What system drivers are and why you might need to check them
A driver is software that lets your operating system talk to a piece of hardware — your printer, graphics card, network adapter, or keyboard. When something isn't working right, or when you're troubleshooting a problem, you often need to see which drivers your computer has installed and whether they're up to date.
Checking your drivers is straightforward. The steps depend on whether you use Windows or Mac, and which piece of hardware you're curious about. You don't need special tools or technical knowledge — your operating system shows you this information in a built-in menu.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, you can see all your drivers by opening Device Manager, which lists every piece of hardware and shows whether drivers are working or need attention.
- On Mac, driver information is less visible to users because Apple bundles most drivers into the operating system itself, but you can still check specific hardware in System Report.
- A yellow exclamation mark or red X in Device Manager means a driver is missing or broken and needs to be installed or updated.
- Updating drivers usually means downloading the latest version from the manufacturer's website, not from a third-party tool or pop-up ad.
How to check drivers on Windows using Device Manager
Device Manager is the built-in Windows tool that shows every piece of hardware connected to your computer and the status of its driver. To open it, right-click the Start button (the Windows logo in the lower left), then select Device Manager from the menu. On older Windows versions, you can also search for "Device Manager" in the search box.
Once Device Manager opens, you'll see a list of hardware categories like "Display adapters," "Network adapters," "Sound, video and game controllers," and "Universal Serial Bus controllers." Click the arrow next to any category to expand it and see the specific devices inside. If a device has a yellow exclamation mark or a red X next to its name, that means the driver is missing, outdated, or not working correctly.
To see more details about a specific device, right-click it and select Properties. The window that opens shows the driver version, the date it was installed, and sometimes a status message explaining what's wrong. This is the information you'll need if you decide to update or reinstall the driver.
How to check drivers on Mac
Mac handles drivers differently than Windows. Apple includes most drivers as part of the operating system, so you won't see a separate "drivers" list the way you do in Windows. However, you can still check the status of specific hardware.
Click the Apple menu in the upper left, then select About This Mac. In the window that opens, click the System Report button. This shows detailed information about your Mac's hardware. On the left side, you'll see categories like "Graphics/Displays," "Network," "USB," and "Bluetooth." Click any category to see the devices connected and their current status.
If you're having trouble with a specific piece of hardware on Mac, the System Report usually tells you whether the device is recognized and working. If it's not showing up at all, the problem is often a hardware connection issue rather than a missing driver.
What to do if you find a driver problem
If Device Manager shows a yellow exclamation mark or red X, or if a device isn't working, you have a few options. The first is to right-click the device in Device Manager and select Update driver. Windows will search for a newer version online. This works for many common devices like printers and network adapters.
If Windows can't find an update, or if the problem persists, go to the manufacturer's website directly. Search for your device model and look for a "Drivers" or "Support" section. read the latest driver for your operating system version (Windows 10, Windows 11, etc.) and run the installer. This is more reliable than using third-party driver update tools, which often bundle unwanted software.
After installing a new driver, restart your computer. Most driver updates require a restart to take effect. Once your computer restarts, check Device Manager again to confirm the yellow mark is gone and the device shows as working properly.
Understanding driver version numbers and dates
When you look at driver properties, you'll see a version number and an installation date. Version numbers usually look like "27.21.14.5219" or similar — they don't follow a standard format because each manufacturer uses their own numbering system. A higher number generally means a newer version, but the only way to be sure is to check the manufacturer's website.
The installation date tells you when that particular driver version was installed on your computer, not when it was released. A driver from two years ago might still be current if the manufacturer hasn't released anything newer. Check the manufacturer's website to see if a more recent version is available.
When you don't need to update drivers
Not every outdated driver needs updating. If a device is working fine — your printer prints, your monitor displays correctly, your keyboard types — there's no urgent reason to update. Driver updates sometimes introduce new problems, so the safest approach is to update only when something isn't working or when the manufacturer specifically recommends it for security reasons.
The exception is security updates. If a manufacturer releases a driver update that fixes a security vulnerability, it's worth installing even if the device is working fine. Check the manufacturer's website or your computer's update settings to see if any security-related driver updates are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a driver and firmware?
A driver is software that runs on your computer and tells the operating system how to use a device. Firmware is software stored on the device itself. Most of the time you only need to update drivers, but some devices like printers or routers occasionally need firmware updates too. Check the manufacturer's website to see if either is available.
Can a bad driver cause my computer to crash or run slowly?
Yes. A missing or corrupted driver can cause crashes, freezes, or performance problems. If your computer started acting up after you connected new hardware, check Device Manager to see if that device has a driver problem. Updating or reinstalling the driver often fixes the issue.
Is it safe to use automatic driver update tools?
Many third-party driver update tools bundle extra software you don't want, or install drivers that aren't the most recent version. The safest approach is to update drivers through Windows Update, Device Manager's built-in update feature, or by downloading directly from the manufacturer's website.
Why does my device show in Device Manager but isn't working?
A device can appear in Device Manager but still have a driver problem. Look for a yellow exclamation mark or red X. If you don't see one but the device still isn't working, try right-clicking it and selecting "Uninstall device," then restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.
Do I need to check drivers on a new computer?
New computers usually come with all necessary drivers already installed. However, it's worth checking Device Manager once to make sure nothing shows a yellow mark. If everything looks fine, you can wait until you add new hardware or experience a problem before checking again.