Where to find your installed drivers in Windows
The fastest way to see what drivers you have is through Device Manager, which comes built into Windows. Open it by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager," or by typing "Device Manager" into the Windows search box and pressing Enter.
Device Manager shows every piece of hardware Windows recognizes — your graphics card, network adapter, sound card, storage drives, and everything else. Each one has a driver attached to it. If a driver is missing or broken, you'll see a yellow warning triangle next to that device. A red X means Windows can't use it at all.
Click the arrow next to any category to expand it and see the specific devices. Right-click any device and select "Properties" to see which driver version you're running, when it was installed, and who made it.
Key Takeaways
- Device Manager shows every hardware device on your PC and whether its driver is working, installed in Windows by pressing the Windows key and typing "Device Manager."
- A yellow triangle means the driver is missing or outdated; a red X means Windows cannot use that device at all.
- Right-clicking any device and selecting "Properties" shows you the driver version number, manufacturer, and installation date.
- Windows Update can install or update many drivers automatically, but some hardware makers provide their own driver software you may need to read separately.
Checking driver versions and update dates
When you open a device's Properties window, the "Driver" tab shows the driver version, the date it was installed, and the company that made it. The version number tells you how old the driver is — a date from several years ago usually means you haven't updated it since Windows was installed.
Not every old driver needs updating. If your device works without problems, an older driver is often fine. But if you're having crashes, lag, or a device that stops responding, checking the driver date is one of the first things to do. Graphics drivers especially benefit from regular updates because they affect gaming and video performance.
Write down the device name and driver version before you search for updates. This information helps you know whether a new version is actually available and whether it's newer than what you have.
Using Windows Update to check for driver updates
Windows Update can find and install updated drivers automatically. Go to Settings (press Windows key + I), then select "Update & Security" on Windows 10, or "System" then "About" then "Advanced system settings" on Windows 11. Look for "Check for updates" and let Windows scan your system.
Windows will show you available driver updates alongside regular Windows patches. You don't have to install them all at once — you can select which ones you want. After installation, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
This method works well for common hardware like network adapters and storage controllers. For graphics cards and specialized equipment, the hardware maker's own software often has newer drivers than Windows Update offers.
Finding drivers from the manufacturer's website
If Windows Update doesn't have what you need, go directly to the hardware maker's support page. For a graphics card, that's NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel depending on which one you have. For a printer, it's the printer brand. For a motherboard, it's the company that made your motherboard.
On the manufacturer's website, look for a "Support" or "Downloads" section. You'll need to tell them your device model and your Windows version (32-bit or 64-bit). Type "System Information" into the Windows search box to find your Windows version and whether you're running 32-bit or 64-bit.
read the driver file to your computer, then run the installer. Most driver installers will guide you through the rest. After installation, restart your computer. If the installer doesn't work, you may need to uninstall the old driver first through Device Manager before installing the new one.
What to do if a driver is missing or broken
A yellow triangle or red X in Device Manager means Windows either can't find the driver or the driver isn't working. Right-click the device and select "Update driver." Windows will search for a newer version online. If it finds one, install it and restart.
If Windows can't find a driver, try the manufacturer's website. If that doesn't work, the device may be too old or no longer supported. Some older printers, scanners, and network adapters stop getting driver updates after five or ten years. In that case, you may need to replace the hardware or find a workaround.
If you recently upgraded to Windows 11 from Windows 10, some older devices may not have Windows 11 drivers available. Check the manufacturer's website to see if they've released Windows 11 support. If not, the device may not work on your new Windows version.
Checking drivers on a Mac
Macs don't use drivers the same way Windows does. Most hardware works automatically because Apple controls both the hardware and the operating system. You won't find a "Device Manager" equivalent on a Mac.
To see what hardware your Mac recognizes, click the Apple menu, select "About This Mac," then click "System Report." This shows your processor, memory, storage, and connected devices, but not driver versions in the way Windows displays them.
If a device isn't working on a Mac, the manufacturer may provide their own software or driver installer. Check the company's support page for Mac drivers. Most of the time, though, if a device is plugged in and your Mac recognizes it in System Report, it will work without any extra installation.
Understanding driver problems and what they look like
A device that stops working suddenly often points to a driver problem. Your screen might flicker, your printer might not print, your headphones might not produce sound, or your internet might drop. These aren't always driver issues — the hardware itself could be failing — but checking Device Manager is a quick way to rule it out.
If you see a yellow triangle next to the device that's misbehaving, updating the driver is worth trying. If there's no warning symbol but the device still doesn't work, the driver may be corrupted even though Windows thinks it's fine. In that case, uninstall the driver through Device Manager (right-click and select "Uninstall device"), restart your computer, and let Windows reinstall it automatically.
Keep in mind that some problems that look like driver issues are actually caused by something else — a loose cable, a device that needs to be turned on, or a setting that's been changed. Check the physical connection and the device's own settings before assuming the driver is the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my drivers are up to date?
Open Device Manager, right-click any device, select "Properties," and look at the driver date. Compare it to the current date — if it's more than a year or two old, check the manufacturer's website to see if a newer version exists. For graphics cards and network adapters, newer drivers often improve performance, so updating is usually worth doing.
Can updating a driver break my computer?
It's rare, but a bad driver update can cause crashes or make a device stop working. If that happens, go back to Device Manager, right-click the device, select "Properties," click the "Driver" tab, and select "Roll Back Driver" if that option appears. This reinstalls the previous version. If roll back isn't available, uninstall the driver and restart to let Windows reinstall an older version automatically.
What's the difference between a driver and firmware?
A driver is software that runs on your operating system and tells Windows how to use a device. Firmware is software that lives on the device itself and controls how the device works. Most of the time you only update drivers, but some hardware like routers or gaming controllers also has firmware updates available on the manufacturer's website.
Do I need to restart my computer after every driver update?
Most driver updates require a restart to take effect, though some don't. The installer will usually tell you whether a restart is needed. It's safe to restart right away, or you can wait and restart later. Restarting sooner means the new driver starts working sooner.
What if Device Manager shows "Unknown Device"?
An unknown device means Windows found hardware but doesn't know what it is or doesn't have a driver for it. Right-click it, select "Update driver," and let Windows search online. If Windows can't find anything, try the manufacturer's website if you know what the device is. If you don't know what it is, it's usually safe to ignore — it's often a device you don't actually use.