A driver is the tiny translator that lets a Windows PC talk to its hardware, and when that translation layer goes wrong you can experience anything from a flaky mouse to a blue screen—fortunately, updating drivers yourself is straightforward, effective, and often the fastest path to fixing hardware problems.
Background / Overview
Drivers are pieces of software that sit between Windows and individual devices—graphics cards, NICs, sound interfaces, printers and webcams. They expose hardware capabilities to the operating system and applications while enforcing the rules and interfaces hardware vendors define. Most modern Windows installations receive driver updates automatically through Windows Update, which is the safest default for the majority of users. That said, there are legitimate reasons to update a driver manually:
- You’re troubleshooting a malfunctioning device.
- You need a feature or performance improvement (common with GPUs and gaming).
- A vendor has issued a security fix for a specific driver.
- Windows Update still distributes a generic driver that lacks vendor features.
PCMag’s practical primer on driver management lays out those same points and recommends manual updates only when necessary—emphasizing that
if your hardware is working fine, avoid changing drivers needlessly.
Why manual driver updates matter (and when to avoid them)
The benefits of updating a driver
- Improved stability and bug fixes that address specific regressions or crashes.
- New features and performance improvements, especially in graphics and storage drivers.
- Security patches for vulnerabilities that affect kernel-mode or driver components.
- Add-on functionality provided by vendor control software (e.g., mouse button remaps, webcam tuning).
When you should not update
- If the device is working reliably, the risk of regression often outweighs the benefits.
- Avoid updating drivers on production machines without testing; enterprise fleets require staged rollouts and validation.
- Be cautious immediately after a large Windows feature or cumulative update—some vendor drivers will be optimized for the new Windows build and updating prematurely can cause incompatibilities.
These trade-offs are central to the PCMag guidance: manual updates solve problems but can also create them if done carelessly, so approach driver updates like any system change—back up and proceed deliberately.
Where to get drivers: ranked by safety
- Windows Update (recommended default): Microsoft vets, signs and distributes drivers targeted to your Windows build. It’s the safest route for general users.
- Device/OEM support pages (laptop or prebuilt manufacturers): Ideal for system-specific drivers (chipset, firmware, touchpad). These drivers are tuned and validated for your model.
- Component vendor sites (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, Realtek, Logitech): Best for the latest feature and performance releases (for GPUs, audio devices, peripherals). Use these when you need the newest features or game-ready optimizations.
- Microsoft Update Catalog: For manual downloads of Microsoft-distributed packages when Windows Update can’t reach them.
- Third-party driver updaters: Generally avoid. They often push unnecessary or incorrectly matched drivers, can bundle unwanted software, and have a poor reputation among support communities. Microsoft and many forum experts recommend obtaining drivers directly from vendors or Windows Update.
Safe, step‑by‑step methods to update drivers in Windows
Below are three commonly used and safe methods, ordered from least to most hands‑on.
1) Update drivers with Windows Update (the safest first step)
- Windows 11: Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. If Windows finds driver updates they will appear as available patches; choose Download & install.
- Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates. Keep in mind Windows 10 reached end-of-free-support on October 14, 2025; Extended Security Updates (ESU) exist for users who need more time to migrate. If you’re still on Windows 10, plan your transition or ESU enrollment accordingly.
Why this is recommended first: Microsoft matches driver packages against your exact Windows build and device metadata, reducing the risk of mismatched or unstable installs. For most peripherals, Windows Update provides stable, signed drivers that prioritize reliability over bleeding‑edge features.
2) Download and install drivers from the manufacturer
When Windows Update doesn't have the latest vendor features (custom macros, DPI controls, or game optimizations), download the driver or vendor control package directly:
- Find the product support/downloads page on the vendor or OEM website.
- Confirm the driver matches your Windows version and architecture (e.g., Windows 11 64-bit).
- Run the vendor installer as an administrator, then reboot when prompted.
Pros: Access to vendor features and the most recent fixes.
Cons: Vendor installers sometimes bundle optional software; read the installer screens carefully.
3) Manual install or force an INF via Device Manager (advanced but useful)
Device Manager gives you direct control when an installer isn’t available or you have a single INF/sys/cat package:
- Press Windows key, type Device Manager, and press Enter.
- Expand the appropriate device category and right‑click the device.
- Choose Update driver.
- Select Browse my computer for drivers and point to the folder with the vendor files. Microsoft’s official Device Manager guidance matches these steps exactly.
If Device Manager won’t accept a driver, you can:
- Uninstall the device (Device Manager → Uninstall device) and reboot to allow Windows to re-detect the hardware.
- Use pnputil to add/remove driver packages from the driver store: pnputil /add-driver and pnputil /delete-driver are Microsoft‑supported commands for managing driver packages. Use /uninstall or /force flags cautiously and always after backing up.
Advanced tips for power users and IT pros
Use Driver Verifier only on test systems
Driver Verifier is a Windows diagnostic tool that stresses kernel drivers and surfaces bad behavior. It can intentionally crash a machine to gather debugging information—do not run it on production or critical systems. Detailed guidance is on Microsoft’s developer pages.
Clean out stale drivers with pnputil
Old and duplicate driver packages can cause conflicts. Use pnputil /enum-drivers to list and pnputil /delete-driver to remove unwanted oem*.inf packages. This is particularly useful after uninstalling vendor software that leaves packages in the driver store.
Use Windows’ Roll Back feature when a new driver regresses
If a recent driver update breaks hardware, Device Manager → Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver restores the previously installed driver, offering a quick safety net.
