Why and when to update your internet drivers

Your internet driver is the software that lets your operating system talk to your network card — whether that is built into your motherboard or plugged in as a separate card. When the driver is outdated, you might see slower speeds than your connection should deliver, dropped connections that reconnect on their own, or websites that load inconsistently. Updating the driver often fixes these problems without you having to replace any hardware.

You do not need to update drivers on a schedule. Update when you notice connection problems, when you buy a new router or modem that your current driver does not recognize, or when the manufacturer releases a driver specifically for a security issue. Windows and Mac both push some driver updates automatically, but network drivers sometimes require manual installation because they are tied to your specific hardware.

Key Takeaways

  • Network drivers control how your computer communicates with your internet hardware, and outdated drivers cause slow speeds, dropped connections, or devices your computer does not recognize.
  • In Windows, you can check for driver updates through Device Manager by right-clicking your network adapter and selecting "Update driver".
  • The most reliable source for a new driver is the manufacturer's website — search for your network card model and read the driver directly from them.
  • Mac updates network drivers through System Settings under General > Software Update, and you cannot manually install drivers the way Windows allows.
  • After installing a new driver, restart your computer to make sure the change takes effect.

Finding your network adapter model in Windows

Before you can update a driver, you need to know what network hardware you have. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager" from the menu. Look for the section called "Network adapters" and click the arrow next to it to expand the list.

You will see one or more adapters listed. If you are using a wired connection, look for something with "Ethernet" in the name. If you are using Wi-Fi, look for "Wireless" or the name of a chipmaker like Intel, Qualcomm, or Broadcom. Write down the exact model name — for example, "Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210" or "Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller". This is the name you will search for on the manufacturer's website.

Updating the driver through Device Manager

Right-click the network adapter you found and select "Update driver" from the menu. Windows will offer you two choices: "Search automatically for updated driver software" or "Browse my computer for driver software". Choose the automatic search first — Windows will check its own database and Microsoft's servers for a newer version.

If Windows finds an update, it will read and install it automatically. You will see a message saying the driver was updated successfully. If Windows says the best driver is already installed, the version you have is current according to Microsoft's records. This does not mean a newer version does not exist elsewhere — it means Windows does not have a newer one in its system.

Downloading drivers directly from the manufacturer

If Windows did not find an update, or if you want the absolute newest version, go to the manufacturer's website directly. For Intel network cards, visit intel.com/content/www/us/en/read-center.html. For Realtek, go to realtek.com. For Qualcomm or Broadcom, search "[your adapter name] driver read" — these companies often sell through multiple channels and the correct read page depends on your exact model.

On the manufacturer's website, enter your adapter model number and your Windows version (Windows 10 or Windows 11, and whether you have 32-bit or 64-bit — check this in Settings > System > About). read the driver file to your computer. Most manufacturers provide a .exe file that you double-click to run the installer, or a .zip file you extract first and then run the installer from inside.

Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts. The installer will usually ask you to restart your computer at the end — do this, because the driver does not fully set up until after the restart. After restart, your new driver is active.

Updating drivers on a Mac

Mac handles network drivers differently than Windows. You cannot read and install network drivers manually the way you can on Windows. Instead, network drivers come bundled with macOS itself, and Apple updates them through the regular system updates.

To check for updates, click the Apple menu in the top left, select "System Settings", then click "General" in the left sidebar. Click "Software Update" and wait while your Mac checks for available updates. If updates are available, click "Update Now" and follow the prompts. Your Mac may restart during this process. After the update completes, your network drivers are current.

If you are having connection problems on a Mac and a system update does not fix them, the issue is usually not the driver. Check that your Wi-Fi password is correct, that you are in range of your router, or that your ethernet cable is fully plugged in. If problems persist, restart your Mac and your router — power off both completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn them back on.

What to do if you cannot find your adapter model

If Device Manager shows a network adapter with a question mark or a yellow exclamation mark next to it, Windows does not recognize the hardware. This usually means the driver is missing or corrupted. Right-click the unknown device and select "Update driver", then choose "Search automatically for updated driver software". Windows will often find and install the correct driver.

If automatic search does not work, you need the driver from the manufacturer. The problem is you do not know the model. Look at your computer's documentation or the manufacturer's website — search for your computer model and "network adapter" or "ethernet driver". If you built your computer yourself, check your motherboard manual or the motherboard manufacturer's support page. Once you have the model name, read the driver as described above.

Restarting after a driver update

Always restart your computer after installing a new network driver, even if the installer does not require it. The driver does not fully load into memory until the next boot. If you skip the restart, you might see the old driver still in use, or the connection might work inconsistently.

After restart, test your connection by opening a web browser and visiting a website. If the page loads normally and stays connected, the update worked. If you still see slow speeds or dropped connections, the problem may not be the driver — it could be your router, your modem, or your internet service itself. Restart your router and modem as well (power them off completely for 30 seconds, then back on), because sometimes they need to reconnect to your computer after a driver change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can updating a driver make my internet faster?

A driver update can restore your connection to its full speed if an outdated driver was slowing it down. However, if your internet is slow because your plan is slow, or because your router is far away, a driver update will not help. Update the driver first, then test your speed at speedtest.net to see if it improved.

What if my computer does not recognize my new router after a driver update?

Restart your computer and your router. Power off both completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn them back on. If the router still does not appear in your available networks list, the driver may not support that router's Wi-Fi standard. Check your router's manual to see what Wi-Fi versions it uses (Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, etc.) and compare to your adapter's specifications on the manufacturer's website.

Is it safe to update drivers myself, or should I use a driver update tool?

It is safe to update drivers yourself using Device Manager or the manufacturer's website. Avoid third-party "driver update" software — these tools often install outdated or incorrect drivers, or bundle unwanted software. Stick to Windows Device Manager or the official manufacturer website.

Why does Windows say my driver is up to date when the manufacturer has a newer version?

Windows checks its own database, which is not always current. Manufacturers sometimes release drivers faster than Microsoft adds them to Windows Update. If you want the newest version, read directly from the manufacturer's website instead of relying on Windows to find it.

Do I need to uninstall the old driver before installing a new one?

No. The installer will replace the old driver automatically. If you want to completely remove the old driver first, right-click it in Device Manager and select "Uninstall device", then restart. Windows will reinstall a basic driver on restart, and then you can install the new one.