What Are the Different Ways to Upgrade Your Windows Drivers?
A driver is a little piece of software that enables your computer and a specific piece of hardware, such as your mouse, keyboard, or printer, to interact with one another. But occasionally, such drivers might need to be updated to address problems, provide new features, or boost performance.
In general, updating your drivers shouldn't be necessary too frequently. Since new drivers have the potential to both cause and solve issues, it is advisable to leave hardware alone if it is functioning as intended. However, updating your drivers could be a smart idea if you're experiencing problems with a particular piece of hardware or are aware that one of them has a security hole that has to be patched.
The maxim ‘if it isn’t busted, don't repair it’ has one significant exception: graphics drivers. New drivers are always being released with performance enhancements for the most recent games if you play video games and have a dedicated graphics card from Nvidia or AMD. It's worth updating to take advantage of the most recent driver to improve the performance of a game you play.
The majority of the time, upgrading a driver is extremely easy. I don't advise utilising separate ‘driver updater’ programmes; you can complete the process yourself with only a few mouse clicks.
Driver updates with Windows Update
The simplest method by far to update your drivers is through Windows. You should download any driver updates that are sent out by the device's manufacturer through the official Windows Update. Users of Windows 10 may click the large Check for Updates icon after opening Settings > Update & Security. To download any available updates, click the Install now option.
Go to Settings > Windows Update if you have updated to Windows 11. When new updates become available, click Check for updates, then select Download & install. Additionally, the screen can automatically search for updates or already have one available and wait.
Drivers from the Manufacturer can be downloaded
This should cover the great majority of your needs. However, it might frequently take a while for these drivers to reach Windows Update. On occasion, Microsoft will only release a ‘generic’ version of Windows that lacks additional functionality.
For instance, while generic mouse drivers will let you use your mouse, they might not provide you with the same level of control over the DPI settings or button customization as software from Logitech. (Microsoft's generic drivers often operate extremely well, so unless you want those extra features, it's not a terrible idea to go with what Microsoft provides.)
Go to the product page for the requisite device to get a driver straight from the manufacturer. The majority of websites will offer a Support or Downloads page where you may get the necessary driver. For instance, this link opens the download page for Logitech's Stream Cam. Install the installer after downloading it, just like you would any other software.
If you own a laptop, you may frequently download drivers from the laptop manufacturer's website; these drivers are more likely to function with your hardware, albeit they can be outdated in comparison to drivers from the component maker.
You might be able to update your drivers through Windows if you already have the manufacturer's driver software installed. Right-click the programme icon in the taskbar's upper right corner to launch the main settings window by opening your system tray.
For instance, I would right-click the Radeon Settings icon and select Open Radeon Settings to update the drivers for my AMD Radeon graphics card. A new update may be found and installed using the application's Updates tab.
Very seldom, the driver won't be available on the manufacturer's website as an installer. Instead, it will be sent as a single file that you must manually install using Windows Device Manager. Open the Start menu, enter ‘Device Manager,’ and then click OK to complete the process. Right-click on your hardware in the list to select Update Driver. To install the file you downloaded, select Browse My Computer for Driver Software and then go to the location of the file.
You ought to have access to all the most recent features and bug fixes when the driver has been installed properly. If your drivers come with additional software, you may open it just like any other application from the system tray or Start menu. Visit my official website for more tech information- Qrius
