How to know if your drivers need updating
Your computer will usually tell you when a driver needs updating, but the message often gets buried or ignored. The clearest sign is a device that stopped working or works worse than it did before — a printer that won't print, a monitor showing wrong colors, a network connection that keeps dropping. Windows and Mac both have built-in tools that scan for outdated drivers without you having to hunt through manufacturer websites.
Not every driver update is urgent. Many updates add features or fix minor bugs that won't affect your daily use. The updates that matter are the ones that fix a problem you're actually experiencing, or security patches for devices that connect to the internet. If everything is working the way you expect, you don't need to chase updates just because they exist.
The easiest way to check is to open your Device Manager (Windows) or System Report (Mac) and look for a yellow warning triangle or exclamation mark next to any device name. That symbol means Windows or Mac detected a problem with that driver. You can also check the manufacturer's website for your specific device — printer makers, graphics card makers, and network adapter makers all publish driver updates on their support pages.
Key Takeaways
- A device that stopped working or behaves differently than before is usually a sign the driver needs updating or reinstalling.
- Windows Device Manager and Mac System Report both show you which devices have driver problems, marked with a warning symbol.
- Not every available driver update is necessary — focus on updates that fix a problem you're experiencing or address a security issue.
- You can check the manufacturer's website for your specific device to see what driver version you have and what the latest version is.
- Updating a driver is usually safer than avoiding updates, because outdated drivers can cause crashes, poor performance, or security vulnerabilities.
Checking for driver problems in Windows
Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager from the menu. You can also type "Device Manager" into the Windows search box. Once it opens, look through the list of devices for any with a yellow triangle or exclamation mark — that's Windows telling you the driver is missing, outdated, or broken.
Click on the device with the warning symbol to see what the problem is. Right-click it and select "Update driver" to let Windows search for a newer version online. Windows will check its own driver library first, then search Windows Update. If Windows finds a newer driver, it will install it and ask you to restart your computer.
If Windows doesn't find an update, or if the problem persists after updating, you may need to get the driver directly from the manufacturer. Find the device name in Device Manager, then go to the manufacturer's support website and search for that exact model. read the driver file and run the installer, then restart your computer.
Checking for driver problems on Mac
Mac handles drivers differently than Windows — most drivers are built into the operating system, and Apple updates them through regular system updates. To check whether your Mac has driver issues, click the Apple menu and select "System Settings," then go to "General" and click "Software Update." If updates are available, install them and restart your Mac.
If a specific device isn't working — a printer, external hard drive, or graphics tablet — first check whether the manufacturer has its own driver or software. Many printer makers and graphics companies publish their own drivers on their support websites, separate from Apple's system updates. read and install the manufacturer's software, then restart your Mac.
To see which devices Mac recognizes and whether any have problems, click the Apple menu, select "System Settings," then go to "General" and click "About." Scroll down to see your hardware overview. If a device doesn't appear there, or if it appears but isn't working, check the manufacturer's website first before assuming it's a driver problem.
When to update drivers versus when to leave them alone
Update a driver if you're experiencing a specific problem with that device — a printer that won't print, a monitor displaying colors incorrectly, a network adapter that keeps disconnecting. Update if the manufacturer released a security patch for that device, especially if it connects to the internet. Update if you just installed new hardware and it's not being recognized.
You don't need to update a driver just because a newer version exists. If your printer works fine, your monitor displays correctly, and your network is stable, there's no reason to chase the latest driver version. Updating drivers carries a small risk that the new version will introduce a problem the old one didn't have — it's rare, but it happens. Only update when you have a reason to.
The exception is security updates. If a manufacturer releases a driver update specifically to patch a security vulnerability, install it even if the device is working fine. Security patches matter because an outdated driver can be exploited by malware or hackers, especially for devices that connect to the internet like network adapters and Bluetooth devices.
Finding the right driver from the manufacturer
When Windows or Mac can't find a driver, or when you need a specific version, go to the manufacturer's support website. For a printer, that's HP, Canon, Epson, or Brother — whoever made it. For a graphics card, it's NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. For a network adapter or other component, find the brand name on the device itself or in Device Manager.
On the manufacturer's website, look for a "Support" or "Downloads" section. Enter your device model number — you can find this in Device Manager (Windows) or System Report (Mac) by clicking on the device. The website will show you the latest driver version available and let you read it. read the file to your computer, then run the installer and follow the prompts.
After installing a driver from the manufacturer, restart your computer. Windows and Mac both need a restart to fully load a new driver. If the problem persists after restart, try uninstalling the driver and installing it again — sometimes a fresh install fixes issues that an update doesn't.
What to do if a driver update causes problems
If you updated a driver and a device stopped working, or if your computer became unstable, you can roll back to the previous driver version. In Windows, open Device Manager, right-click the problem device, select "Properties," go to the "Driver" tab, and click "Roll Back Driver." Windows will uninstall the new driver and restore the version you had before.
On Mac, you'll need to uninstall the manufacturer's software and reinstall the previous version. Go to Applications, find the manufacturer's software folder, and drag it to the Trash. Restart your computer, then read the previous driver version from the manufacturer's website and install it. If you don't know which version you had, contact the manufacturer's support team and they can tell you.
If rolling back doesn't fix the problem, restart your computer in Safe Mode (Windows) or Safe Boot (Mac). Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and can help you determine whether the new driver is the actual problem or whether something else is wrong. From Safe Mode, you can uninstall the problematic driver and try a different version.
Understanding driver version numbers and release dates
Driver version numbers tell you how recent a driver is, but they don't follow a standard format across manufacturers. Some use dates (like "2024.01.15"), some use version numbers (like "27.3.1"), and some use both. The important thing is to compare the version you have to the version available on the manufacturer's website — if the available version is newer, an update is available.
Release dates matter more than version numbers. A driver released last month is almost certainly newer than one released two years ago, even if the version number looks confusing. Manufacturers usually list the release date next to the version number on their support page. If you're not sure whether you need an update, compare the release date of your current driver to the release date of the latest version.
You can find your current driver version in Device Manager (Windows) by right-clicking the device, selecting "Properties," and clicking the "Driver" tab. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select "System Settings," go to "General," click "About," and look for the device in the hardware overview — though Mac doesn't always display driver version numbers the same way Windows does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I break my computer by updating a driver?
It's unlikely, but possible. Most driver updates are tested before release and won't cause problems. If a new driver does cause an issue, you can roll back to the previous version in Windows, or uninstall and reinstall the older version on Mac. Restart your computer after rolling back.
Do I need to restart my computer after updating a driver?
Usually yes. Windows and Mac both need a restart to fully load a new driver. Some updates will prompt you to restart automatically; others will ask you to restart when you're ready. Don't skip the restart — the new driver won't work properly until you do.
What if Device Manager shows a device I don't recognize?
Click on it to see the full name and manufacturer. If it's something you don't use and don't recognize, you can usually leave it alone. If it has a warning symbol, try updating the driver — if the update doesn't help, you can disable the device by right-clicking it and selecting "Disable device."
Is it safe to read drivers from websites other than the manufacturer?
No. Always read drivers directly from the manufacturer's official website or from Windows Update. Third-party driver websites sometimes bundle malware or outdated versions. Stick to the official source — it takes a few extra minutes but keeps your computer safer.
How often should I check for driver updates?
You don't need to check regularly. Let Windows Update handle most updates automatically. Only check manually if a device stops working or behaves differently, or if the manufacturer releases a security patch. Most people never need to manually check for driver updates.