Windows 11 updates most PC drivers through Windows Update, while optional drivers appear under Advanced options > Optional updates.
Audio crackles, Wi-Fi drops, or a glitchy display can make knowing how to update my PC drivers suddenly urgent, but installing random driver packages can create a second problem. On Windows 11, start with Windows Update, check optional driver updates next, and use Device Manager or the hardware maker only when one device still needs attention.
Update PC Drivers Through Windows Update First
Windows Update is the first place to update PC drivers because Windows 11 automatically downloads recommended drivers for common hardware. Optional driver packages are separate, so you must select those yourself when Windows lists them.
- Select Start > Settings > Windows Update, then install any available Windows updates.
- Open Advanced options.
- Make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft products is turned on.
- Under Additional options, select Optional updates.
- Select the driver packages you want, then choose Download and install.
- After installation finishes, right-click Start > Shut down or sign out > Restart.
After the restart, open Windows Update once more. If the selected driver is no longer pending and the device behaves normally, that update is done.
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so its menus differ and Microsoft directs users toward Windows 11.
Which Drivers Need A Manual Update?
Most drivers do not need a separate manual install when Windows Update is working. Manual updates make sense when Windows cannot find a compatible package, a newly installed device has no usable driver, or the hardware maker has a model-specific fix you need.
Do not treat every older version number as a problem. A newer driver can fix bugs or add device support, but replacing a working driver without a reason can also introduce glitches.
Before a manual download, identify the exact device and the PC model so you do not install a similarly named package meant for different hardware. Use the PC maker’s support site for a laptop or prebuilt desktop when it offers a model-specific driver; use the device maker when the PC maker does not provide the needed package. Skip generic driver-updater download sites. Microsoft’s Device Manager instructions tell users to get manual drivers from the manufacturer and avoid other driver-download websites. The exact model match matters more than chasing the highest version number.
Use Device Manager For One Problem Device
Device Manager is useful when one device still needs attention after Windows Update has been checked. The tool can ask Windows to look for a newer driver without changing unrelated hardware.
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand the category that contains the problem device.
- Right-click the device and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
- If Windows does not find a newer package, return to Windows Update or move to the manufacturer method below.
The update window either installs a newer package or tells you that no better driver was found. Restart the PC after an installation so the device loads the new driver from a fresh boot.
| Situation | Where To Check | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Routine PC maintenance | Windows Update | Install recommended Windows updates first |
| Optional driver is offered | Optional updates | Select only the listed driver you need |
| One device is not working | Device Manager | Search for an updated driver for that device |
| Windows finds nothing newer | Hardware maker | Get the package for the exact model and Windows version |
| You already downloaded a driver | Device Manager | Point Windows to the extracted driver folder |
| A driver installation looks damaged | Device Manager | Reinstall the device driver, then restart |
| A new driver caused the problem | Driver properties | Roll back to the previous driver when available |
Microsoft says Windows Update installs recommended drivers automatically, while optional driver packages require manual selection. The Windows driver update instructions also direct you to the hardware manufacturer’s site when Windows Update cannot find a newer compatible driver.
Install A Manufacturer Driver Only When Needed
A manufacturer driver is useful when Windows Update and Device Manager do not offer the package your exact hardware needs. Download the driver only from the PC or device maker’s official support page, and match the Windows version and system architecture shown for your machine.
- Download the correct driver from the manufacturer’s support page. Extract the download if it arrives as a compressed folder, and note where the files are stored.
- Right-click Start, open Device Manager, and expand the device category.
- Right-click the device, select Update driver, then choose Browse my computer for drivers.
- Select Browse, choose the folder that holds the driver files, then select OK.
- Confirm the folder path and select Next. Close the window after Windows finishes.
Windows will either install the package or report that the current driver is already the suitable choice. If the manufacturer’s download includes its own installer, follow that maker’s instructions instead of forcing the files through Device Manager.
| What You See | Meaning | Next Move |
|---|---|---|
| The driver installs and asks for a restart | The package was accepted | Restart and test the device |
| No optional driver is listed | Windows Update has no optional package to offer | Use Device Manager only if a device has a problem |
| Windows finds no newer driver | Its current catalog has nothing newer for that device | Check the official hardware support page |
| The current driver is already suitable | Device Manager did not find a better local package | Stop unless you need a specific maker release |
| The device fails after a new driver | The new package may be the cause | Use the rollback steps below |
| Rollback is unavailable | Windows has no previous driver stored for that device | Reinstall or use the maker’s compatible package |
| The device returns after a reinstall and restart | Windows restored a working driver | Test the device before changing anything else |
What If A New Driver Breaks Something?
A device that worked before a recent driver update can often be restored by rolling that driver back. Windows requires administrator permissions for rollback, and the option works only when a previous driver is still available.
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand the device category, right-click the device, and select Properties.
- Open the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver.
- Choose a reason, select Yes, and restart if Windows asks.
If the device works again after the restart, leave that older driver in place while you check the maker’s support page for a corrected release. If rollback is unavailable, Windows does not have a previous package ready to restore.
Run The Least Disruptive Method First
A reliable driver update session follows one simple progression: let Windows handle broad maintenance, then narrow the work to the one device that still needs help. That keeps changes limited and makes a bad update easier to identify.
- Run Windows Update and install the normal updates offered for the PC.
- Open Advanced options > Optional updates and install relevant driver packages.
- Restart the PC and test the device that prompted the update.
- If one device still fails, use Device Manager and its automatic driver search.
- If Windows still has no suitable update, download the exact compatible driver from the official PC or hardware maker.
- If a fresh driver causes the fault, use Roll Back Driver when the previous version is available.
Once the affected hardware works normally and Windows Update shows no driver package waiting for that device, stop changing drivers. A working PC does not need every driver replaced just because a different version exists.
References & Sources
- Microsoft Support.“Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers.”Explains Windows Update driver delivery, optional driver updates, restart steps, and the manufacturer fallback.