[Guide] How to Update Graphics Driver in Windows

[Guide] How to Update Graphics Driver in Windows

/ Shayne Sherman

As we’ll see later, manually updating graphics card drivers can be tricky. Also, with monthly releases of graphics card driver updates, it’s challenging to stay on top of everything.

Automatically Update Graphics Drivers

Recommended: To easily install drivers automatically, use the tool below.

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Even the most technically knowledgeable can become frustrated with the ongoing search for the next update. It isn’t always easy updating drivers, especially with fake websites luring naive people into installing programs with viruses or malware that can cause damage to your computer. There is a proper way to approach driver upgrades to avoid this from happening to you.

graphics card

We’ll show you how to properly update the most popular types of GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) drivers in this article and some basic recommendations for dealing with any issues that may emerge. Although this article is focused on gaming computers, most of it applies to any Windows machine.

What is a Graphics Card Driver

A graphics driver is a piece of software that enables your operating system and apps to access the graphics hardware on your computer. Keep your graphics card drivers updated to get the most out of your GPU.

Importance of Keeping Your Graphics Drivers Updated

Speed increases are not usually achieved by updating the drivers for your computer’s sound card, motherboard, and Network Interface Card (NIC). They do an excellent job finding bug fixes but also bring new ones. So, if everything is going fine, it’s usually not worth the trouble.

It’s not like this when it comes to your GPU, more often known as a GPU. AMD and NVIDIA routinely release updated driver software for their GPU, significantly increasing performance, especially for modern titles. Intel has begun to release more frequent updates on its video drivers as they become more serious about integrated graphics performance.

How to Update Your Graphics Drivers

It’s not very common for people to need to update their graphics drivers in most cases. But if you often play games, create 3D graphics, or work with video, you should maintain an updated graphics card driver. Various methods may be time-consuming and difficult, but your Windows machine is clever enough to locate what it needs. Knowing how and when to start the update process is just a matter of knowing how and when.

how to update my graphics driver

Here is our easy-to-follow guide on how you can update your graphics card.

First Method – Use the Windows Update Tool to Update Your Graphics Drivers

The Windows Update utility will not only automatically download and install GPU driver updates, but it will also install driver updates for other devices connected to the computer. In addition, certain upgrades will include security patches, hotfixes, and other critical software updates.

  1. Press the “Windows” key on your keyboard and press “R” to bring up the run line command type in “control update,” and press enter.
run control update
  1. Click on “Check for Updates” in the Windows Update window. If no updates are available, you should get a message saying, “You’re Up to Date.”
check updates
  1. If the Windows Update Tool finds a new update for your graphics drivers, let it get the drivers installed automatically and wait for it to complete. You may be required to restart your computer for the Windows Update tool to install new driver downloads.
downloading windows updates

Second Method – Update Graphics Drivers Manually Through the Device Manager

Another method that you can perform is through the Windows Device Manager. The Device Manager method is straightforward and does not require high technical knowledge.

  1. Hold down the “Windows” and “R” keys and y”pe in “evmgmt.msc” in the run command line, and press enter to open the device manager.
device manager
  1. In the list of devices in the Device Manager, double-click to expand “Display Adapters,” right-click on your GPU, and click on “Update drivers.”
updating graphics driver
  1. In the next window, select “Search Automatically for Drivers” and wait for the download to complete and run the installation.
  1. Once the graphics drivers have been installed successfully, close Device Manager, restart your computer and check if the graphics card has been successfully updated.

If searching for the Graphics Driver did not update your driver, you could update drivers manually do it. Follow the steps below:

  1. Perform the same steps above in Device Manager but instead of searching automatically for drivers, click on “Browse my computer for drivers.”
  2. In the next window, you will be asked about the driver’s location the driver has downloaded. If you already have it downloaded to your computer, select the folder location where you have downloaded the driver. Select the second option if you want to see a list of available drivers compatible with your display adapters.

Manually Download and Update Graphics Drivers

To manually download and install the driver of your GPU, you will have to visit the website of the manufacturer of your GPU. Fortunately, there are only three major manufacturers of graphics cards. Click the links below to visit their official websites:

Automatically Update Graphics Drivers in Windows

There are two ways to get your drivers installed your graphics driver automatically. You can use your respective graphics card manufacturer to automatically download and install a new graphics driver. Each application depends on what graphics card you have installed on your computer.

