How to Update Drivers in Windows 11: Complete Guide

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by sluggish system performance or encountered quirky device behavior, outdated drivers might be the silent culprit.

But fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of updating drivers in Windows 11, ensuring that your system runs smoothly and efficiently. Whether you’re a seasoned tech enthusiast or a novice user, mastering the art of driver updates is key to unlocking the full potential of your PC. So, let’s dive in and discover how to update drivers in Windows 11 with ease and confidence.

Why are Driver Updates Necessary?

Before we explore into the step-by-step process of updating drivers, it’s crucial to grasp why these updates are necessary. Think of drivers as the translators of your computer system, enabling smooth communication between your hardware devices (like printers, graphics cards, and keyboards) and the software they interact with.

Without updated drivers, your system may encounter various issues, including compatibility issues with new software, instability, and even security vulnerabilities. Keeping your drivers up-to-date ensures your system runs smoothly and optimally, providing you with a hassle-free computing experience.

4 Working Ways to Update Drivers on Windows 11

Whether you’re a tech-savvy enthusiast or a casual user, mastering these techniques will empower you to keep your drivers up to date effortlessly. Let’s explore the four working ways to update drivers on Windows 11!

How to Update Drivers Using Device Manager

To update drivers on your Windows computer, using Device Manage is one of the common and go-to ways. Here’s how to use Device Manager to update drivers:

1. Click on the Start button (Windows icon) in the bottom left corner of your screen or press the Windows key. Then, type “Device Manager” into the search bar and press Enter. Click on the “Device Manager” option from the search results to open it.
2. Within Device Manager, you’ll see a list of different device categories. Navigate through the list and find the specific device you want to update the driver. Simply double-click on the device from the list to expand and get the list of installed device drivers.
3. Right-click on the device driver you want to update, and a menu will appear. Select “Update Driver” from the menu to initiate the driver update process.
4. Within the Optional Updates section, you’ll see a header labeled “Driver Updates.” Expand this header to reveal the list of available driver updates
5. Take your time browsing through the list and identifying the driver updates you wish to install. You can select multiple updates if needed.

After selecting the desired updates, click on the “Download & Install” button to begin the update process.

     6. Follow any on-screen prompts that may appear during the installation process. In some cases, you may need to restart your PC to complete the installation of certain drivers.

Following these steps, you can easily update your drivers using Windows Update, ensuring your PC stays up-to-date with the latest driver improvements and enhancements.

How to Update Drivers from an OEM Website

When Windows Update doesn’t offer the driver you need for your PC, you can take matters into your own hands by manually downloading and installing the driver from the OEM website. The OEM, or Original Equipment Manufacturer, is the company that produces your PC, such as Dell, Lenovo, or HP. Visiting the support website of your OEM and searching for your device model will lead you to the appropriate drivers.

Let’s take Lenovo as an example, though the steps are generally similar for other OEMs. It’s essential to download drivers directly from the official source rather than relying on third-party websites.

Here’s how to proceed:

1. Visit the support page for your OEM. If you’re unsure where to find it, a quick search on Google should lead you in the right direction. In my case, it is pcsupport.lenovo.com
2. Choose your specific product by entering its serial number, model name, or using any detection software provided by your OEM and confirm your product selection to ensure accuracy.
3. Once on the support page of your specific device, click on the “Driver and Software” or similar option.
4. Locate the way you want to update the drivers. For example, Lenovo also offers to Scan your PC and update the drivers automatically or manually select the drivers to download. I am going with the “Select Driver” option as I want to download and install the drivers manually.
5. Navigate to the driver you want to download and click “Download” associated with the latest driver.
6. Once downloaded, locate the drivers you downloaded and double-click on it to install it.

Tip: If double-clicking the file does not launch the installation, proceed to the manual installation by following the steps mentioned in Method 1.

By following these steps, you can safely and efficiently obtain and install the necessary drivers for your PC directly from the OEM’s official website, ensuring compatibility and reliability.

How to Update Drivers Using AVG Driver Updater

If manual burden is something that you want to cut off, then using the AVG Driver Updater is the way to go. It offers a completely automatic and peaceful way to keep your Windows 11 drivers up to date. It is also a proven method for beginner Windows users.

Follow these simple steps to automate the process and ensure your Windows 11 PC runs smoothly:

1. Download the setup file from install AVG Driver Updater on your Windows 11 PC.
   Though it is a paid software, you can opt for a 7-Days free trial to ensure that you are paying for the right software. Simply click on the “Try it free for 30 days” option.