The safest way to get Windows 11 drivers is through Windows Update, including its Optional updates page, followed by your PC or laptop manufacturer's support site or app. For graphics cards, use the driver package from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel. Device Manager lets you update, roll back or reinstall a single driver when something stops working.
This guide explains where each type of driver should come from, how to install it, and how to undo a driver update that causes problems. It also explains why third-party "driver updater" tools are best avoided.
| Driver type | Best source | How often to check |
|---|---|---|
| Most devices (Wi-Fi, audio, USB, printers) | Windows Update, then Optional updates | Automatic; check optional updates when a device misbehaves |
| Laptop or branded PC (chipset, BIOS/UEFI, touchpad, hotkeys) | Manufacturer support page or app (HP, Dell, Lenovo and others) | Every few months, or when a fix is listed |
| Graphics card (GPU) | NVIDIA, AMD or Intel driver download | When a new game or app needs it, or a bug is fixed |
| Self-built desktop (chipset, LAN, audio) | Motherboard maker's support page; AMD or Intel for chipset | After building, then as needed |
| Problem driver | Device Manager: Roll Back Driver or Uninstall device | Only when something breaks |
What are drivers and does Windows 11 install them automatically?
A driver is a small piece of software that lets Windows talk to a piece of hardware, such as a Wi-Fi card, printer or graphics card. Windows 11 installs most drivers automatically through Windows Update, using packages that hardware makers submit to Microsoft. For most people, most hardware works without any manual driver installation at all.
Drivers come in two broad kinds. Kernel-mode drivers run inside the core of Windows and can crash the whole system if they are faulty, which is why Microsoft requires them to be digitally signed on 64-bit Windows. User-mode drivers, used for many printers and scanners, run in a more isolated way.
Windows also keeps a local driver store, a protected library of driver packages it has used before. When you plug in a device, Windows checks the store first, then Windows Update.
How do I install optional driver updates in Windows 11?
Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, expand Driver updates, tick the drivers you want and select Download & install. Optional drivers are not installed automatically, so this page is worth checking when a device misbehaves or a feature is missing.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings and select Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates first and install anything waiting.
- Select Advanced options. Make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft products is turned on.
- Under Additional options, select Optional updates.
- Expand Driver updates and tick only the drivers for hardware you are having trouble with.
- Select Download & install, then restart the PC.
Microsoft's own guide to getting recommended and updated hardware drivers covers the same steps. If the Driver updates section is missing, there is simply nothing newer for your hardware.
What we commonly see: people install every optional driver at once, and then cannot tell which one caused a new problem. Install only what you need, one or two at a time, so that a rollback is simple.
How do I update a driver in Device Manager?
Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager. Expand the category, right-click the device and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for drivers, or Browse my computer for drivers if you have downloaded a driver package from the manufacturer that includes an .inf file.
- Right-click Start (or press Windows key + X) and select Device Manager.
- Look for devices with a yellow warning triangle. These have a missing or failed driver.
- Right-click the device and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers. If Windows reports that the best driver is already installed, you can select Search for updated drivers on Windows Update, which opens the Windows Update page.
- To install a downloaded driver, select Browse my computer for drivers and point it at the extracted folder.
- Restart if prompted.
Advanced nuance: "the best drivers for your device are already installed" only means Windows found nothing newer in its own store and catalogue. It does not mean the manufacturer has nothing newer. That message is your cue to check the PC maker's or GPU maker's website.
Where should I download graphics card drivers?
Download graphics drivers directly from the chip maker: NVIDIA, AMD or Intel. Each offers an auto-detect tool or a manual search by model on its official website. Windows Update supplies a working GPU driver, but it is often older than the vendor's latest release, which carries game fixes and performance updates.
- NVIDIA: the NVIDIA app, which replaced GeForce Experience, or the manual search on NVIDIA's driver download page.
- AMD: AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, which detects your Radeon graphics and offers updates.
- Intel: the Intel Driver & Support Assistant for Intel Arc and integrated graphics.
On laptops, especially those with switchable graphics, check the manufacturer's page as well. Some laptop makers customise graphics drivers for their hardware, and the generic driver may not support every feature.
If a new GPU driver causes a blank or flickering screen, our Windows 11 black screen guide explains how to reset the graphics driver and roll back safely.
Should I use HP, Dell or Lenovo support apps for drivers?
Yes, for branded PCs and laptops the manufacturer's own tool is the best source of chipset, BIOS/UEFI, power management, touchpad and hotkey drivers. HP Support Assistant, Dell SupportAssist and Lenovo Vantage check your exact model and offer tested updates. You can also enter your serial number or service tag on the maker's support website instead.
These tools matter most for firmware. BIOS and UEFI updates rarely arrive through Windows Update on every model, and they often fix sleep, battery and stability problems that no driver can.
