A step-by-step guide helps learn how to update outdated drivers on Windows 11, 10, 8 & 7.
Device drivers are the software that enables attached peripherals & internal devices to function correctly. However, most of the PC users do not know about them and hence they are usually ignored. This results in issues like no sound, Blue Screen of Death, unable to read the USB, and so on. There can be other reasons too for such issues; however, to keep the computer’s performance intact and avoid facing any error, we suggest optimizing the PC from time to time.
Down the line, we want to say, alongside other reasons, outdated drivers also play an important role in slowing down PC performance and issues. The best way to overcome these issues and avoid encountering them is to keep drivers updated. The drivers can be updated either manually or automatically.
Read More- How to Update Drivers On Windows 11
Why Do Drivers Always Need To Be Updated?
Drivers are small programs or a set of codes that help establish communication between the Software and the Hardware. When a user uses a PC, he/she provide a set of instructions to the Windows OS. The operating system then uses the driver to communicate those instructions to the hardware, and they comply with the instruction or send a message of error if they are not able to carry out that task. Since the hardware and software use a different set of programming languages, the drivers bridge the gap between the two and ensure that the PC delivers optimal performance at all times. Here are a few reasons for why you should always keep your drivers updated at all times.
- Updated Drivers fix bugs and errors that were not discovered previously at the time of release.
- Driver updates help utilize the hardware to its maximum potential and deliver better performance, faster speeds and improved stability.
- OS and App updates require updated drivers to ensure that the hardware works seamlessly with the latest OS versions. With outdated drivers, there are chances that a hardware may work with limited functionality or may not work at all.
- Driver updates also include security patches for vulnerabilities that are discovered over time.
- Driver updates support new features introduced by the manufacturer and help users to take advantage of these features.
The Easiest Way to Update DriversBefore getting started, it’s important to know that Windows Update automatically keeps many drivers up to date. Yet, most of the drivers remain outdated. This is because most manufacturers do not make newer drivers available through Windows Update. Therefore, if you face any issue with a device, you can update the driver from the manufacturer’s site. However, this process isn’t easy; hence, the best way to update drivers without risking anything is to use Advanced Driver Updater, the best driver updating tool. Using this powerful driver updater, you can easily update the driver. Also, before updating drivers, the tool takes a complete backup of outdated drivers; this helps restore drivers (if anything goes wrong.) Moreover, using either the FREE or registered version, you can update outdated drivers in Windows 10. |
Ways To Check and Update Outdated Drivers in Windows
Below we explain different methods to fix outdated drivers on your Windows. Using them, you can find outdated drivers in Windows 10 and update them.
Method 1 – Download, Install and Update Outdated Driver Through Advanced Driver Updater (Recommended)
Manually, finding outdated drivers isn’t easy. However, Advanced Driver Updater makes this job easy for you. The tool automatically scans the device for outdated drivers and shows the most compatible updates for outdated drivers, giving users the control to update outdated drivers or not.
The FREE version lets you update one driver at a time, while the registered version lets you update all outdated drivers in a couple of clicks.
Note : Advanced Driver Updater comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
To use Advanced Driver Updater, follow these steps:
1. Download and install Advanced Driver Updater
2. Launch the tool to update outdated drivers and click Start Scan Now to scan the system > identify and list outdated drivers.
3. Once the scanning is finished, you’ll get a list of outdated drivers with the version numbers.
4. Check the list, and update them using Advanced Driver Updater. Trial users will need to click Update Driver next to each driver they want to update, while registered users will need to click the Update All button.
5. Once all the drivers are updated, restart the PC to apply changes.
That’s how in a few simple steps using Advanced Driver Updater; you can update outdated drivers on Windows 11,10,8 and 7.
Check Here- How To Update Graphics Driver On Windows 10
Method 2 Updating drivers via Windows Update in 11, 10, 8 & 7
To update drivers for Windows 7 and other versions via Windows Update, follow the steps below:
1. Press Windows + I; this will launch the Settings window
2. Select Update & Security
3. Click Windows Update from the left pane > Check for Update (to check if any updates are available). If available, you will get Download and install; click on it.
4. However, if it says you are running the latest version and you see the option that reads View optional updates, click it.
5. To unhide Driver updates, click the down arrow next to it > select the latest available update > Download and install.
6. Follow on-screen instructions to install the driver.
Note : If the View optional updates option is unavailable, it means Windows Update does not have any new drivers or updates.
For Windows 11 Users
1. Press Win + I to open the Settings.
2. Click on the Windows Update tab in the left panel.
3. Now, click on the Check for Updates button in the top-right corner.
4. After completing the updates, click 2 or 3 times more on the same button. This will ensure that if any updates remain, they will be completed.
5. Then click on Advanced Options in the right section.
6. On the new page, click on Optional Updates (Features, Drivers, etc).
7. Choose all the driver updates and click on the Download & Install button.
8. Wait for the process to complete and reboot your PC.
Must Read- How To Update Wi-Fi Driver on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7
Method 3. Updating drivers via Device Manager
If Windows Update does not show any driver updates, you can use Device Manager, the built-in feature of Windows. Using it, you can update and uninstall drivers. To update outdated drivers through Device Manager, follow these steps:
Note : All Windows users can use the following steps.
Tip : When you download an update from the manufacturer’s site, you get the instructions to install the update. However, if the driver update you downloaded is in the form of a zip file, you will need first to extract it and then install the driver using the steps explained below:
1. Press Windows + X > Device Manager
2. Double-click the category of the driver you want to update.
3. Right-click the hardware > Update driver.
Note : In Windows 8, you will get the Update Driver Software option when you right-click to update the driver.
4. To manually update drivers, select ‘Search automatically for driver.’
5. Windows will now search for the latest driver software. If you get the message best driver is installed, you can try using Advanced Driver Updater.
Also Read- How To Download & Install Windows 10 Touch Screen Driver
Method 4 – Update Drivers via OEM Websites
The final method to update drivers on your PC is to manually search, download, and install updated drivers from the hardware manufacturer’s websites. This method is a bit difficult to execute as it requires good technical know-how, some effort, and considerable time, but it is guaranteed 100% success. The steps for carrying out this method will be different for different drivers, but we have outlined the generic steps on how to execute it.
1.Identify the make and model number of your hardware.
2. Navigate to the official website of your hardware manufacturer.
3. Under the downloads or resources section, search for the drivers available for your hardware. Make sure you enter the correct model number of the hardware in the search box.
4. Once you find the driver, click on the download button and the download will begin in your default downloads folder.
5. Double click on the file downloaded and follow the onscreen instructions to update your outdated drivers.
Note : All the drivers available on the OEM websites are updated to their latest version.
Final Words:
Using any of the methods explained above, you can update outdated drivers on your Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. Once the drivers are updated, quite a few PC problems like PC slowdown, device malfunctioning, game crash, display problems, flickering screen, no sound, etc., that indicate updating drivers is the way to fix them will be solved.
We hope you liked the information we have shared. Please share your feedback, suggestions, or questions, if any, in the comments section. For any product-related queries, you can send an email to support@systweak.com.
