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Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account Browse Articles Quizzes & Games All Quizzes Hot Community Quizzes Personality Quizzes Dating Simulator Learn Something New Support wikiHow Log in / Sign up Computers and Electronics Operating Systems Last Updated: May 12, 2026 Fact Checked Using Device Manager Using the Device's App This article was co-authored by Carter Keel and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD . Carter Keel is a tech expert and content creator based in Florida. In 2019, Carter launched his channel Random But Cool, refining his skills as a storyteller and video editor through this project. His production experience grew further through wedding videography, livestream switching, and managing media at multiple churches. His channel now focuses primarily on tech education, helping thousands of people stay safe online. He also specializes in building home servers and repurposing old hardware, combining sustainability with innovation. Carter is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity from the University of West Florida. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 40,804 times. While you can use Device Manager or Windows Update to automatically find and install device driver updates, sometimes the most reliable option is to download drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website. In this article, we’ll explain how to manually install drivers using Device Manager in Windows. We’ll also talk you through how to install drivers for certain devices, like your graphics card, directly through the device app. Quick Steps to Manually Install Drivers Download the updated driver from the device manufacturer’s website. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager . Expand the category for your device. Right-click the device and select Update driver . Click Browse my computer for drivers . Navigate to the driver you downloaded and select it. Click OK > Next . Wait for Windows to install the driver, then close the Update Drivers window. Installing Drivers in Device Manager 1 Download the device driver from the manufacturer’s website. Visit the official website for the device whose driver you need to update. Typically, there will be an option to search for the exact device you have. Once you’ve located your device, look for a section of the page called “Updates,” “Downloads,” or something similar. [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source If multiple drivers are available, make sure you select the correct one for your Windows version and architecture. You can find your version of Windows by opening the Start menu, going to Settings > System > About , and checking under Windows specifications . [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source To figure out what Windows architecture your PC uses (i.e., 32-bit vs. 64-bit), go to Settings > System > About and look under Device specifications . If the driver files are compressed, you’ll need to extract them before you continue. Make sure to note where the files are saved. Typically, downloaded files will go to your Downloads folder by default. You may wish to move them to a dedicated folder on your hard drive so it’s easier to find them. If multiple drivers are available, make sure you select the correct one for your Windows version and architecture. You can find your version of Windows by opening the Start menu, going to Settings > System > About , and checking under Windows specifications . [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source To figure out what Windows architecture your PC uses (i.e., 32-bit vs. 64-bit), go to Settings > System > About and look under Device specifications . You can find your version of Windows by opening the Start menu, going to Settings > System > About , and checking under Windows specifications . [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source To figure out what Windows architecture your PC uses (i.e., 32-bit vs. 64-bit), go to Settings > System > About and look under Device specifications . If the driver files are compressed, you’ll need to extract them before you continue. Make sure to note where the files are saved. Typically, downloaded files will go to your Downloads folder by default. You may wish to move them to a dedicated folder on your hard drive so it’s easier to find them. 2 Open the Device Manager. Once you have the driver file(s) you need, right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager . Advertisement 3 Expand the category for your device. For example, if you’re updating a keyboard driver, expand the Keyboards category. 4 Right-click the device and select Update driver . A new window will open. 5 Select Browse my computer for drivers . This will launch a file browser window. 6 Select the driver you want to install. Navigate to the location where you saved the driver. Click it to select it, then click OK at the bottom of the window. Review the file path to make sure you selected the file correctly, then click Next .

7 Wait for Windows to install the driver. Windows will analyze the driver and make sure it’s actually an updated version of the correct driver for your device. If it is, Windows will proceed with the installation. If not, you’ll see a message that says “The best drivers for your device are already installed.” [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source When you’re done, click Close to close the Update Drivers window. When you’re done, click Close to close the Update Drivers window. Installing Drivers Through the Device App 1 Open the dedicated app for your device. Some devices, such as graphics cards, may have dedicated apps where you can update the driver directly. 2 Look for a section called “Drivers” or something similar. For example, in the NVIDIA app, look for the Drivers tab. In the AMD app, go to the Drivers & Software section. 3 Download any available updates. Once you’re in the Drivers area of the app, you should see an option to check for updates. If any updates are available, choose the option to download and install them. Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the process. Frequently Asked Questions 1 How do I know if a driver needs to be updated? There’s no definitive way to know if a driver needs updating without actually attempting to install an update. However, glitches, hardware malfunctions, and frequent system crashes can be a sign that a driver is outdated or corrupt. 2 Can I update all my drivers at once? The easiest way to mass-update your drivers is through Windows Update . To update your drivers this way: [4] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source Open the Start menu and select Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options . If you’re using Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options . Make sure “Receive updates for other Microsoft products” is toggled on. Select Optional updates under Additional options . If you’re using Windows 10, skip this step. If you see driver updates available, select them and click Download and install . If you’re using Windows 10, go back to the main Windows Update window and select Check for updates . If View optional updates appears, click it, select the driver updates, and click Download and Install . Restart your computer after the updates are installed. Open the Start menu and select Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options . If you’re using Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options . Make sure “Receive updates for other Microsoft products” is toggled on. Select Optional updates under Additional options . If you’re using Windows 10, skip this step. If you see driver updates available, select them and click Download and install . If you’re using Windows 10, go back to the main Windows Update window and select Check for updates . If View optional updates appears, click it, select the driver updates, and click Download and Install . If you’re using Windows 10, go back to the main Windows Update window and select Check for updates . If View optional updates appears, click it, select the driver updates, and click Download and Install . Restart your computer after the updates are installed. 3 Do I need to restart my computer after updating a driver? In some cases, you’ll be prompted to restart after you update a driver. Even if this doesn’t happen, Microsoft recommends restarting after updating any driver. [5] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source Question Do I always have to manually update drivers on Windows? Carter Keel Tech Expert Carter Keel is a tech expert and content creator based in Florida. In 2019, Carter launched his channel Random But Cool, refining his skills as a storyteller and video editor through this project. His production experience grew further through wedding videography, livestream switching, and managing media at multiple churches. His channel now focuses primarily on tech education, helping thousands of people stay safe online. He also specializes in building home servers and repurposing old hardware, combining sustainability with innovation. Carter is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity from the University of West Florida. Carter Keel Tech Expert Expert Answer You usually don't have to manually update drivers since Microsoft pushes out automatic updates whenever available. However, if you have third-party hardware, you may need to manually update those drivers. That said, Windows typically installs drivers by default and updates them routinely, so in most cases you don't really have to worry about it. Thanks! 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Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 2 You Might Also Like ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-drivers-through-device-manager-in-windows-ec62f46c-ff14-c91d-eead-d7126dc1f7b6 ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-information-about-your-windows-device-a66d52c8-3323-44fd-8f34-a9497bb935e1 ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-drivers-through-device-manager-in-windows-ec62f46c-ff14-c91d-eead-d7126dc1f7b6 ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/automatically-get-recommended-and-updated-hardware-drivers-0549a8d9-4842-8acb-75fa-a6faadb62507 ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/automatically-get-recommended-and-updated-hardware-drivers-0549a8d9-4842-8acb-75fa-a6faadb62507#id0efd=windows_10 About This Article Send fan mail to authors Is this article up to date? Quizzes & Games You Might Also Like Trending Articles Trending Articles Take the Quiz. 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