How to update graphics driver on Windows 11

Introduction

In this guide, we will cover a number of ways to update graphics drivers (and other drivers) on Windows 11 – both manually and automatically with the help of third-party software like Driver Booster. Keeping drivers updated is a crucial task that should be on the list of each user working on any Windows version. Graphics drivers, which are especially important for ensuring better and flawless performance in video games, thus deserve a significant reason for getting updated. Although our guide is dedicated specifically to updating graphics drivers, some presented instructions can be equally used for keeping other drivers up-to-date as well. The guidelines are also quite similar to other Windows versions with only slight differences, so feel free to use them there as well. With that said, let’s explore the alternatives to update your drivers down below.

1. Use an automatic third-party utility

Updating each driver manually can be time- and energy-consuming. If you want to update drivers faster in bulk, we recommend using a special utility called Driver Booster from IObit. The program is equipped and always updated with broad databases of drivers for all Windows devices, including display adapters. You can download it using the button below.

Driver Booster start screen

Driver Booster scan results

Driver Booster tools section

2. Update drivers using Device Manager

This method is very popular and does not take a lot of time to perform. In Device Manager, you can find a list of all available hardware and drivers installed for it. There, you can easily task Windows to search for automatic updates on the web and install them if any are found. The only downside of this method is that sometimes Windows does not detect new drivers by saying this latest driver version is already installed. This can be true, however, it is also possible that there are new or alternative drivers that can often be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. Despite this, let’s see if there are any updates to be installed through Device Manager in your case:

1. Right-click on the Windows 11 icon and select Device Manager.
2. Find and expand Display adapters.
3. Decide which adapter you want to update (in case you have two), right-click on it, and select Update Driver. Then choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Windows will start searching for available updates and automatically install them on your computer.

3. Update drivers using Windows settings

Sometimes new updates may appear in Windows settings and be offered for installation as “optional updates”. This is not the most ideal method since many new updates might not appear there immediately or ever at all. To check whether there are any in Windows settings:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu button at the bottom taskbar of your desktop and choose Settings. You can also press Windows Key + I buttons instead.
2. Navigate to Windows Update and click Advanced options.
3. Then scroll down a bit and select Optional updates.
4. Click on the tab with Driver updates to expand it. If any new updates are available for your display adapter or other devices, select them and click Download & Install.
5. To finish the installation of updates, Windows may ask you to restart your PC. Do so if required by clicking Restart now.

As mentioned, it may be hard to identify whether there are any new drivers that can be installed using the above methods. That’s why a third-party utility like Driver Booster may come in handy. Once launched, it will scan your current state of devices, and make a summary of what drivers can be updated or even installed in case of an absence. This will make updating your drivers faster and easier.

4. Update drivers using manufacturers’ websites

Using a manufacturer’s website is very convenient and allows you to choose from a broader library of new and older driver versions. Though, it is important to do it only from official websites to avoid catching malware disguised as driver updaters. Before searching for drivers on your manufacturer’s website, it is first essential to know what is your graphics card manufacturer. The most common are Nvidia, Intel, and AMD. If you do not know what your manufacturer is, you can check it in Device Manager in Display adapters.

To download drivers for Nvidia:

1. Go to Nvidia’s Driver Download page.
2. Select your graphics card model, operating system, and type of driver. We recommend picking Game Ready Driver (GRD) if you are going to play video games.
3. Once the right driver is found, click Download and wait until it ends.
4. Then, open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. During the installation setup, you may also be offered to install GeForce Experience. This is a cool tool by Nvidia, which offers many gaming features and also allows you to download new driver updates in a more convenient way. Install it if you feel like you need it.
6. Wait until the driver gets installed and restart your computer.

To download drivers for Intel:

1. Go to this Intel page in order to download Intel® Driver & Support Assistant. This is an official Intel utility that helps identify your graphics card and download updates for it.
2. Click on Download now to download it.
3. Open the downloaded file and install the utility by following the on-screen instructions.
4. Once done, open the Intel® Driver & Support Assistant application.
5. Go to Support on the left pane and choose Download Graphics Driver.
6. This will redirect you to the main screen of the Intel webpage. Click on the Get started button.
7. You will now see a list of all drivers that are available to you. Choose which one you need or simply click Download all to download all of them.
8. After the download is finished, click Install and follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation.

To download drivers for AMD:

1. Go to AMD Drivers website.
2. Select your graphics card model and click Submit.
3. Choose the necessary driver for your operating system and click Download.
4. Open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
5. During the installation setup, you may also be offered to install Radeon Software. This is a useful tool by AMD, which allows you to maintain your graphics card with new updates in a more convenient way. Install it if you feel like you need it.
6. Wait until the driver gets installed and restart your computer.

5. What if the new version caused bugs and problems in the system

Rarely, but some users may start experiencing problems after installing a new driver on their system. For instance, the game that you’ve been playing may start crashing at times and lead to a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) screen. Although new drivers get tested before their release, a few of them still turn out faulty and bring worse user experience compared to previously installed versions. This can also be if you installed an incompatible driver or driver labeled under “Beta” testing. If this happened, and you do not know how to undo the installation, do not worry, there is an easy way to roll back the driver to its previous version right on Windows. Here is how:

1. Right-click on the Windows 11 icon and select Device Manager.
2. Find and expand Display adapters.
3. Choose which adapter was updated and is now causing problems. Right-click on it, and select Properties. Then go to the Driver tab and click on Roll back driver.
4. Confirm the action and wait until Windows roll back the driver its previous version.

Summary

Making sure your drivers are updated is key to ensuring the proper and better operation of hardware components (like graphics cards). Sometimes installing new drivers may add support for new features and boost your FPS in various games. However, as mentioned above, in rarer cases there are exceptions when drivers may lead to the opposite effect and downgrade your PC performance. We hope our guide was useful, and you managed to update your drivers successfully, and only for better improvements.