How to Update Graphics Drivers on Windows (2025 Guide)

Your computer’s graphics card is the unsung hero behind crisp video playback, stunning game visuals, and smooth creative work. But the hardware itself is only half the story. The software that controls it—the graphics driver—is what truly unlocks its potential. An outdated driver can lead to screen tearing, game crashes, slow performance, and a host of other frustrating issues.

Keeping your graphics driver updated is one of the most effective maintenance tasks you can perform to ensure your PC runs at its best. This guide will walk you through every step of the process. We’ll cover how to identify your graphics card, use Windows Update, and manually install drivers directly from the manufacturer for peak performance.

This comprehensive guide will cover:

• Why updating your graphics driver is so important.
• How to identify which graphics card you have.
• The simple method: Using Windows Update.
• The best method: Manually installing drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
• How to perform a clean installation for troubleshooting.
• Solutions to common driver update problems.

Why Should You Update Your Graphics Drivers?

If your computer seems to be working fine, you might wonder why you should bother updating your drivers. Think of a driver as an instruction manual that tells your operating system (Windows) how to communicate with a piece of hardware (your graphics card). When manufacturers release new drivers, they’re providing an updated manual with better instructions.

Here are the key benefits of keeping your drivers current:

• Performance Boosts: Driver updates often include significant performance optimizations, especially for new video games and creative software. Game developers work closely with NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel to release “Game Ready” drivers that can increase frame rates and reduce stuttering.
• Bug Fixes: Are you experiencing strange visual glitches, screen flickering, or application crashes? An outdated driver is a common culprit. New updates patch these bugs and improve overall system stability.
• New Features: Manufacturers sometimes roll out new features through driver updates. This can include new control panel settings, support for the latest display technologies, or enhancements like NVIDIA’s DLSS or AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).
• Security Patches: In rare cases, vulnerabilities can be found in driver software. Updates ensure these security holes are patched, keeping your system safe.

Step 1: Identify Your Graphics Card

Before you can download the right driver, you need to know exactly what graphics card is inside your PC. If you already know you have an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 or an AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, you can skip to the next section. For everyone else, here are two easy ways to find out.

Using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag)

This built-in Windows tool is the quickest way to get the information you need.

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type dxdiag and press Enter.
3. A window will appear, gathering information about your system. If it asks to check if your drivers are digitally signed, click Yes.
4. Once the tool loads, click on the Display tab at the top.
5. Look for the Name field in the “Device” section. This will show you the exact model of your graphics card (e.g., “NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060” or “AMD Radeon RX 6600”).
6. Note the manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and the specific model name.

Using the Task Manager

Another simple method is to use the Windows Task Manager.

1. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. If you see a simple view, click More details at the bottom.
3. Go to the Performance tab.
4. On the left-hand menu, find and click on GPU. The name of your graphics card will be displayed in the top-right corner.

Method 1: The Easy Way (Windows Update)

For basic use, Windows Update does a decent job of providing stable graphics drivers. While these are often not the absolute latest versions available, they are certified by Microsoft and are generally reliable. This is a good hands-off approach if you don’t play demanding games.

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Go to Update & Security (on Windows 10) or Windows Update (on Windows 11).
3. Click Check for updates. Windows will search for new system and driver updates.
4. If a new graphics driver is found, it will be downloaded and installed automatically. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

To check for more drivers, look for an Optional updates or Advanced options > Optional updates link. Graphics drivers sometimes appear here.

Limitation: The drivers from Windows Update can be several months behind the ones released directly by the manufacturer. For gamers and creative professionals, this is not the recommended method.

Method 2: The Best Way (Directly from the Manufacturer)

For the best performance, latest features, and most recent bug fixes, you should always get your drivers directly from the source. This ensures you have the most optimized software for your hardware.

For NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Cards

NVIDIA offers two ways to get drivers: through their GeForce Experience software or by manual download.

Option A: Using NVIDIA GeForce Experience
GeForce Experience is a companion application that manages your drivers, optimizes game settings, and provides other features like in-game recording.

