How to Update Drivers on Windows Safely

Every piece of hardware in a Windows computer, from the graphics chip to the trackpad and the webcam, relies on a driver. A driver is a small program that translates between the operating system and the device, so Windows knows how to send it instructions and read what comes back. Most of the time drivers work quietly in the background. When they go wrong, you notice quickly: no sound, a flickering screen, a printer that has forgotten it exists.

Updating a driver is usually straightforward. Doing it safely is mostly about where the update comes from and having a way back.

Should you update at all?

A sensible rule is to update a driver when you have a reason to. Good reasons include:

• A device has stopped working or behaves oddly after a Windows update.
• A new game or program asks for a newer graphics driver.
• The device maker has released an update that fixes a security issue or a problem you recognize.
• You have plugged in new hardware that Windows does not fully recognize.

If everything is working well, there is rarely a need to chase the latest version of every driver. Newer is not automatically better for your particular machine.

Before you begin: make a restore point

A restore point is a snapshot of system settings that Windows can return to if something goes wrong. Type "Create a restore point" into the Start menu search, open the System Protection tab, make sure protection is switched on for the system drive and press Create. Give it a name you will recognize, such as the date and the driver you are about to change. It takes a minute and can save an afternoon.

Where safe driver updates come from

What to avoid is just as important. Be wary of pop-up adverts that claim your drivers are out of date, unofficial download sites that host driver files, and "driver updater" tools you did not go looking for. At best they add clutter. At worst they bundle unwanted software or install the wrong driver for your hardware.

Method 1: Windows Update

1. Open Settings and select Windows Update.
2. Choose Advanced options, then Optional updates.
3. Expand the driver updates section, tick the ones that match devices you are having trouble with and select Download and install.
4. Restart when prompted.

Optional driver updates are not forced on you because they are not always needed. Install them when they relate to a real problem.

Method 2: Device Manager

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the category for the device, for example Display adapters or Sound, video and game controllers.
3. Right-click the device and choose Update driver.
4. Select Search automatically for drivers, or Browse my computer if you have already downloaded a driver from the manufacturer.

A small yellow warning symbol next to a device in this list is a useful clue that its driver is missing or not working properly.

Method 3: the manufacturer's own download

For laptops, start with the support section of the computer maker's website and enter the model or serial number printed underneath the machine. For a separate graphics card or printer, go to the website of the company that made that part. Download the file, close other programs, run the installer and follow its steps. Type the web address yourself rather than following a link from an email or advert.

If the new driver makes things worse

Windows keeps the previous driver for a while, so going back is usually simple:

1. Open Device Manager and right-click the device.
2. Select Properties and open the Driver tab.
3. Choose Roll Back Driver and give a short reason when asked.

If the option is grayed out, there is no earlier version stored. In that case, use the restore point you made earlier: search for "Recovery", open System Restore and pick your snapshot. Your personal files are not affected, though programs installed after that point may need reinstalling.

Graphics drivers and external screens

Display problems are among the most common reasons to look at drivers. If a TV or second monitor shows no picture, the wrong resolution or a flickering image, the graphics driver is a good place to check. Our guide on connecting a laptop to a TV walks through the other settings worth trying first, so you only touch the driver when the simpler fixes have not helped.

The short version

Update with a purpose, take drivers only from Windows itself or the companies that made your hardware, make a restore point first and remember that Roll Back Driver exists. With those habits, driver updates become a routine bit of upkeep rather than a gamble.