How To Update GPU Drivers? Complete Details In 2024

Updating GPU drivers might seem difficult, but it’s easy. I was nervous the first time, worried I’d break something. Keeping my drivers updated has improved my gaming and graphics work. In this guide, I’ll show you how to update them easily.

To update GPU drivers, find your graphics card model, visit the official website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), download the latest driver, and install it. Restart your computer for changes to apply.

In this article, we will discuss how to Update GPU drivers .

Table of Contents

What Are GPU Drivers?

Definition of GPU Drivers

GPU drivers are software programs that enable your operating system to interact with your graphics card. They tell the GPU how to render images, process data, and execute commands from applications that require high graphics performance.

Why Are GPU Drivers Important?

Keeping GPU drivers updated ensures that your graphics card performs efficiently. Updated drivers fix bugs, improve performance, and add compatibility for new games or applications. If you don’t update your GPU drivers regularly, you may experience issues such as screen tearing, lower frame rates, or even crashes.

How do you check if your GPU drivers need updating?

Common Signs Your GPU Drivers Are Outdated

Some common indicators that your GPU drivers need updating include:

Low frame rates while gaming
Artifacts or glitches in video playback or games
Crashes or freezing during graphic-intensive tasks
Poor overall system performance during multimedia tasks

How to Check Your Current Driver Version?

On Windows, you can check your GPU driver version through the Device Manager:

Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
Expand the Display Adapters section.
Right-click your GPU and select Properties.
Go to the Driver tab to see your current version.

For macOS users, go to About This Mac and click System Report. Then check the Graphics/Displays section for driver information.

How to Update Intel GPU Drivers?

Method 1: Using Intel Driver & Support Assistant

Download the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
Run the tool, and it will automatically detect and update your drivers.

Method 2: Manually Downloading from Intel’s Website

Visit the Intel driver download page.
Enter your Intel GPU details and download the latest driver.

How to Uninstall Old GPU Drivers?

Why Uninstalling Old Drivers is Important?

Old drivers can cause conflicts with new drivers, leading to system instability. It’s a good practice to uninstall old drivers before installing new ones.

Using Device Manager to Uninstall

Open Device Manager and expand Display adapters.
Right-click your GPU and select Uninstall device.

Using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU)

For a more thorough uninstallation, use DDU. Download it from here, and follow the instructions to remove old drivers cleanly.

How Often Should You Update Your GPU Drivers?

It’s best to update your drivers whenever a new version is released, especially if you notice performance issues or you’re installing a new game. Checking for updates every couple of months is a good rule of thumb.

What to Do if a Driver Update Causes Problems?

Rollback to the Previous Driver Version

If a new driver causes problems, you can roll back to a previous version through Device Manager under the Driver tab by selecting Roll Back Driver.

Using Safe Mode to Fix Driver Issues

If you can’t boot normally due to driver issues, you can enter Safe Mode to uninstall the faulty driver.

How To Update Graphics Drivers In Windows 11, 10, 8, And 7?

Here’s how to update graphics drivers in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7:

For Windows 11 and 10:

Open Device Manager:

Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager from the options.

Expand Display Adapters:

Expand the Display Adapters section by clicking the arrow beside it to view your graphics card.

Update Driver:

Right-click your graphics card and click on Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will search for the most recent driver available.

For Windows 8:

Open Device Manager:

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.

Expand Display Adapters:

Click the arrow next to Display adapters.

Update Driver:

Right-click your graphics card, then choose Update driver from the menu.
Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

Using NVIDIA’s Website:

Visit the NVIDIA Driver Downloads page.
Select your graphics card model and operating system.
Download the latest driver and run the installer. Proceed with the steps shown on your screen to finish the installation.

Update Your Other Drivers

To update other drivers, right-click the Start button to go to Device Manager. Expand the relevant category, right-click the device you want to update, and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for Windows to find and install updates.

Pup.Driver Updater

PUP Driver Updater is a software tool designed to scan your computer for outdated drivers and help you update them. It offers a simple interface for users to find and install the latest drivers for various hardware components.

However, some users may find it intrusive or bundled with unwanted software, so it’s essential to ensure you’re downloading it from a reputable source and to read reviews before using it. Always back up your system before making significant updates.

Drivers And Support For Processors And Graphics

For drivers and support related to processors and graphics cards, follow these steps:

For Processors (CPUs):

Visit the manufacturer’s website (like Intel or AMD).
Navigate to the “Support” or “Downloads” section.
Enter your processor model to find the latest drivers and support resources.

For Graphics Cards:

Go to the graphics card manufacturer’s website (such as NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
Look for the “Drivers” or “Support” section.
Enter your graphics card model to access the latest drivers and troubleshooting resources.

Both manufacturers often provide user manuals, installation guides, and FAQs to assist with any issues you may encounter.

How Do I Update My Graphics Driver?

To update your graphics driver, open Device Manager (right-click Start). Expand Display Adapters, right-click your graphics card, and choose Update driver from the options. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software to let Windows find and install it.

How To Update Windows Graphics Display Driver?

