Graphics card driver updates are important, but finding them can be confusing.
Software updates for applications, operating systems, and services have two main benefits: they provide new features and resolve known issues. Hardware driver updates largely fall into the latter category, so they don’t offer as much excitement, but keeping them up to date is a good way to ensure your computer’s internal components are working optimally.
Graphics cards (GPUs) often receive the most updates, with new game releases often requiring a driver update to achieve the best possible performance. But knowing the best place to get them on your Windows PC can often be confusing.
If you haven’t updated your GPU drivers in a minute, go to Settings > Windows Update and clicking on Check for updates will retrieve available updates and install them. However, you can also check for new graphics card drivers via another built-in utility.
Open it Start Menu and search device Manager. Here you will find a list of all the hardware connected to your computer. Expand it Display adapters and double-click your GPU name. This is probably a model made by AMD, NVIDIA or Intel. Access the Driver tab, click Update driver and select Automatically search for drivers.
While a convenient way to deal with outdated drivers, Windows Update doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to managing GPU drivers. If it finds and installs a version several times lower than the one available directly from the manufacturer, you risk missing out on the latest performance improvements and bug fixes. If you have a little more time on your hands, it is recommended to grab the latest drivers directly from your graphics card manufacturer.
Using Your GPU’s Companion Software
You will first need to determine which company made your GPU. Looking in the Device Manager app is a quick way to find out. Then run the Start Menu and check if your GPU companion software is already installed. Simply type in “AMD,” “Intel,” or “NVIDIA” and see if any results appear.
If nothing appears, go to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of the companion software. This will either be the NVIDIA application, AMD software: Adrenalin Edition or Intel graphics software. During installation, the application should automatically detect your graphics card and let you know if newer drivers are available to install.
To manually check for updates in the NVIDIA app, launch it and navigate to the Drivers tab on the left and click Download if a newer version is available. If you have an AMD GPU, launch the Adrenalin companion app, click the settings cog icon in the upper right corner, and click Manage updates. This will open AMD Install Manager, which is yet another utility (yes, we know it’s annoying) that manages driver updates. Click on Install if you spot any pending GPU driver updates here. If you are using an Intel GPU, the Intel Graphics Software utility places a Install all button front and center for any pending driver updates.
During installation, it is normal for your screen to flicker several times. Once done, you should see a confirmation pop-up stating that the latest drivers have been installed. You don’t always have to restart your computer, but it wouldn’t hurt anyway.
Manually install GPU drivers
While relying on the software associated with your GPU for driver updates is usually the easiest option, you can also install drivers manually if you need a specific version or simply don’t want to leave other software running on your computer. The quickest way to find drivers for your GPU is to Google its exact model name followed by “drivers.” Then follow the link which takes you to the manufacturer’s official website. This works great for both AMD and Intel GPU drivers.
If you have an NVIDIA GPU, head to the company’s Driver Updates page. Search for your GPU by product name and series, or by using the drop-down menus. Download the latest version available Driver ready for gaming. Open the executable file and you should see an option to install just the driver or pair it with the GPU companion app. Select your preference and click Install.
In most cases, it is recommended to stay up to date with the latest driver available for your GPU. However, there are cases where a new version may cause game crashes or performance issues. Windows Update has already started automatically rolling back problematic drivers, but being able to find and install an older version of your GPU driver can be extremely useful.
