What Armoury Crate does and when you'd use it
ASUS Armoury Crate is a utility that comes pre-installed on many ASUS laptops and desktops. It scans your computer, identifies which drivers are out of date, and lets you read and install replacements without leaving the process. You use it when ASUS hardware on your machine — the graphics card, network adapter, chipset, or other components — needs a driver update.
The main advantage is convenience: instead of visiting the ASUS website, finding your exact model number, navigating to the support page, and downloading files manually, Armoury Crate does the hunting for you. It also keeps a record of what you've installed, which matters if something breaks and you need to roll back to an earlier version.
The trade-off is that Armoury Crate runs in the background on your machine and collects some data about your hardware and usage patterns. If you prefer not to have that software running, you can uninstall it and read drivers the manual way instead — it takes longer but gives you more control over what's happening on your system.
Key Takeaways
- Armoury Crate scans your ASUS hardware and shows you which drivers are outdated, then downloads and installs them from ASUS servers.
- You can check for updates manually by opening the app and clicking the scan button, or let it run scheduled checks in the background.
- Before installing a driver update, note the current version number in case you need to revert to it later if something stops working.
- If Armoury Crate won't open or can't find updates, restarting your computer or reinstalling the app usually fixes the problem.
- You can uninstall Armoury Crate and read drivers directly from the ASUS support website if you prefer not to use the utility.
Opening Armoury Crate and scanning for outdated drivers
Look for the Armoury Crate icon on your desktop or in your Start menu — it usually shows a red and black shield. Double-click to open it. The first time you launch the app, it may ask you to log in with an ASUS account or to agree to terms; you can skip the account login if you prefer, though some features require it.
Once the app is open, look for a button or tab labeled "Driver" or "Update" — the exact wording varies depending on which version of Armoury Crate you have. Click it. The app will scan your system and display a list of drivers it found, along with version numbers and dates. Drivers marked as "outdated" or shown in a different color (often red or orange) are the ones ASUS has newer versions for.
Read through the list before you start downloading. Note down the current version number of any driver you're about to update — write it on a piece of paper or take a screenshot. This matters because if the new driver causes a problem (a game crashes, your network stops working, your screen flickers), you'll want to know what version to go back to.
Downloading and installing a single driver
Click on the driver you want to update. A panel will open showing more details: the current version on your machine, the new version available, the release date, and sometimes a description of what the update fixes. Read the description to see if it addresses a problem you're having.
Click the "read" button. Armoury Crate will pull the driver file from ASUS's servers — this usually takes a few seconds to a few minutes depending on file size and your internet speed. Once the read finishes, you'll see a prompt asking whether you want to install it now. Click "Install" or "Yes" to proceed.
Your computer may restart during installation, especially for chipset or graphics drivers. Close any open programs and save your work before clicking install. The restart usually takes a few minutes. When your computer comes back up, the new driver should be active. You can verify this by opening Armoury Crate again and checking that the driver version has changed.
Updating multiple drivers at once
If Armoury Crate shows several outdated drivers, you have two options: update them one at a time, or use the "Update All" button if the app offers one. Updating one at a time is safer because if something goes wrong, you know which driver caused it. Updating all at once is faster but makes troubleshooting harder if a problem appears.
If you choose to update multiple drivers, do it in this order: chipset first, then graphics, then everything else. Chipset drivers are foundational — they affect how your computer talks to its own hardware — so updating them first means the graphics driver installation will use the newest chipset version. This reduces the chance of conflicts.
After each update, let your computer restart fully and boot back up before starting the next one. This gives each driver time to settle in. If you update three drivers in a row without restarting between them, and then something breaks, you won't know which one caused it.
What to do if Armoury Crate won't open or find updates
If you click the icon and nothing happens, or the app opens but shows an error message, restart your computer first. Many temporary glitches clear themselves with a restart. After restarting, try opening Armoury Crate again.
If it still won't open, the app may be corrupted. Uninstall it through your Control Panel (Windows) or System Preferences (Mac), restart your computer, then read a fresh copy from the ASUS support website for your specific model. Install the new copy and try again.
If Armoury Crate opens but says "No updates available" when you know your drivers are old, your system may already be up to date, or the app may not recognize some of your hardware. Check the ASUS support page for your model number directly — you can compare the driver versions listed there against what Armoury Crate shows. If they don't match, read the drivers manually from the ASUS website instead.
Rolling back to an older driver if something breaks
If you install a new driver and something stops working — your screen flickers, a game crashes, your network drops — you can revert to the previous version. Open Armoury Crate, find the driver you just updated, and look for a "Rollback" or "Previous Version" option. Click it and let the app reinstall the older version.
If Armoury Crate doesn't show a rollback option, you can uninstall the driver through Windows Device Manager instead. Right-click the Start button, select "Device Manager," find the hardware that's causing trouble (Graphics, Network, etc.), right-click it, and choose "Uninstall device." Restart your computer. Windows will reinstall a basic version of the driver, which is usually the one you had before. Then you can decide whether to try the newer version again or stick with what you had.
Choosing between Armoury Crate and manual downloads
Armoury Crate is convenient if you want automatic scanning and one-click installation. The downside is that it runs in the background, uses system resources, and sends information about your hardware back to ASUS. If you're uncomfortable with that, you can uninstall the app and read drivers manually instead.
To read manually, visit the ASUS support website, enter your model number, navigate to the Drivers section, and read the files you need. This takes longer but gives you complete control — you see exactly what's being downloaded, you can read the release notes before installing, and nothing runs in the background. You'll just need to remember to check for updates yourself every few months.
There's no wrong choice. Armoury Crate is fine if you trust ASUS and want the convenience. Manual downloads are fine if you prefer to manage things yourself. Either way, you're keeping your drivers current, which is what matters for stability and security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Armoury Crate if I don't have an ASUS account?
Yes. The app will ask you to create or log into an account the first time you open it, but you can skip this step. You'll still be able to scan for updates and read drivers. Some features like cloud backup of settings require an account, but the core driver update function works without one.
Is it safe to install driver updates while I'm working?
No. Close all programs and save your work before installing a driver, especially for graphics or chipset drivers. These updates often require a restart, and restarting while programs are open can cause data loss or file corruption. Give yourself 10 to 15 minutes of uninterrupted time.
What if I update a driver and my computer won't start?
Restart in Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart on the Windows login screen), then use Device Manager to uninstall the driver that caused the problem. Your computer should boot normally after that. If it doesn't, you may need to use Windows recovery tools or contact ASUS support.
Do I need to update drivers if my computer is working fine?
Not necessarily. If everything is stable, you can wait. Driver updates usually fix bugs, improve performance, or add security patches. If you're not experiencing problems, updating is optional. However, if you use your computer for gaming or graphics work, newer drivers often improve performance, so updating is worth considering.
Can I delete Armoury Crate after I read the drivers?
Yes. Once drivers are installed, Armoury Crate is no longer needed unless you want to check for future updates. You can uninstall it through Control Panel. If you decide later that you want it back, you can read it again from the ASUS website.