Here’s a summary of the companion application you must install on your computer to enjoy automated video card driver installation.

geforce experience driver update
radeon software graphics driver update
intel driver update utility driver scan

Using a Third-Party Application to Update Your Graphics Driver

A third-party auto-optimization tool will keep the drivers on your Windows computer updated. You must first install driver update software, such as Fortect.

Fortect offers a comprehensive and automated solution for Windows computers. This helps repair damaged, outdated, and missing drivers on a Windows 10 PC. Additionally, Fortect also keeps your computer safe from online threats. 

Why Choose Fortect

Fortect has many excellent features, and the software is virtually totally automated, so even inexperienced users may use it without difficulty. It’s one of the bestIt’simization solutions available because it can fix virus damage and recover damaged or missing system files.

If you want a simple system optimization tool that can resolve various issues, Fortect is one of the best apps.

restoro features

To download and install Fortect, follow these steps:

  1. Download here:
fortect setup
  1. Once Fortect has been installed on your Windows PC, you will be directed to the homepage of Fortect. Click on “Start Scan” to let Fortect analyze what needs to be performed on your computer.
fortect repair
  1. Once the scan is complete, click “Start Repair” to update the outdated drivers Fortect has found on your computer.
fortect scan
  1. Once Fortect has completed the repair and updates on the incompatible driver, restart your computer.

Wrap Up

Downloading and installing new updates for your graphics driver might be a pain. After all, you don’t want to spend done searching for new drivers for your computer every time you turn it on. If you want to keep your computer up to date, you might want to use a service like Fortect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the NVIDIA control panel automatically download driver updates?

The NVIDIA control panel is a tool that helps users manage their NVIDIA graphics card settings. One of the features of the control panel is the ability to download and install driver updates automatically.

When a new driver is released, the control panel will download and install it on the user’s computer. This ensures the user always has the most up-to-date drivers for their NVIDIA graphics card.

How do I check my graphics driver in Windows?

You can check your display adapter driver in Windows in a few different ways. One way is to open the Device Manager, which can be found in the Control Panel. Once you have opened the Device Manager, you will need to find the Display Adapters section and expand it.

This will show you all the graphics adapters installed on your computer. You can right-click on the adapter you want to check and select Properties.

Is it OK to not update the graphics driver manually?

There is no harm in not updating your display driver manually if you are content with how your current driver functions. However, if you notice any degradation in performance or graphical glitches, it may be time to consider an update.

Newer drivers can often provide significant improvements, particularly in terms of stability and compatibility with newer games and applications. Ultimately, it is up to the individual user to decide when to update.

Does Windows 10 automatically install graphics drivers?

Windows 10 does not automatically install graphics drivers and instead relies on the individual to install them. This is because they are constantly being updated, and Windows 10 would need to be constantly updated.

Not automatically installing them allows the user to control which display drivers in windows they install and when they install them.

How do I find updated driver software for my device?

If you are looking for the updated driver software for your device, there are a few ways you can do this. One way is to visit the website of the device’s manufacturer and check for any updates that might be available. Another way is to use a driver update tool, which can scan your computer for outdated drivers and install the latest versions automatically.

What does your graphics driver is out of date mean?

Your graphics driver is outdated, which means that the software that controls your graphics card is not up to date. This can cause problems with your computer’s performance and may lead to crashes or other errors. To fix this, you need to update your graphics driver.

Will my FPS go up if I update graphics drivers?

Updating your graphics drivers may give you a slight boost in FPS. This is because new drivers often include optimizations and bug fixes that can improve performance.

However, whether or not you see a significant increase in FPS depends on the game you’re playing and your hardware setup.

Where are my Graphics Driver in Windows 11

The Graphics Driver is located in the Device Manager.

To open the Device Manager, press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager.

How do I fix application has been blocked from accessing graphics hardware Windows 11?

There are a few reasons why this error message may pop up on your screen. One possibility is that your graphics drivers are outdated and need to be updated. Another possibility is that your graphics settings are set too high for your computer’s current capabilities, and you will need to lower them.
If you are receiving this error message, you should first try updating your graphics drivers. You will need to adjust your graphics settings if that does not fix the problem.

Shayne Sherman
Meet the author

Shayne is an expert on all things Microsoft Windows and computer security. As a Windows user of over 30 years, he has been featured on Business Insider, Yahoo, Tech Republic, Hacker Noon, Techopedia, and many other publications. Aside from entertaining at his home theater, he enjoys spending time with his family, including his English bulldog, Fergie.