How to check for drivers using View optional updates
- Microsoft changed the way how they validate drivers and with Windows 10 version 2004, they made it easier and safer to download and install new drivers.
- All driver updates are now listed under the View optional updates option. That means that you don't need to check for drivers in the Device Manager anymore.
- Do you need more information about Windows 10 drivers? You can find them all in the Windows 10 Drivers section.
- If you need any guidance about anything Windows-related and more, go to our Tech Tutorials Hub and you will find an answer.
Drivers, or better said, problematic drivers are one of the top reasons for issues with updates and even BSoDs.
Microsoft changed the way how they validate drivers and with Windows 10 version 2004, they made it easier and safer to download and install new drivers.
All driver updates are now listed under the View optional updates option. That means that you don’t need to check for drivers in the Device Manager anymore.
According to a recent document issued by Microsoft, they will evaluate better the quality and reliability of a Windows 10 driver update by analyzing the data coming from cohorts.
The cohorts refer to a set of systems and devices that share the same targeting attributes including HWID, CHID, and OS version.
Another idea behind this move was that hardware manufacturers would able to block updates when you try to install incompatible drivers.
How can I check for drivers using View optional updates?
- Click on the Windows button and hit the Settings button (the cogwheel above the Power button).
- Next, click on Updates & Security.
- In the Windows Update window, click on the View optional updates option.
- In the next window you will see the Driver updates category but no updates. For that, you actually have to click on Driver updates in order to expand with possible updates.
- Check the boxes of the drivers you want to install and click on the Download and install button.
How can I find out which drivers I installed?
If you installed the drivers and have some issues with it, you can always go to the manufacturer’s website and download a previous version. But how do you know which one had a problem?
It’s simple, you just need to check the history of updates:
- In the Windows Update window, click on the View update history option.
- Now click on the Driver updates option and you will see the list with all the previous drivers you installed complete with their versions.
Do you like the new way of updating the drivers? Tell us all about it in the comments section.
