to put the old working version back. If that button is greyed out, uninstall the device completely and install the previous driver manually from the manufacturer's website.

Windows Update vs. Device Manager

Windows Update is the most efficient way to update device drivers in Windows 11, automatically finding many updates.

Summary

Staying on top of driver updates keeps Windows 11 hardware running without a hitch.