Hide problematic Windows Update driver packages temporarily
If Windows keeps re-pushing a buggy driver, the Microsoft Show/Hide updates troubleshooter (wushowhide.diagcab) lets you block specific updates until a fixed candidate appears. This remains a practical temporary remedy for users stuck on an unstable driver deployment.
Testing, validation and rollback plan (practical checklist)
- Create a full system backup or a restore point.
- Note the current driver version (Device Manager → Properties → Driver tab).
- Download the candidate driver package to a known folder.
- Install, restart, and run hardware‑specific tests (games, benchmarks, or device‑specific apps).
- If instability appears, use Driver Rollback or restore your system image/restore point.
- If the driver installer fails to remove the old driver cleanly, use pnputil to enumerate and remove the offending package.
This methodical approach prevents unexpected regressions and preserves the ability to revert to a known-good state. The community guidance and Microsoft documentation cited above both stress the importance of backups and staged rollouts for reliability.
Common problems and how to resolve them
Windows can’t find the driver
If Device Manager’s automatic search fails, manually download the proper package from the vendor or the Microsoft Update Catalog and use the Browse my computer option in Device Manager.
New driver causes crashes or poor performance
- Roll back the driver via Device Manager.
- Uninstall the device and let Windows reinstall a basic driver.
- Boot into Safe Mode and remove the vendor software if necessary.
- If the problem persists, remove the driver package from the driver store (pnputil) and reinstall a vetted version.
Driver updates reapply themselves automatically
Windows Update can reinstall drivers it thinks are appropriate. If you need to block a specific package temporarily, use the Show/Hide updates troubleshooter to stop Windows from automatically reapplying a broken driver.
The risks of third‑party driver updaters (and why you should avoid them)
Third‑party driver updater utilities repeatedly appear in anecdotal support threads as sources of unnecessary or incorrect driver installs, bundled adware, or worse. Microsoft community responses, support forums, and security-conscious reviewers counsel caution: drivers should come from the device manufacturer or Windows Update. The consensus is that third‑party driver tools are usually unnecessary and sometimes harmful. PCMag’s and other reputable outlets’ guidance align here: you don't need a separate driver-updating app for routine updates—Windows Update plus vendor pages cover the legitimate use cases. If a third‑party tool is being considered, vet it thoroughly and prefer vendor‑provided updater utilities (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin, Intel Driver & Support Assistant) over general-purpose driver updaters.
Security, signing and trust
- Always prefer signed drivers distributed through Windows Update or the vendor website; Windows enforces driver signing to reduce the risk of malicious kernel code.
- Avoid drivers from unknown websites or shady download aggregators—drivers are privileged software; a malicious driver has the potential to compromise the entire system.
- If an update is labelled as a "preview" or "optional" (e.g., vendor beta GPU drivers), treat it as experimental; don’t deploy to production environments.
The Windows 10 support timeline and why it matters for drivers
Windows 10’s mainstream free support ended on October 14, 2025, and Microsoft encouraged migration to Windows 11 or enrollment in Extended Security Updates for continued security support. That change affects driver servicing: vendors and Microsoft will focus driver testing and distribution on currently supported platforms, so staying on an unsupported OS increases the likelihood of driver stagnation or incompatibilities over time. Plan upgrades or ESU enrollment if your hardware requires ongoing security patches.
A practical example: updating a GPU driver safely
- Check Windows Update for optional driver packages; install if it offers a vendor driver.
- If you need the latest game-ready driver, go to NVIDIA/AMD and download the correct package for your GPU and OS.
- Run the vendor installer as Admin, choose a clean install option if available (helps remove remnants of old drivers).
- Reboot and run a game, benchmark or stress test.
- If performance degrades or crashes appear, roll back through Device Manager or install the previous stable package from the vendor’s archive.
This hybrid approach leverages Windows Update for baseline safety while allowing vendor packages for performance needs—mirroring the best practices outlined in both PCMag’s guide and Microsoft documentation.
Final assessment: strengths, caveats and recommendations
Strengths
- Manual driver updates are effective and often necessary to resolve device-specific issues or access new features.
- Windows Update delivers vetted, signed drivers and should be the first stop for most users.
- Vendor installers are essential for hardware that requires additional control software or advanced features.
Risks and caveats
- Updating drivers can introduce regressions—always back up and be ready to roll back.
- Third‑party driver updaters are generally unnecessary and pose real risks; vendor or Microsoft-sourced drivers are the safe path.
- On older or unsupported OS versions (e.g., Windows 10 after October 14, 2025), driver availability and vendor focus will narrow; plan upgrades or ESU enrollment.
Recommendations (practical)
- Start with Windows Update for routine driver maintenance.
- Use vendor sites for feature or performance-driven updates (GPU, peripherals).
- Avoid third‑party driver updaters; if you must use a tool, limit it to reputable vendors and test on non-critical machines first.
- Maintain a rollback and backup plan: create a restore point, note current driver versions, and keep older driver installers available.
- For IT teams, stage updates and automate rollback procedures; treat driver updates as part of standard patch validation.
Windows drivers are small but powerful pieces of software; treating them with respect—updating only when necessary, using trusted sources, and keeping a rollback plan—lets you solve hardware problems without turning maintenance into a gamble. The methods above combine vendor best practice with Windows’ built‑in tools to give you the cleanest, safest path to functional hardware and stable systems.
Source: PCMag UK
Buggy Hardware? You Can Manually Update Your Drivers to Fix the Problem