Where to find your installed drivers
Your computer keeps a list of every driver it has installed, and you can see that list in about two minutes without downloading anything. A driver is software that lets Windows or Mac talk to your hardware — your printer, graphics card, network adapter, and dozens of other parts. Knowing what drivers you have helps you spot outdated ones that might be slowing things down or causing crashes.
The fastest way depends on whether you use Windows or Mac. Both operating systems have a built-in tool that shows you everything installed right now, and you do not need administrator permission to look. The information is already on your computer; you are just opening the door to see it.
Key Takeaways
- Windows Device Manager shows every driver on your computer in one place, accessible by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager.
- Mac users can find driver information in System Information, which opens from the Apple menu under About This Mac.
- Drivers with a yellow exclamation mark or question mark in Windows need attention — they are either missing or not working correctly.
- You can see the driver version and manufacturer for each device, which tells you whether an update is available.
- Checking drivers takes five minutes and requires no special tools or downloads.
Finding drivers in Windows using Device Manager
Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button in the bottom left corner and selecting Device Manager from the menu. If you do not see that option, type "Device Manager" into the search box next to the Start button and click the result.
Device Manager opens as a window showing categories like Display adapters, Network adapters, and Sound, video and game controllers. Click the arrow or plus sign next to any category to expand it and see the specific devices. Each device listed is one piece of hardware, and each one has a driver controlling it. If a driver is working normally, the device name appears with no symbol. If you see a yellow exclamation mark or a question mark, that driver has a problem — it is either missing, outdated, or conflicting with something else.
To see details about a specific driver, right-click the device name and select Properties. A window opens showing the driver version, manufacturer, and date. This tells you whether the driver is current or old enough that an update might help. Write down the version number if you want to check the manufacturer's website later for a newer one.
Finding drivers on a Mac
Mac computers handle drivers differently than Windows — most drivers are built into the operating system and update automatically when you run Software Update. You do not usually see a separate list the way you do in Windows. However, you can still see what hardware is connected and what software is running it.
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select About This Mac. Click the System Report button. A window opens showing your hardware. Click Hardware on the left side, then look at the list of devices — this shows what your Mac recognizes. For more detail about drivers and software, click Software on the left, then Extensions. This shows any third-party drivers or kernel extensions that have been added beyond what came with the system.
Most Mac drivers come from the manufacturer of the hardware itself — your printer company, graphics card maker, or external device vendor. If you installed something like a printer or external hard drive, the driver for it usually came with that device or downloaded automatically from the manufacturer.
What to do if you find a driver with a problem
A yellow exclamation mark or question mark in Windows Device Manager means the driver is not working. Right-click the device and select Update driver. Windows will search for a newer version online. If it finds one, it installs automatically. If it does not find anything, the driver may be so old that the manufacturer no longer supports it, or the hardware itself may be failing.
If updating does not fix it, try uninstalling the driver and restarting your computer. Windows will reinstall a basic version automatically on restart. This often clears out conflicts that prevent the device from working. Right-click the device, select Uninstall device, check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver software for this device," and click Uninstall. Restart when prompted.
On a Mac, if you installed a third-party driver and it is causing problems, go to System Settings, then General, then Extensions. Find the driver in the list and click the minus button to remove it. Restart your Mac. If the hardware still does not work, visit the manufacturer's website to see whether they have released a newer driver or whether the hardware is compatible with your version of macOS.
Checking driver dates to spot outdated ones
Drivers that are several years old can cause slowdowns, crashes, or compatibility problems with newer software. In Windows Device Manager, right-click a device and select Properties. Look at the Driver tab. The date shown is when that driver version was released. If it is more than two years old, a newer version probably exists.
You do not have to update every old driver — some hardware works fine with old drivers. But graphics drivers, network drivers, and chipset drivers should usually stay current because they affect overall system performance. If you see a driver from five or more years ago, that is worth updating.
To find a newer driver, note the device name and manufacturer from the Properties window. Visit the manufacturer's website directly — do not read from random sites. Search for your device model and your Windows version (Windows 10, Windows 11, etc.). read the driver from the official site and run the installer. Restart your computer when it finishes.
Understanding driver categories in Device Manager
Device Manager groups drivers into categories to make them easier to find. Here are the ones that matter most for computer performance: Display adapters control your graphics and screen output — outdated ones can cause lag or crashes in games and video. Network adapters handle your internet connection — old drivers here can cause slow speeds or disconnects. Sound, video and game controllers includes audio devices and sometimes gaming peripherals. Storage controllers manage your hard drive or solid-state drive — these rarely need updating but are worth checking if you have storage problems.
Other categories like Mice and other pointing devices, Keyboards, and USB controllers usually work fine with old drivers because they do straightforward jobs. The categories that affect speed and stability most are Display adapters and Network adapters, so start there if you want to prioritize updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see what drivers I have without opening Device Manager?
Yes. In Windows, type "System Information" into the search box next to the Start button and open it. Click Hardware Resources on the left, then Conflicts/Sharing. This shows some driver information, though Device Manager is more complete. On Mac, System Report shows connected hardware but not detailed driver versions the way Windows does.
What if I see a driver I do not recognize?
Write down the exact name and search for it online. Most drivers are for standard hardware like network cards, sound cards, or chipsets that came with your computer. If it is something you did not install yourself, it probably came with your motherboard or a device you connected. The manufacturer name in the Properties window usually tells you what it is.
Do I need to update all my drivers at once?
No. Update drivers one at a time so you can tell which one causes a problem if something breaks. Start with graphics and network drivers since those affect performance most. Restart your computer after each update. If your computer runs better, keep the update. If something stops working, you know which driver caused it.
Will checking my drivers delete anything?
No. Looking at Device Manager or System Information only shows you what is installed — it does not change anything. You can safely open these tools and browse without worrying about accidentally deleting files or drivers.
What if Device Manager shows a device with no driver at all?
This usually means Windows has not found the right driver yet, or the hardware is not compatible with your Windows version. Right-click the device and select Update driver. If Windows cannot find one automatically, visit the hardware manufacturer's website and read the driver for your specific Windows version. Run the installer and restart.