How to Update Drivers on Windows 11 (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

Whether you’re fixing a malfunctioning device, improving performance, or installing new hardware learning how to update drivers on Windows 11 is a very useful skill.

Searches like “how to update all drivers on Windows 11,” “manually update drivers,” and “Windows 11 driver updater tool” are trending, and for good reason. This guide covers 5 simple ways to update any driver: through Windows Update, Settings, Device Manager, your manufacturer’s site, or using dedicated updater software.

How do I update drivers in Windows 11?

1. Via Windows Update

1. 1. Click the Start button and then select Settingsto 

   

2. 2. Go to Update & Security.it

3. 3. Click on Windows Update..

   

4. 4. Press on the Check for updates button.

   

5. 5. Wait for Windows Update to complete the search. If it finds newer driver updates, it will prompt you to download and install them.

Your system will regularly check for new updates related to Windows, so you will most likely receive a notification about it sooner or later.

If you wish to speed up the process, you can actually manually check for updates by going to the Windows Update menu. If it finds any new updates, you will be prompted to download and install them on your PC.

2. Use the Settings app

1. Press the Windows key, then type Windows Update Settings and click on it.
2. Select Advanced options.
3. Click on Optional updates.
4. On the available drivers shown list, checkmark the driver you want to install.
5. Click on Download & install.

3. Try Device Manager

1. Press the Windows Key + S and type in Device Manager.
2. Open Device Manager.
3. Expand the section related to the driver you want to update.
4. Right-click on the needed driver, then click on Update driver.
5. Select Search automatically for drivers.

There, you will have the latest driver available coupled with all the changes that it brings. Additionally, you’ll find some detailed useful instructions about the updating process.

If you have problems with a specific driver, you can also reinstall it from Device Manager:

1. Press the Windows Key + S, then type in Device Manager.
2. Open Device Manager.
   
3. Expand the section related to the driver you want to update.
4. Rich-click on the needed driver, then click on Uninstall device.
5. Restart your PC.
6. After this, Windows should now reinstall the latest version of the driver.

If your operating system is not able to find a new driver, you should consider visiting the manufacturer’s website.

You need to update your drivers because it keeps your hardware in check, otherwise you might have to deal with all sorts of errors and mishaps.

Having Wi-Fi or Ethernet issues? Follow our Windows 11 network driver guide to update, reinstall, or roll back your adapter for a stable connection.

4. Visit the manufacturer’s website

1. Identify the manufacturer and model of the hardware you want to update.
   You can do this using the Device Manager: Open Device Manager> Select the driver category you want to update> Expand the list> See the actual name of the manufacturer and version you have.
2. Go to the manufacturer’s official website and find the driver update section.
3. Select the exact version for your device and download the files on your PC.
4. Follow the install wizard and finalize the action by restarting your PC.

While this process may take some time, it’s a great choice when Windows doesn’t keep up with your manufacturer’s developments.

However, you have to be extremely careful when you pick the version of the driver. Installing an incompatible one could cause more harm than good. To avoid that risk:

5. Use driver updating software

If the devices you use are regularly missed by the Windows built-in methods or your PC can’t download drivers, consider using a separate software.

This is helpful when your device maker releases a new driver. Windows tests new drivers first and might not install the newest version right away.

With dedicated driver update software such as PC HelpSoft Driver Updater, you can manage all your drivers. All you have to do is by select the driver you want to update – or multiple, and the tool will do its magic.

To find the best drivers for your computer, you should also take a look at the Microsoft Drivers Download Center.

Why is it bad to have outdated drivers?

Drivers help your computer recognize and connect to other devices. Updating them is important to avoid compatibility problems and get new features.

For example, if you have a fancy new gaming mouse with customizable buttons, but your computer’s driver doesn’t recognize those buttons yet, updating the driver would make those buttons work as intended.

Not updating could lead to all sorts of stuff that take more time to fix than updating drivers. The BsOD for instance might need third-party tools to fix.

Which driver version should I choose?

If you decided to go on the manufacturer’s website and manually choose a driver from their list of available ones, we suggest picking the latest version.

Sometimes, developers release WIP builds to the public for testing to flush out any problems that bypass the internal testing.

We do not recommend installing those, since they are still a work in progress, and might bring more problems than they manage to solve.

Generally, only download drivers are released by big companies that can pour resources into developing stable ones so early.

We wrote an extensive article dedicated to Windows 11 drivers compatibility if you wish to learn more. You can review your current driver number before updating by following this guide for checking driver versions on Windows 11.

When should I update my Windows 11 drivers?

As a general rule, you should keep your PC and its components updated at all times. Regular driver updates also bring security measures and should ultimately help you avoid any problems.

Windows automatically checks your device for new software updates. This happens frequently, to ensure that you won’t miss out on any security updates.

As you see, the methods to recondition your drivers look the same as the ones used to update drivers on Windows 10. The ones presented above are the easiest to update drivers on Windows 11.

To make this process faster, check our GetMyDrivers review and learn how third-party tools can help you with that.

Whether you want to update the audio drivers, the graphics card, or something else, the steps above apply.

The process should go smoothly, but if you’re having any trouble, check our dedicated guides for troubleshooting Windows 11 drivers not found or drivers won’t install.

FAQs

Summary

Updating drivers in Windows 11 keeps your PC secure, fast, and compatible with the latest software and devices. You can use built-in tools like Windows Update and Device Manager for most cases, or visit the hardware manufacturer’s website for manual downloads.

You can also get a full overview of every driver currently installed on your PC by checking this guide on how to view installed drivers in Windows 11, which helps you understand all versions stored on your system.

For a hands-off approach, driver updater tools offer automatic detection and installation, perfect for beginners. Just remember — always install stable driver versions and avoid beta releases unless you’re testing.