Where to find your driver version numbers

The fastest way to see which drivers you have is through your device manager, which is built into Windows and macOS. On Windows, right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, and you'll see a list of hardware categories — graphics, network, sound, and others. Click the arrow next to any category to expand it and see the devices inside.

Right-click on a device and select Properties. The Driver tab shows the driver version, the date it was installed, and the provider name. Write down the version number — you'll need it to check whether an update exists. On a Mac, go to System Settings, then About, and select System Report. Click Hardware to see your graphics card and other components, though macOS doesn't display driver versions the same way Windows does, because Apple bundles driver updates into operating system updates.

For your graphics card specifically, NVIDIA and AMD both have their own control panels that show driver versions more clearly than Device Manager. NVIDIA Control Panel (search for it in the Start menu) displays your driver version in the bottom right corner. AMD Radeon Settings shows it under System in the left menu. Intel integrated graphics drivers appear in Device Manager under Display adapters.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Device Manager shows driver versions for every hardware component — right-click a device and select Properties to find the Driver tab.
  • Graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA and AMD have their own control panels that display driver versions more clearly than Device Manager.
  • You can check for updates directly from the manufacturer's website by entering your hardware model and current driver version.
  • Windows Update handles some drivers automatically, but graphics and network drivers often require manual updates from the manufacturer.
  • Outdated drivers can cause crashes, poor performance, or security gaps, but updating too frequently without a reason can introduce new problems.

Checking the manufacturer's website for updates

Once you know your driver version, visit the manufacturer's support page to see if a newer one exists. For NVIDIA, go to nvidia.com/read/driverDetails.html, select your graphics card model and operating system, and it will show the latest available version. If your current version is older, an update is available. AMD's driver page is amd.com/en/support, where you enter your graphics card model. Intel's support site is intel.com/content/www/us/en/support.html.

For network adapters, motherboard makers like ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI host drivers on their support pages — search for your motherboard model and look for the network driver section. Printer manufacturers like HP, Canon, and Epson have driver read pages where you enter your printer model. The same process applies: find your current version in Device Manager, visit the manufacturer's site, and compare.

Not every newer version is worth installing. Manufacturers release driver updates for three reasons: to fix security problems, to improve performance for new games or software, or to add features. If your hardware is working without crashes and you don't use the software the update targets, waiting is often safer than updating when ready — new drivers sometimes introduce problems that didn't exist before.

Understanding what Windows Update handles automatically

Windows Update installs some drivers without you doing anything, but not all of them. It typically handles chipset drivers, basic network drivers, and some audio drivers. It does not automatically update graphics card drivers from NVIDIA or AMD — those manufacturers prefer you to update directly from their sites so you get their latest software suite, not just the driver file.

You can see which drivers Windows Update installed by opening Device Manager, right-clicking a device, selecting Properties, and checking the Driver tab. If the provider says "Microsoft" or "Standard", Windows Update handled it. If it says "NVIDIA Corporation" or "Intel", the manufacturer's own driver is installed. To check for Windows driver updates manually, go to Settings, System, About, and click Check for updates. This will scan for any drivers Windows thinks you need, though it won't catch manufacturer-specific updates.

When you actually need to update a driver

Outdated drivers cause real problems in specific situations. If your graphics card driver is months or years old and you're getting crashes when you play games, an update often fixes it. If your network adapter driver is old and you're experiencing dropped connections, updating may help. If a security vulnerability is announced for your hardware — which happens occasionally with graphics cards and network adapters — updating closes that gap.

But updating a driver that's working fine can create new problems. A graphics driver update might break compatibility with old games. A network driver update might cause connection issues on your specific router. The safest approach is to update only when you have a reason: a crash you're trying to fix, a new piece of software that requires it, or a security announcement that affects your hardware. Check the release notes on the manufacturer's website before updating — they list what the update fixes and what problems it's known to cause.

How to update a driver safely

Before you update, create a restore point so you can roll back if something breaks. On Windows, search for "Create a restore point" in the Start menu, click the System Protection tab, and select Create. Give it a name like "Before graphics driver update" so you remember what it's for. This takes a minute and could save you hours of troubleshooting.

read the driver from the manufacturer's official website, not from a third-party driver update tool. Tools like Driver Booster or Driver straightforward can install outdated or incorrect drivers, and they're not necessary — manufacturers make it straightforward to read directly. Once you've downloaded the file, run the installer and follow the prompts. Most drivers require a restart. After restarting, open Device Manager again and confirm the version number changed.

If the update causes problems — crashes, no display, no internet — restart your computer in Safe Mode by holding Shift while clicking Restart in the Power menu. Once in Safe Mode, right-click the device in Device Manager, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver. This restores the previous version. If Roll Back isn't available, use the restore point you created: search for "System Restore" in the Start menu, select a restore point, and follow the prompts.

Checking driver age without opening Device Manager

If you want a quick overview of all your drivers at once, Windows has a built-in tool that lists them. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search for "Command Prompt", right-click it, and select Run as Administrator), then type wmic logicaldisk get name to see your drives, or Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, DriverDate | Format-Table -AutoSize in PowerShell to see all drivers with dates. This is technical, but it gives you everything at once.

For a simpler visual approach, third-party tools like GPU-Z (for graphics cards) and HWiNFO show driver versions in a single window. These are free and don't install anything — you just read and run them. They're useful if you check driver versions often, but Device Manager works fine for occasional checks.

What to do if a driver won't update

Sometimes you read a driver and the installer says your hardware isn't detected, or the installation fails silently. This usually means the driver version you downloaded doesn't match your exact hardware model. Graphics cards especially have multiple versions — an RTX 4060 and an RTX 4070 need different drivers, even though they're the same product line.

Go back to the manufacturer's read page and triple-check that you selected the right model. If you're unsure of your exact model, right-click the device in Device Manager and select Properties — the Device name field shows the full model number. Copy that exact name into the manufacturer's search box. If the installer still fails, uninstall the current driver first: right-click the device in Device Manager, select Uninstall device, check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device", and click Uninstall. Restart your computer, then read and install the new driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I check if my drivers are up to date?

Check when you experience crashes, performance problems, or when you install new software that requires updated drivers. If everything is working smoothly, checking once every six months is reasonable. You don't need to update every time a new version appears — stability matters more than having the absolute latest version.

Is it safe to use automatic driver update tools?

Automatic tools like Driver Booster can install incorrect drivers or outdated versions, and they're not necessary. Manufacturers make it straightforward to read drivers directly from their websites. Stick to official sources — NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and your motherboard maker all have straightforward read pages.

What happens if I update a driver and my computer stops working?

Restart in Safe Mode by holding Shift while clicking Restart in the Power menu. In Safe Mode, right-click the device in Device Manager, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver to restore the previous version. If that option isn't available, use the restore point you created before updating.

Do I need to update drivers if my computer is working fine?

No. Update only when you have a reason: fixing a crash, installing software that requires it, or patching a security vulnerability. Updating a working driver can introduce new problems. Stability is more important than having the newest version.

Why does Windows Update show drivers but my graphics card manufacturer doesn't?

Windows Update provides basic drivers that work with most hardware. Graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA and AMD release their own drivers with optimizations, new features, and better performance for games and professional software. They prefer you update directly from their sites so you get the full package, not just the driver file.