For a self-built desktop, use the motherboard maker's support page for your exact board, and AMD's or Intel's site for chipset drivers. Install the chipset driver first after a fresh install, then network, audio and graphics.
Cause and effect: a missing chipset driver often shows up as other problems, such as USB devices dropping out, poor power management or unknown devices in Device Manager. Installing the chipset package first lets Windows identify the rest correctly.
How do I roll back a driver in Windows 11?
Open Device Manager, right-click the device and select Properties. On the Driver tab, select Roll Back Driver, pick a reason, then select Yes and restart. This restores the previous driver version. If the button is greyed out, Windows has no earlier version stored for that device.
When rollback is not available, use Uninstall device instead. Right-click the device in Device Manager, select Uninstall device, confirm, then restart. Windows reinstalls a driver automatically on the next start.
The steps in Microsoft's Device Manager driver guide match these. Rolling back requires an administrator account.
If Windows Update keeps reinstalling a driver you have rolled back, install the version you want from the manufacturer and avoid ticking that driver on the Optional updates page.
How do I check a driver's version and digital signature?
In Device Manager, right-click the device, select Properties and open the Driver tab. It shows the Driver Provider, Driver Date, Driver Version and Digital Signer. A genuine driver lists a recognisable signer, such as Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher, rather than nothing at all.
For a full list of third-party driver packages in the driver store, open Terminal (Admin) and run:
pnputil /enum-drivers
The same tool can export every installed third-party driver to a folder before a reinstall, which saves hunting for downloads later:
pnputil /export-driver * C:\DriverBackup
Microsoft's PnPUtil command reference lists the other options. Create the target folder first, and keep the backup on a separate drive.
Are third-party driver updater tools safe?
Third-party driver updaters are not recommended. They often install generic or mismatched drivers, push paid upgrades or bundle extra software, and some flag drivers as "outdated" when nothing is wrong. Windows Update, your PC maker's tool and your GPU vendor already cover every driver a typical Windows 11 PC needs, at no cost.
The same caution applies to driver packs from forums and file-sharing sites. A driver runs with deep access to Windows, so only install drivers from Microsoft, the hardware maker or the PC manufacturer.
What we commonly see: PCs where a driver updater has replaced a laptop's tuned audio or touchpad driver with a generic one. The fix is to roll back in Device Manager, then reinstall the version from the laptop maker's support page.
Driver delivery through Windows Update works on any edition, but a properly activated system is the cleanest base to troubleshoot from. If you are reinstalling Windows to clear long-running driver problems, our Windows 11 Pro install and activation guide walks through a clean setup, and a genuine Windows 11 Pro licence key or Windows 11 Home key activates it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install drivers after installing Windows 11?
Usually only a few. Windows 11 installs most drivers through Windows Update within the first hour online. After setup, run Check for updates a couple of times, look at Optional updates, then add your GPU driver and any chipset or firmware updates from the PC or motherboard maker.
Why does Device Manager say the best driver is already installed?
That message means Windows found nothing newer in its local driver store or on Windows Update. It does not check manufacturer websites. If you suspect an old driver is causing problems, download the latest version for your exact model from the hardware maker, then install it.
Can a driver update stop Windows from starting?
It can, mainly with storage, chipset or graphics drivers. If Windows fails to start after a driver update, boot into Safe Mode from the Windows Recovery Environment, then roll back or uninstall the driver in Device Manager. Installing one driver at a time makes the culprit easy to find.
Should I update my BIOS or UEFI firmware?
Update firmware when the manufacturer lists a fix for a problem you have, or a security update. Use only the PC or motherboard maker's official tool or download, keep a laptop plugged in throughout, and never interrupt the process. If your PC is stable and no fix applies, waiting is reasonable.
How do I find drivers for an unknown device?
In Device Manager, open the unknown device's Properties, go to the Details tab and select Hardware Ids. The VEN and DEV values identify the maker and model. Search those on the hardware or PC maker's site, and check Optional updates in Windows Update first.
Related guides
- Windows 11 black screen: how to fix it
- How to check your Windows 11 version and update to 26H2
- Windows 11 Pro: download, install and activate
- Fix activation error 0x803FA067 after a hardware change
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Get recommended and updated hardware drivers | External | Microsoft's optional driver update steps |
| Update drivers through Device Manager | External | Official update, rollback and reinstall steps |
| PnPUtil command syntax | External | Listing and backing up installed drivers |
| NVIDIA driver downloads | External | Official GeForce driver search |
| Windows 11 black screen fix | Internal | Recovering from a bad graphics driver |
| Windows 11 Pro install and activation guide | Internal | Clean reinstall when drivers are beyond repair |
| Windows 11 Pro licence key | Internal | Genuine activation for a fresh install |
| Windows 11 Home key | Internal | Genuine activation for home PCs |