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Graphics drivers are the software layer that lets Windows and your games communicate with your graphics card, and NVIDIA, AMD and Intel all release new versions every few weeks. Fresh drivers add day-one support for new game releases, patch security vulnerabilities, and frequently fix stuttering or crashing in specific titles. If you have just installed a new graphics card, updating the driver should be your very first task, because Windows on its own usually loads a generic, outdated version.
The encouraging part is that all three GPU makers now ship a companion app that finds and installs the correct driver for you, so there is no need to guess model numbers on a download page. This guide covers the update process for NVIDIA, AMD and Intel step by step, explains when a clean installation is worth the extra effort, and shows how to roll back safely if a new driver misbehaves. You will not need to open your PC case at any point.
Check Which GPU and Driver Version You Have
- Right-click the Start button, choose Device Manager, and expand Display adapters to see the exact model of your graphics card. Laptops often show two entries: an integrated Intel or AMD chip plus a dedicated GPU.
- To find the current driver version, press Win + R, type dxdiag, press Enter, and open the Display tab. The driver version and date are listed on the right side.
- Write both down before you change anything. Knowing the last version that worked makes recovery far easier if an update goes wrong.
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Update NVIDIA Drivers (GeForce Cards)
- Download the NVIDIA App from nvidia.com and sign in or skip the account prompt. According to NVIDIA documentation, this app has replaced the older GeForce Experience as the official update tool.
- Open the Drivers tab. The app detects your card automatically and offers either a Game Ready driver (tuned for new game launches) or a Studio driver (validated longer for creative apps). Gamers should pick Game Ready; video editors and 3D artists are better served by Studio.
- Click Download, then choose Express installation. The screen may flicker or briefly go black during installation – this is normal.
- Restart your PC even if the installer does not demand it. Some driver components only load correctly after a reboot.
- After updating, open the NVIDIA Control Panel and confirm your sync settings survived the update. New drivers occasionally reset them, and our guide to fixing screen tearing with VSync, G-Sync and FreeSync explains which mode to pick.
Update AMD Drivers (Radeon Cards)
- Download AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition from amd.com. AMD documentation recommends the auto-detect installer, which identifies your card and Windows version for you.
- Launch the app and open the Drivers and Software section in the top-right corner, then click Check for Updates.
- If an update appears, choose the Recommended version rather than the Optional one. Optional releases carry the newest fixes but see less testing time.
- Select Upgrade when prompted, let the installer finish, and reboot. Adrenalin preserves your saved game profiles and tuning settings during a standard upgrade.
Update Intel Drivers (Arc and Integrated Graphics)
- Download the Intel Graphics Software app from intel.com. It covers both Arc discrete cards and the integrated graphics found in most laptops.
- Open the app and check the Drivers section. Available updates appear with release notes attached, so you can see which games or issues each version addresses.
- Click Download and then Install. On laptops, Intel notes that PC manufacturers sometimes ship customized drivers; if the installer warns you about this, the generic Intel driver is still generally safe to use.
- Reboot when installation finishes and verify the new version stuck by re-running dxdiag.
When a Clean Install Is Worth It
A standard upgrade keeps your settings and works fine most of the time. Choose a clean installation instead when you are seeing persistent crashes, when you switch GPU brands, or when years of incremental updates have left behind conflicting files. Both the NVIDIA and AMD installers include a factory-reset or clean-install checkbox in their advanced options that wipes old profiles before installing. Keep in mind that drivers are only one piece of gaming performance – our walkthrough on optimizing Windows 11 for gaming covers the operating-system side of the equation.
How to Roll Back a Bad Driver
- Right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, and double-click your GPU.
- On the Driver tab, click Roll Back Driver if the button is available. Windows keeps the previous version for exactly this situation.
- If the button is grayed out, download the last known-good version from the manufacturer’s driver archive – NVIDIA, AMD and Intel all keep older releases available – and install it over the current one.
- Reboot, then pause driver updates for a few weeks until a fixed release ships.
If your card is several generations old and new drivers no longer improve performance in current titles, the problem may be the hardware rather than the software. Our roundup of the best budget graphics cards for 1080p gaming shows what a modest upgrade delivers today.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using third-party driver updater tools. Utilities that promise to update every driver at once are a common source of malware and mismatched versions. Only install GPU drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel or your laptop maker.
- Letting Windows Update fight your GPU app. Windows Update sometimes installs an older driver over a newer one. If versions keep changing on their own, install the manufacturer’s driver again and reboot – the newer version normally wins.
- Updating mid-game or during heavy work. The screen goes black momentarily during installation, and an interrupted install can corrupt the driver. Close games and creative apps first.
- Blaming drivers for heat problems. A driver update will not fix a GPU that is thermal throttling from dust or poor airflow – that calls for our guide to lowering GPU temperatures without losing performance.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I update my GPU drivers?
If your system is stable, updating once every month or two is plenty. Update immediately only when a new driver fixes a problem you actually have, adds support for a game you are about to play, or patches a security vulnerability listed in the release notes.
Do I need to uninstall the old driver before installing a new one?
Not for routine updates – the installers from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel upgrade over the existing driver cleanly. A full removal is only worth doing when you switch GPU brands or when repeated crashes suggest leftover files are causing conflicts.
Can a driver update improve FPS in games?
Yes, especially in newly released titles. Manufacturers publish game-specific optimizations in their release notes, and gains are usually largest in the first months after a game launches. In older, well-established games the difference from one driver to the next is typically small.
What should I do if a new driver causes crashes or a black screen?
Boot into Safe Mode if the desktop is unreachable, then use Roll Back Driver in Device Manager to return to the previous version. If rollback is unavailable, install an older release from the manufacturer’s driver archive and skip the problem version.
