Where to find driver updates depends on your device type
Windows and Mac handle driver updates differently, so the place you look depends on which system you use. On Windows, most driver updates come through Windows Update, the same system that patches your operating system itself. On Mac, driver updates usually arrive as part of macOS updates, and you rarely need to hunt for them separately. A few devices — graphics cards, printers, network adapters — sometimes have their own update tools made by the manufacturer, and those sit outside the main system update process.
The fastest way to check is to start with your system's built-in update tool. If nothing is waiting there, and you have a specific device that is not working right, then you can look for a manufacturer's tool. This order saves you time because most updates are already bundled into the places you already know to look.
Key Takeaways
- Windows Update checks for driver updates automatically, but you can force a manual check by opening Settings, selecting Update & Security, and clicking Check for Updates.
- Mac users should go to System Settings, select General, then Software Update to see if macOS updates (which include drivers) are waiting.
- If a specific device is not working, visit the manufacturer's website and search for a driver read or update tool for your exact model.
- Device Manager on Windows shows you which drivers are installed and whether any have warning symbols indicating a problem.
- Printer, graphics card, and network adapter manufacturers often provide their own update tools that work separately from system updates.
Checking for driver updates on Windows
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then select the Settings app. Click Update & Security on the left side. You will see a section called Windows Update with a button that says Check for Updates. Click it. Windows will search for any available updates, including driver updates, and show you a list of what is waiting. If updates are found, click Install now and let your computer restart if it asks.
Windows Update runs automatically in the background, so you may already have the latest drivers without doing anything. Checking manually is useful if a device stopped working recently and you want to see if an update fixes it, or if you just added new hardware and want to make sure it has the newest driver right away.
If you want to see which drivers are currently installed on your computer, open Device Manager. Press the Windows key, type "Device Manager", and open it. You will see a list of hardware categories like Monitors, Network Adapters, and Printers. Click the arrow next to any category to expand it and see the devices inside. If a device has a yellow warning triangle or exclamation mark next to its name, that means the driver is missing or broken — right-click the device and select Update driver to search for a fix.
Checking for driver updates on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. On the left sidebar, click General. Then click Software Update. Your Mac will check for any available updates, including driver updates that come bundled with macOS. If updates are waiting, you will see them listed with a button to install them. Click Update Now or Upgrade Now depending on what is available.
Mac automatically checks for updates regularly, so you may not need to do this manually very often. However, checking manually is useful if a device like a printer or external hard drive stopped working and you want to see if a macOS update includes a fix. Unlike Windows, Mac does not have a separate Device Manager tool, so the system update is usually your only option for driver fixes.
Finding manufacturer driver updates for specific devices
Some devices come with their own update tools made by the manufacturer. This is most common for graphics cards (Nvidia, AMD), printers, and network adapters. If a device is not working and Windows Update or macOS did not fix it, visit the manufacturer's website directly.
Search for the manufacturer's name plus "driver read" or "support downloads" — for example, "HP printer driver read" or "Nvidia graphics driver read". You will usually land on a page where you enter your device model number. Find your model number by right-clicking the device in Device Manager (on Windows) or by looking at the device itself or its manual. read the driver file and run the installer. Most will walk you through the installation and may ask you to restart your computer.
Printer manufacturers like HP, Canon, and Epson often provide their own update tools that you can install once and then use to check for updates anytime. Graphics card manufacturers like Nvidia and AMD do the same. These tools sit in your system tray (the icons in the bottom-right corner on Windows, or the menu bar on Mac) and can notify you when updates are ready.
What to do if Device Manager shows a problem
A yellow warning triangle in Device Manager means Windows detected a device but does not have the right driver for it, or the driver is broken. Right-click the device and select Update driver. Windows will offer two options: Search automatically for updated driver software or Browse my computer for driver software. Start with the automatic search — it will check Windows Update and the manufacturer's website.
If the automatic search does not find anything, try the manual option. You will need to have already downloaded the driver file from the manufacturer's website and saved it to a folder on your computer. Navigate to that folder when Windows asks you to browse. If you do not have the driver file yet, close this dialog, visit the manufacturer's website, read the driver, and then come back to Device Manager and try again.
If Device Manager shows a device you do not recognize and do not use, you can usually ignore it. Some computers have hardware built in that you will never need — for example, a Bluetooth adapter you do not use, or a card reader that came with the laptop. These do not need to be fixed unless you actually want to use them.
When to restart your computer after a driver update
Most driver updates ask you to restart your computer before they take effect. If you see a restart prompt, do it as soon as you can — the update is not fully installed until you do. Some updates will restart automatically if you do not do it manually within a certain time.
If you installed a driver for a device that was not working, restart your computer and then test the device. Sometimes the fix does not take effect until after the restart, even if the installer said it was done. If the device still does not work after restarting, go back to Device Manager or the manufacturer's website and check if there is a newer version available, or contact the manufacturer's support team with your device model number and what is happening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to check for driver updates manually, or does my computer do it automatically?
Windows Update checks for driver updates automatically and installs most of them without asking. Mac does the same with macOS updates. You only need to check manually if a device is not working and you want to see if an update fixes it right away, rather than waiting for the automatic check.
What is the difference between a Windows Update and a driver update?
Windows Update patches the Windows operating system itself and also searches for driver updates for your hardware. A driver update is just the part that fixes or improves how a specific device works. When you click Check for Updates in Windows Update, you are checking for both at once.
Can I update drivers without restarting my computer?
Some driver updates do not require a restart, but many do. If the installer asks you to restart, do it — the driver will not work correctly until you do. If you skip the restart, the device may not function properly or the update may not install at all.
Where do I find my device model number if I need to read a driver from the manufacturer?
Right-click the device in Device Manager and select Properties. The model number is usually listed under the General tab. You can also check the device itself — many printers, adapters, and external drives have a label on the back or bottom with the model number printed on it.
What should I do if Windows Update says it cannot find a driver for my device?
Visit the manufacturer's website and search for a driver read page. Enter your device model number and read the driver file. Run the installer and follow the prompts. If the manufacturer does not offer a driver for your device, the hardware may be too old or no longer supported, and you may need to replace it.