How can I update the drivers on my computer?

It seems like every day our computer reminds us to install an update for something. While many of these updates introduce new features or enhance security, others are necessary to ensure your computer can function properly and run what you need without issue.

In a computer, a driver is software that enables hardware to function with a particular operating system. This includes devices like your PC card, DVD drive, video card, and more—all of which rely on drivers to work. If you're using your computer now, it's likely that several drivers are already installed and working seamlessly.

This is why many people aren't very familiar with drivers. When Windows or Mac updates, it typically installs drivers as part of the process, often without you even noticing. In most cases, you don’t need to worry about whether or not to update your drivers, as they're generally handled by the system. However, there are some that Windows doesn't automatically update, but these are rare.

How do you know when it's time to update your drivers? According to programmer and author Leo Notenboom, there’s no need to update just for the sake of it. Instead, use common sense as your guide. If you're experiencing issues with your hardware, checking for a driver update is a good first step in troubleshooting. Also, if Windows or the software itself notifies you of an available update, it’s worth taking action.

Now, let's turn the page and explore how we can update any drivers that need our attention.

How to Update

Before we dive into the steps to update our drivers, let’s quickly explain why we're mainly focusing on Windows. Since Apple uses its Mac operating system across all their computers, you don’t need to update drivers beyond the system software update. However, Windows runs on a variety of computers (such as Dell, Gateway, HP, etc.), which means hardware needs to communicate in a unified way across all these systems. This is why updating drivers more specifically and frequently is necessary.

So, if you’ve decided it’s time to update your drivers, where do you start? The easiest way is by checking Windows Update, including the "optional updates" section.

Next, check with the manufacturer of your computer to see if updated drivers are available. You can usually find a support page on their website that lists the most recent driver updates. In general, downloading and installing these drivers is a simple process.

Then, check if the company that made the component (like your video card) offers updated drivers. You can do this by opening the Device Manager on your computer to find the device, manufacturer, and model name. Once you have that information, visit the manufacturer's website to locate their driver support page and download any recommended updates.

For those who prefer an easier solution, there are disk utility programs that claim to scan your computer and ensure you have the latest drivers. However, these tools should be used with caution. Keep in mind that you can easily check for updates yourself at no cost, and Windows Update already ensures you're always up-to-date with the most secure drivers. Additionally, these utilities just redirect you to the manufacturer’s website to install the updates, so it’s essentially the same as checking manually.

Be thorough, but don't go overboard when updating your drivers.