To update the Windows graphics display driver, follow these steps:

To open Device Manager: right-click the Start button and select it from the list.
Expand Display Adapters: Click the arrow next to Display adapters to see your graphics card.
To update the driver: right-click your graphics card and select Update Driver.
Search Automatically: Select Search automatically for updated driver software to allow Windows to find and install the latest driver. Windows will find and install the latest driver if it is available.
Restart (if needed): Restart your computer to complete the update.

How Do I Check My Graphics Card?

Follow these steps to check your graphics card:

On Windows:
- Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager from the options.
- Open the Display Adapters section to view the name of your graphics card.
On macOS:
- Click the Apple icon, then choose About This Mac.
- Under the Overview tab, you’ll see your graphics card information.

These steps will help you determine which graphics card is installed on your computer.

How to Optimize GPU Settings After Updating Drivers?

After updating, you can optimize your GPU settings by accessing the control panel for your GPU (NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Software, or Intel Graphics Command Center) and adjusting the settings for performance or quality depending on your needs.

The Benefits of Keeping GPU Drivers Updated

Improved system stability and performance
Better game and software compatibility
Bug fixes and security patches
Access to new GPU features

Can You Update GPU Drivers Automatically?

Yes, you can enable automatic updates in your GPU software settings or use third-party tools like GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software to automatically check for and install updates.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Updating GPU Drivers

Not uninstalling old drivers
Downloading the wrong driver for your GPU
Ignoring driver conflicts
Not restarting after an update

Update Drivers Manually In Windows

To update drivers manually:

Open Device Manager (right-click the Start button).
Expand Display Adapters.
Right-click your GPU > select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for updates. Windows will find and install the latest driver if available.

How To Update Nvidia Drivers?

Visit the NVIDIA Drivers website.
Select your GPU model and operating system.
Download the latest driver.
Run the installer and follow the on-screen steps to update.

How To Update Graphics Drivers For Maximum Gaming Performance?

Always download the latest GPU drivers from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
Install the driver and restart your PC.
Open the GPU control panel (e.g., NVIDIA Control Panel) and adjust settings for performance or quality based on your gaming needs.

Legion Go How To Update Gpu Drivers

To update GPU drivers on Legion Go, visit the GPU maker’s site (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). Find your GPU model, download the latest driver, and install it by following the on-screen steps. Restart the device to complete the update.

FAQ,s

1. How To Update Drivers?

To update drivers, first find out your device’s model and the driver version. Visit the official website of your hardware maker (like NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), download the latest drivers, and follow the instructions to install them.

2. How To Update GPU Drivers Amd?

To update AMD GPU drivers, open the AMD Radeon Software. Go to the “Driver” tab, click “Check for Updates,” and install any available updates. Alternatively, download the latest drivers from AMD’s official website and follow the steps to install them.

3. How Do I Update The Gpu Driver?

To update your GPU driver, check your GPU model, visit the official website of your GPU maker (like NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), download the latest driver, and follow the installation instructions to update it on your computer.

4. Do GPU drivers Need To Be Updated?

Yes, GPU drivers need to be updated regularly. Updates improve performance, fix bugs, and add compatibility for new games or software. Keeping your GPU drivers up to date ensures your graphics card works smoothly and efficiently with the latest programs.

5. How To Check If GPU Drivers Are Up To Date?

To check if your GPU drivers are up to date, open the software for your GPU (like NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). Look for a “Check for Updates” option. You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to see the latest driver version.

6. How Do I Refresh My Gpu Driver?

To refresh your GPU driver, uninstall the current driver using Device Manager, then restart your computer. After that, download and install the latest driver from your GPU maker’s website (like NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to complete the refresh.

7. What Are Good Windows Driver Updaters?

Some good Windows driver updates include:

Driver Booster: Automatically updates outdated drivers.
Driver Easy: Scans and updates drivers easily.
Snappy Driver Installer: Free and offline driver updates.
AVG Driver Updater: Provides automatic updates with a user-friendly interface.

These tools help keep your system drivers up to date for better performance.

8. How Do I Know If My Graphics Driver Is Up To Date?

To check if your graphics driver is up to date, open the software for your graphics card (like NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and look for a “Check for Updates” option. You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to compare driver versions.

9. How Do I Reset My Graphics Driver?

To reset your graphics driver, press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B on your keyboard. This will refresh your graphics driver without restarting the computer. Your screen will briefly go black, and the driver will be reset automatically.

10. What Happens If I Don’t Update My Graphics Driver?

If you don’t update your graphics driver, your computer may not run games or software smoothly. You might experience lower performance, screen glitches, or crashes. Also, you may miss out on new features, bug fixes, and security improvements.

11. How To Update Gpu Drivers Nvidia?

Visit the NVIDIA Driver Download page.
Enter your GPU model and operating system details.
Download the latest driver.
Open the downloaded file and follow the instructions to install it.

12. How To Update AMD GPU Drivers?

Open AMD Radeon Software.
Go to the Driver tab and click Check for Updates.
If an update is available, click Download and follow the steps to install it.
Restart your PC.

Conclusion

Updating your GPU drivers is essential for maintaining optimal performance, especially when using graphic-intensive applications or playing the latest games. Following these steps ensures that your system runs smoothly with the latest features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.