1. If you don’t have it, download and install GeForce Experience from the official NVIDIA website.
2. Open the application and log in or create an account.
3. Click on the Drivers tab in the top-left corner.
4. Click the Check for Updates button.
5. If a new driver is available, you will see a green Download button. Click it.
6. Once the download is complete, you will have two choices: Express Installation or Custom Installation.
7. • Express Installation is recommended for most users. It installs the new driver with default settings.
   • Custom Installation is for advanced users. It allows you to select which components to install and offers a crucial option: Perform a clean installation. This removes all old NVIDIA profiles and settings, which can solve stubborn issues.

Option B: Manual Download from the NVIDIA Website
If you prefer not to use GeForce Experience, you can download the driver directly.

1. Go to the NVIDIA Driver Downloads page.
2. Use the dropdown menus to select your Product Type (GeForce), Product Series (e.g., GeForce RTX 40 Series), Product (e.g., GeForce RTX 4070), and Operating System (Windows 10 or 11).
3. Click Search.
4. The website will find the latest driver. Click Download to get the installer file.
5. Run the downloaded .exe file and follow the on-screen instructions, choosing either Express or Custom installation.

For AMD Radeon Graphics Cards

AMD also provides an all-in-one software suite to manage drivers and settings.

1. Go to the AMD Drivers and Support page.
2. The site offers an Auto-Detect and Install tool that can scan your system and find the right driver for you. This is the easiest option. Download and run this tool.
3. Alternatively, you can find your driver manually by selecting your graphics card model from the list (e.g., Graphics > AMD Radeon RX 7000 Series > AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT).
4. Download the latest version of AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
5. Run the downloaded installer. It will guide you through the update process. During installation, it will remove the old drivers and install the new ones. A restart is usually required.

For Intel Graphics (Integrated and Arc)

Many laptops and desktops use Intel’s integrated graphics. Intel has also entered the dedicated graphics market with its Arc series.

1. Go to the Intel Drivers & Support Assistant page.
2. Download and run the Intel Driver & Support Assistant (DSA) tool.
3. This tool will scan your system in the background and use your web browser to display a list of available driver updates for your Intel hardware, including graphics.
4. From the web interface, you can download and install any recommended updates.

Performing a “Clean” Installation for Troubleshooting

If you’re updating your driver to fix a problem, or if you’re switching from an AMD card to an NVIDIA card (or vice-versa), a standard installation might leave behind conflicting files. A “clean” installation removes all traces of old drivers before installing the new ones.

The easiest way is to use the option built into the NVIDIA installer (Custom > Perform a clean installation). However, for a truly deep clean, the community standard is a tool called Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).

Warning: This is an advanced tool. Follow the instructions carefully.

1. Download the latest versions of both DDU and the new graphics driver you want to install.
2. Disconnect your PC from the internet. This is a critical step to prevent Windows from automatically installing a generic driver after you’ve removed the old one.
3. Run the DDU application. It will recommend that you restart your computer in Safe Mode. Agree and let it restart.
4. Once in Safe Mode, DDU will launch again.
5. On the right side, select the Device type (GPU) and the manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
6. Click the Clean and restart button. DDU will wipe all driver files, registry entries, and folders, then reboot your PC.
7. Once your PC is back in normal Windows mode (and still disconnected from the internet), run the new graphics driver installer you downloaded earlier.
8. After the installation is complete, you can reconnect to the internet.

Troubleshooting Common Driver Update Issues

• Problem: The screen goes black during installation.
• • Solution: This is normal. During the update, the display driver is temporarily disabled and then re-enabled. Wait a minute or two. If the screen doesn’t come back, a hard reboot is usually necessary. The installation will typically resume or will have already completed.
• Problem: The installer says it “cannot find compatible graphics hardware.”
• • Solution: You have downloaded the wrong driver for your graphics card. Double-check your GPU model using dxdiag and make sure you’ve selected the correct options on the manufacturer’s website (e.g., laptop vs. desktop versions).
• Problem: After updating, my games run worse or crash.
• • Solution: While rare, a new driver can sometimes introduce new bugs. Your best bet is to roll back to the previous, stable version. You can do this by using DDU to perform a clean uninstall, then downloading and installing an older driver version from the manufacturer’s website.

Keeping your graphics drivers updated is a simple yet powerful way to maintain your PC’s health and performance. By following these steps, you can ensure you’re getting the most out of your hardware, whether you’re battling for victory in the latest game or creating your next masterpiece.