How Do I Update My Video Card Driver

How to update drivers

Image of a sticky note on a PC asking you to update.

(Epitome credit: dorisj, Getty)

Keeping your drivers up to date may be a hurting, merely it's something we all have to do. Information technology's not e'er articulate how to update your drivers, peculiarly for those without a good base in Information technology knowledge, and with all those site out at that place only waiting to deploy malicious software with genuine Nvidia signature codes. But there is a right fashion to ago about updating drivers, to ensure a smooth update process.

This guide will give y'all the tools you need to confidently update the most common types of drivers, and fifty-fifty includes some general tips for dealing with whatever issues that may arise. This guide is geared towards gaming PCs, but most of it applies to any Windows computer.

How to update Nvidia drivers

If your PC has an Nvidia GeForce graphics carte du jour, you definitely want to keep the drivers updated. New releases often include performance enhancements for new games, or fixes for issues caused by Windows updates.

There used to be a tool called Nvidia Update located in the Nvidia control panel, simply with the advent of GeForce Experience, that option has been removed. The Nvidia command panel is even so installed automatically when you lot gear up Nvidia'south drivers, but yous'll need to update the drivers through GeForce Feel or manually download and install the driver from Nvidia'south website.

Screenshot of the Nvidia GeForce experience UI. — (Epitome credit: Nvidia)

To update from the GeForce Experience launcher, log in (create an account if you lot don't have 1 already), click on the Drivers tab at the top left, then Check for Updates on the right. The benefit of having GeForce Experience installed on your PC is that it will automatically bank check for updates and alert you lot if there is a new commuter available.

But if you don't similar the idea of logging into GeForce Feel every time yous need to install a commuter update, you can go to Nvidia's driver folio to manually download the latest available commuter version.

Something else to consider is the option to do a clean install of the drivers, which is an option on both AMD and Nvidia installers if yous choose the custom installation option.

Finally, if y'all are switching GPU brands, or if you see other issues and just want to make clean out your system, we recommend using Display Driver Uninstaller to completely wipe any AMD, Intel, and/or Nvidia GPU driver remnants from your system. Sometimes it'southward the only way to be sure.

Be careful to click on the Official Download Here link when grabbing DDU, and not the Update Display Driver button, equally the latter isn't what we're talking about.

How to update AMD drivers

In much the same way equally Nvidia's drivers, AMD's commuter software is supposed to automatically cheque for updates in the background and give you an alert when annihilation is bachelor. But if that's not happening, or yous just want to be certain, here's how to check for an update (and install it) manually:

Right-click on the Windows desktop and select AMD Radeon Settings from the carte.
Click the Updates push at the bottom-left of the window.
Click the Cheque for updates box.

Screenshot of AMDs driver update page. — (Image credit: AMD)

If an update is bachelor, you'll see all the bachelor versions. AMD sometimes releases optional updates for those who want the latest and greatest, merely most people should stick to the recommended drivers. Click Recommended, so select Express upgrade.

If you tin can't go the Radeon Settings to appear at all, something may be corrupted with your drivers. To fix that, just head to AMD'southward support website and download the advisable drivers for your graphics card. A fresh install should sort out any bug y'all may be experiencing.

Again, make clean install may exist a better pick if yous experience any weirdness or reduced performance (it's happened to usa, multiple times). And DDU is always in that location if you need to pull out the sledgehammer.

How to update drivers for peripherals (mice, keyboards, etc.)

Virtually keyboards, mice, microphones, controllers, and and then on use the aforementioned generic USB interface for communication, so they ordinarily don't need any boosted drivers out of the box (and the generic drivers are handled past Windows Update).

However, if you buy an accompaniment designed to be customizable, similar mice or keyboards with extra buttons, then you might need the proper desktop software for the accessory. There should be some indication on the accompaniment'south box or product page most what application is needed for full functionality, only here are some examples:

Logitech Gaming Software: For customizing controls, lights, and more for about Logitech 'G' gaming products.
Logitech Options: Configuration tool for most of Logitech's non-gaming mice, keyboards, and other accessories.
Corsair iCue: Modify lighting effects, keyboard macros, and more for most Corsair products.
Razer Synapse: A unified configuration tool for Razer accessories, laptops, keyboards, and more.

As a general warning, always download the required software from the manufacturer's website, not from a rehosting site. Some rehosting sites like to packet bloatware, or malware, or other inapplicable software when yous install the drivers.

How to update everything else

The congenital-in Windows Update service on your PC by and large keeps most of your drivers upward to engagement in the background. Unless you lot use a niche device that doesn't offering updates through Windows Update, you ordinarily don't have to worry about keeping drivers up to date.

To check for any updates for your PC, including driver updates, follow these steps:

Click the Start button on the Windows taskbar
Click the Settings icon (information technology's a minor gear)
Select Updates & Security then click Check for updates.

Spiral sports, Katie would rather picket Intel, AMD and Nvidia go at it. She tin often be establish admiring AI advancements, sighing over semiconductors, or gawping at the latest GPU upgrades. She's been obsessed with computers and graphics since she was small, and took Game Fine art and Pattern up to Masters level at uni. Her thirst for absurd Raspberry Pi projects volition never exist sated, and she will stop at nothing to spread cyberspace safety awareness—down with the hackers.