[Guide] Updating AMD Radeon Graphics Drivers on Windows

If you’re a PC gamer or use graphics-intensive applications, keeping your graphics drivers up-to-date is crucial for achieving optimal performance and avoiding glitches or crashes. This is especially true for AMD Radeon graphics card users, as updates can improve game compatibility and boost overall performance.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of updating your AMD Radeon graphics drivers on Windows 10 or 11, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned user. We’ll cover various methods, including automatic updates through the AMD Radeon software, manual updates through the Device Manager, and using third-party tools for easier updates. By the end of this guide, you’ll have the latest drivers installed and running smoothly.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Updating Your AMD Radeon Graphics Drivers

Before you proceed to the update, it is very important to weigh your options to make the most informed decision.

Advantages

• Improved Performance: Updating your AMD Radeon graphics drivers can improve performance and stability. New updates can optimize the card’s functionality and fix bugs that may slow down the card’s performance.
• Better Compatibility: Game developers often release updates optimized for the latest graphics drivers. Therefore, by updating your graphics drivers, you can ensure that your PC is compatible with the latest games and their graphics requirements.
• New Features: Updates often introduce new features and functionalities that can enhance your gaming or graphics experience. This can range from better anti-aliasing options to improved support for multiple monitors.

Disadvantages

• Compatibility Issues: Sometimes, new updates can introduce compatibility issues with other components of your PC. This can result in display problems, crashes, or other errors impacting your overall user experience.
• Driver Conflicts: In rare cases, updating your graphics drivers can result in conflicts with other drivers installed on your PC. This can cause instability issues, such as crashes or errors that may be difficult to diagnose and fix.
• Time-consuming: Depending on the method you use to update your graphics drivers, the process can be time-consuming. Manual updates, for instance, may require you to download and install the updates manually, which can take time and effort.

Method 1 – Download & Install the AMD Driver Through Device Manager

To update AMD drivers using Device Manager, you can follow the steps below:

1. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows + X and selecting Device Manager from the menu that appears.

2. Navigate to Display Adapters and double-click to expand it.

3. Right-click on the AMD video card driver and select “Update driver.”

4. Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software.” If an update is found, you will be notified. If not, you may need to look for an update for Windows via Windows Update or the AMD website.

To find your card details and update your AMD driver from the AMD website, follow these steps:

1. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows + X and selecting Device Manager.

2. Click on Display Adapters and right-click on the AMD Radeon option.

3. Select Properties and navigate to the General tab for your card details.

4. Go to the AMD website and search for your product or choose from the list provided.

5. Choose the appropriate operating system and select the driver version to download.

6. Double-click the downloaded .exe file and follow the instructions to install the driver.

7. Restart your system, and you should have successfully updated your AMD driver on Windows 10.

Method 2 – Updating AMD Driver via AMD Software Download

To update your AMD driver using the AMD software download, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the empty area on your desktop and select AMD Radeon Settings.

2. Click on Updates and select Check for Updates.

3. You will see two options: New Recommended and New Optional (still in testing). It is recommended to choose New Recommended.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to download the updated AMD Radeon driver on your Windows.

5. Restart your PC to apply the changes.

6. Apart from using the AMD software download, you can manually update drivers by checking for available Windows updates.

Method 3 – Automatically Update AMD Driver

The official AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition tool is recommended to update your AMD Radeon Graphics Driver. This tool automatically detects the current AMD display adapters and graphics cards and installs any necessary updates.

To use this tool, follow the steps below:

1. Find the model of your installed AMD graphics card by navigating to Task Manager > Performance > GPU. If you can’t identify it, choose a random AMD Radeon product in the next step.

2. Head to the official AMD support website and select your AMD Radeon graphics card. Then click on “Submit.”

3. Click “Windows 11 – 64-Bit Edition” and scroll down to find AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. Click on the “Download” button.

4. Double-click on the downloaded file to execute the installation setup once the download is complete.

5. Follow the installation wizard, and the AMD Software Installer will launch. It will automatically scan your PC’s hardware and software specifications and determine if any new driver updates are available.

6. If the AMD Software finds any new driver updates, it will ask you to confirm the installation.

7. Once the installation process is complete, restart your PC.

Conclusion

Through this process, we have learned the importance of keeping drivers up to date, the potential benefits and drawbacks of different updating methods, and the various tools available to make the process easier.

As software and hardware evolve, we must remain up-to-date and flexible in our approaches to problem-solving and learning. Taking the time to explore new tools and methods can help us to stay ahead of the curve and optimize our use of technology.