Start with the device itself, not the manufacturer's website
The fastest way to check for driver updates is to let your operating system tell you what it already knows. Windows and macOS both have built-in tools that scan your hardware and compare it against what you have installed. These tools work before you ever open a browser, and they often catch updates that the manufacturer's website hasn't listed yet.
On Windows, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it from the menu. You will see a list of all the hardware Windows recognizes — graphics cards, network adapters, sound devices, and others. A yellow exclamation mark next to any device means Windows found a problem, usually an outdated or missing driver. Even without the warning symbol, you can right-click any device, select Properties, then the Driver tab to see the date the driver was last updated.
On macOS, open System Settings, go to General, then About. Click System Report to see your hardware list. macOS does not show driver dates the way Windows does, but it will tell you if updates are waiting. Go to System Settings > General > Software Update to check for any pending driver or firmware updates bundled with the operating system.
Key Takeaways
- Windows Device Manager shows you which devices have outdated drivers and when each driver was last updated, without needing to visit any websites.
- For graphics cards, network adapters, and other components, the manufacturer's support page is usually more current than the operating system's automatic updates.
- Updating drivers can fix crashes, improve performance, or restore hardware that stopped working, but updating the wrong driver or at the wrong time can also break things.
- Before updating any driver, write down the current version number so you can roll back to it if the new version causes problems.
Check the manufacturer's website for your specific hardware
Once you know which devices need updates, the next step is the manufacturer's support page. This is where the most recent drivers live, often weeks or months before they reach Windows Update or macOS. You need to know the exact model of the device — not just "graphics card" but "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060" or "Intel Arc A770".
For graphics cards, go to NVIDIA's driver page, AMD's driver page, or Intel's Arc driver page depending on which you own. Enter your card model and operating system, and the site will show you the latest available version. The same process works for network adapters (check your router or network card manufacturer), printers (HP, Canon, Brother, etc.), and motherboard chipset drivers (ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, etc.).
Before you read, note the current driver version number from Device Manager. Write it down or take a screenshot. If the new driver causes problems — crashes, performance drops, or devices that stop working — you will need this number to roll back to the version that was working.
Understand what each type of driver update actually does
Not all driver updates are the same. A graphics driver update might add support for new games or fix a specific bug that affects only certain software. A network driver update might improve stability or add support for newer Wi-Fi standards. A chipset driver update often runs in the background and you will never notice it, but it can affect how your entire system communicates with its components.
Security updates to drivers are worth installing promptly — these patch vulnerabilities that could let malware or attackers access your system through the hardware. Performance updates are optional; they might help, or they might introduce new problems. Bug-fix updates are usually safe if the bug affected you, but if your hardware was working fine, there is no urgent reason to update.
The risk of updating is real but often overstated. A bad driver update might cause crashes or make a device stop working, but it will not destroy your computer. The worst outcome is usually that you need to roll back to the previous version, which takes a few minutes.
Use Windows Update or macOS Software Update for safety-critical drivers
Windows Update and macOS Software Update deliver driver updates that Microsoft and Apple have tested against a wide range of hardware and software combinations. These updates are slower to arrive than manufacturer websites, but they are less likely to cause problems because they have been through more testing.
On Windows, open Settings, go to Update & Security (or System > Windows Update on newer versions), and click Check for updates. Windows will scan for driver updates along with operating system patches. On macOS, go to System Settings > General > Software Update and let it check automatically.
For graphics cards and other performance-sensitive hardware, manufacturer updates are usually better because they are released more frequently and include optimizations for new software. For chipset drivers, network adapters, and other components that rarely change, Windows Update or macOS Software Update is often sufficient.
Know when to avoid updating a driver
If your hardware is working well and you are not experiencing crashes or performance problems, there is no requirement to update. Older drivers that are stable are often better than new drivers that introduce bugs. This is especially true for graphics cards — a driver from three months ago that plays your games smoothly is better than a brand-new driver that causes stuttering.
Avoid updating drivers when ready after they are released. Wait a week or two and check forums or the manufacturer's support page to see if other users reported problems. If a driver update breaks something for many people, the manufacturer usually releases a fix quickly, but you can avoid being the first person to hit the problem.
Do not update a driver right before an important task — a presentation, a important date, or a gaming session. Update during a time when you can afford to spend an hour troubleshooting if something goes wrong.
Roll back a driver if an update causes problems
If you update a driver and your computer starts crashing, a device stops working, or performance gets worse, you can go back to the previous version. On Windows, open Device Manager, right-click the device that is causing problems, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver. This button only appears if a previous version is still on your system, which is usually the case for the first few weeks after an update.
If the roll-back button is not available, you can uninstall the driver entirely and let Windows reinstall the older version it has cached. Right-click the device in Device Manager, select Uninstall device, check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device, and restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the previous driver automatically.
On macOS, rolling back is harder because the operating system does not keep old driver versions. If a macOS update broke something, you may need to contact the hardware manufacturer or wait for the next macOS update to fix it.
Automate driver checks without installing third-party software
Windows has a built-in task scheduler that can check for driver updates on a schedule. You can set it to run weekly or monthly so you do not have to remember to check manually. Open Task Scheduler, go to Library > Microsoft > Windows > InstallService, and look for tasks related to driver installation. These run automatically, though you can also trigger them manually.
Do not install third-party driver update software. Programs that claim to scan your system and update all your drivers at once often update drivers you do not need, can introduce incompatibilities, and sometimes bundle unwanted software. The built-in tools in Windows and macOS are sufficient and safer.
Set a calendar reminder to check Device Manager once a month if you want to stay on top of updates without obsessing over them. This is enough for most people — critical security updates will reach you through Windows Update or macOS Software Update anyway.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a driver update will break my system?
You do not know for certain until you try it. The safest approach is to wait a few days after a driver is released, check the manufacturer's support forum or Reddit to see if other users reported problems, and only update if you do not see complaints. If you do update and something breaks, you can roll back to the previous version in most cases.
Should I update drivers if my computer is working fine?
Not necessarily. If your hardware is stable and you are not experiencing crashes or performance problems, there is no urgent reason to update. Security updates to drivers are worth installing, but performance and feature updates are optional. Older stable drivers are often better than new ones that introduce bugs.
What is the difference between a driver and firmware?
A driver is software that tells your operating system how to communicate with a piece of hardware. Firmware is software that lives on the hardware itself and controls how the hardware works. Both can be updated, but firmware updates are riskier because a failed firmware update can make the device unusable. Only update firmware if the manufacturer specifically recommends it for a problem you are experiencing.
Can I update all my drivers at once?
You can, but it is riskier than updating one or two at a time. If multiple drivers update and something breaks, you will not know which one caused the problem. Update drivers one at a time, restart your computer after each one, and make sure everything is working before you move to the next driver.
Why does Windows say a driver is up to date when the manufacturer's website shows a newer version?
Windows Update and the manufacturer's website are on different schedules. Microsoft tests driver updates before releasing them through Windows Update, which takes time. The manufacturer's website has the absolute latest version, but it has not been tested as thoroughly. Both versions are usually safe, but the manufacturer's version may have newer features or bug fixes.