A device driver is a small piece of software that enables communication between Windows and your hardware. Hence OS uses it to communicate with Hardware devices, Keeping your drivers up to date is essential for maintaining optimal performance, compatibility, and security. If you experience problems like Games crashing, a black screen at startup or System crash with Blue screen error update Graphics driver Windows 11 helps fix the problem. Overall Update drivers on Windows 11 solve compatibility issues between hardware and software. In this article, we explore different ways to update device driver on Windows 11. This includes Updating drivers using Windows update, Device Manager or manually download and install the latest driver from Manufacturer’s website.
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Check Bad Drivers In Windows
Outdated, corrupted or incompatible device drivers are the main source of errors and issues on your Windows 11 PC. And You can determine a bad driver using just the Device Manager.
- Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
- This will display all devices and peripherals connected to your computer.
- Expand them and look for a driver with a yellow exclamation mark. These are the bad drivers need to be updated to function properly.
Bad drivers lead to instability and poor performance, Blue Screen errors are common and these may result due to faulty or outdated drivers.
- Again Regularly updating drivers helps maintain system stability and can improve overall performance on your Windows 11 PC.
How to update drivers Windows 11
Updating drivers on Windows 11 is crucial for the system to communicate effectively with hardware and peripherals like keyboards, mice, and headsets. While Windows has an automatic driver installation feature, there are instances where manual driver updates are necessary. Whether it’s a new device not being recognized or a device suddenly malfunctioning, we will guide you on how to update drivers on Windows 11 to promptly resolve any issues you encounter.
Update driver using Device Manager
Device Manager is a built-in Windows utility that allows you to manage and update drivers for hardware devices connected to your system. This is the most recommended way to update or reinstall the device driver on Windows 11.
- Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager,
- This will display all devices and peripherals connected to your computer.
- Now Expand the section related to the driver you want to update, For example, to Update Network Adapter Drivers on Windows 11,
- Expand the Network adapters section, right-click on ethernet or Wifi adapter and select update driver,
Choose one of the following options based on your preference:
- “Search automatically for drivers“: Windows will search for a driver update online and install it if available.
- “Browse my computer for drivers“: If you have downloaded the driver from the manufacturer’s website, choose this option to manually locate and install the driver.
- And Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver update process.
Updating drivers using Windows update
Microsoft regularly releases Windows updates with the latest bug fixes and security improvements, which also include driver updates for various hardware devices on Windows 11.
- Press Windows key + X and select Settings app
- Go to windows update then select Advanced options,
- Now Click on Optional Updates, Here On the available drivers shown list, checkmark the driver you want to install.
- Finally, Click on Download & Install, Windows 11 will automatically download and install the updates for you
Your new driver updates will be installed in a few seconds with the help of Windows Update.
- Once done reboot your computer to apply the changes.
Update drivers through the Manufacturers website
Updating Windows 11 device drivers through the manufacturer’s website is a reliable method when you want to ensure you have the latest drivers available. By directly accessing the manufacturer’s website, you can obtain and install the most up-to-date drivers for your specific hardware.
For instance, if you have HP laptop or Dell laptop, and needed to update the drivers. Head to the driver’s section on HP’s website or Dell website. Also, you can download and run the update assistant from there, which makes driver updates simple and easier.
Depending on the driver(s) that you want to update, all you have to do is go to the update section of your manufacturer’s website and proceed with the download.
Third-Party Driver Update Tools
Alternatively, you can use third-party driver update tools to simplify the process. These tools scan your system, identify outdated drivers, and automatically download and install the latest versions. Some popular third-party tools include Driver Booster, Snappy Driver Installer, Driver Easy, and Driver Talent. Remember to download such tools from reputable sources.
Reinstall the device driver on Windows 11
Reinstalling a driver involves removing the existing driver and replacing it with a fresh installation. You upgrade your operating system to Windows 11 and encounter compatibility issues with existing drivers. Or You have recently installed new hardware that requires a specific driver. Here is how to reinstall a device driver on Windows 11.
- Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager,
- locate the device category that contains the driver you want to reinstall (e.g., “Display adapters,” “Network adapters,” etc.), and click on the arrow next to it to expand the category.
- Right-click on the specific device or driver that you want to reinstall and select “Uninstall device.”
- In the confirmation prompt, check the box that says, “Delete the driver software for this device” and click on “Uninstall.”
After the driver is uninstalled, restart your computer. Once your computer restarts, Windows 11 will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically. If it doesn’t, or if you want to install a specific driver version, you can download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website.
Also, you can Visit the manufacturer’s website and search for the driver for your specific device model and install on Windows 11.
How to update Graphics driver on Windows 11
Graphics drivers are specifically designed to enable communication between your computer’s operating system and the graphics hardware, such as the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). If you notice Windows 11 slow while gaming, Black screen at startup or the System crashes with blue screen all of these are symptoms of outdated graphic drivers. And To avoid these problems, it is essential to regularly update Graphics driver on Windows 11.
- Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager,
- Locate the “Display adapters” category and click on the arrow next to it to expand the category.
- Right-click on your graphics card or GPU and select “Update driver.”
- In the Update Drivers window, choose the option “Search automatically for drivers.”
- Windows will search online for the latest driver for your graphics card and install it if a newer version is available.
- Follow any on-screen prompts or instructions to complete the installation process.
Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Also you can visit the manufacturer’s website and locate the “Drivers” or “Support” section to download the latest driver compatible with your graphics card and Windows 11.
Fill in the required details and download the latest Graphics driver. Install the driver according to the instructions provided, and finally, restart your computer.
Update the Device driver ensure optimizing performance, compatibility, and stability for your Windows 11 Device.
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