Keeping your drivers updated is important because it keeps your computer running smoothly and securely and prevents issues like frequent system freezes or audio glitches. But how do you know when it’s time for an update?
Instead of diving into the updates blindly, this guide will show you how to check if your drivers are up to date. We’ll also show you what to look at to avoid downloading the wrong driver updates for your PC.
Let’s begin.
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Prevent hardware errors and ensure problem-free device operation with this advanced tool that detects outdated drivers and safely gets them updated.
Signs That Your Drivers Might Be Outdated
Drivers that are out of date can cause a range of issues on your computer, and sometimes it’s not obvious until you notice certain problems. Here are some common signs that your drivers might be outdated:
If your computer suddenly displays error messages about outdated or missing drivers, that’s a clear sign that something’s not right. These errors may pop up when specific software or hardware, like graphics cards, keyboards, or printers, isn’t working . You may get error messages like:
- This device cannot start (Code 10)
- Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (Code 43)
When you get any of these messages, it’s obviously the time to update your drivers.
Outdated drivers might not have what it takes to properly handle modern software demands or system updates. When the driver fails because of these limitations, you may get crash errors on your screen. For example, an outdated graphics driver might fail to process new features in an application, leading to a system crash.
Similarly, an outdated chipset driver could fail to manage system resources properly, leading to system freezes under heavy workloads. These glitches and crashes happen because outdated drivers lack critical bug fixes and compatibility updates from the manufacturer.
Peripherals like your printer, mouse, and keyboard rely on drivers to relay input or output signals accurately to the operating system.
So, if a USB or other device-specific driver is outdated, it may not recognize newer protocols or firmware updates. This might be the reason devices like keyboards or mice may not work properly.
For instance, a printer with an outdated driver might not respond to print requests from a recently updated application, resulting in errors or no output.
Here’s a real-life example. My keyboard started acting up—every time I typed, it would randomly flood the screen with the letter “U” (like this: uuuuuuuuuuu ), even if I only tapped the key once. At first, I thought it was a hardware issue, but after updating the keyboard driver, the problem disappeared completely.
If you’re experiencing weird behavior like that from your peripherals (keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.), it could be a sign that your drivers are outdated. Updating them might be all it takes to fix the issue—just like it did for me.
Performance-intensive tasks like gaming or video playback depend heavily on drivers. If you engage in any of these, you probably already know how important your GPUs and sound cards are.
An outdated GPU driver might not support the latest rendering optimizations or DirectX versions required by a game, leading to lower frame rates, stuttering, or graphical glitches .
These drops occur because outdated drivers miss performance enhancements and fixes tailored to new software demands.
Download Auslogics Driver Updater
Prevent hardware errors and ensure problem-free device operation with this advanced tool that detects outdated drivers and safely gets them updated.
How to Check If Drivers Are Up to Date on Windows 10/11
Here are more reliable ways to check if your drivers are updated:
Method 1: Check the driver version using Device Manager
Device Manager is a built-in tool that lets you view and manage all the drivers installed on your computer. You can check your driver’s properties to verify its version before deciding whether to update it or not. Here’s an easy way to do it:
- Press
Win + R , type devmgmt.msc , and hit Enter.
- Find the type of hardware you want to check, like Display adapters for your graphics card, right-click on it, and select Properties .
- Then, go to the Driver tab. Here, you’ll see the driver provider, version, and date of the currently installed driver. Jot down the d river provider, version, and date. I’ll come in handy later.
Note
I f you see a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark next to a device in Device Manager, it means the driver may be outdated, missing, or having issues. Right-click the device and choose Update driver or view Device status under Properties to troubleshoot further.
- Open your browser and type the driver manufacturer’s name followed by driver download and click the relevant result—for example, Intel driver download . My laptop’s GPU driver, for instance, is from Intel (you can check the Driver Provider section from the previous step).
- Next, enter your device model and look for the latest driver version available. Basically, search for drivers that are higher than what you currently have. For example, if you have driver version 31.0.101.2125 , search for higher versions, like 31.0.101.2135 .
- If you’re not getting the results you need, filter them by product.
- If you find newer versions of your driver, it means your driver needs an update.
If you need a quick way to check multiple driver versions without opening Device Manager, you can use System Information. Here’s how to check all drivers for updates using this method:
- Press
Windows + R, type msinfo32 , and hit Enter.
- Expand Components and select the type of hardware, such as Display for graphics drivers.
- Look at the Driver Version column.
This method is useful when checking multiple drivers at once, but you’ll still need to manually compare the version with what’s available on the manufacturer’s website, just like the previous method. If this process doesn’t work for you, proceed to the next step.
Method 3: Use manufacturer apps to check if your drivers are up to date
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of manually checking your driver versions, many manufacturers, like Dell, AMD , Intel, and NVIDIA , offer their own tools to scan your system and tell you exactly what needs updating.
These apps can be a lifesaver because they automatically detect outdated drivers and download the latest versions for you. Let’s go through how some of them work:
How to use Intel’s Driver & Support Assistant (Intel DSA)
Intel’s DSA is one of the easiest ways to show you how to check if all drivers are up to date. Here’s how to go about it:
- Launch the tool, and it’ll automatically scan your system and compare your installed Intel drivers with the latest versions available.
- If it finds any outdated drivers, it’ll provide direct links to download and install them.
In the screenshot above, you’ll notice the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers are outdated . You can proceed with the update if you want to.
How to use Dell’s SupportAssist
If you have a Dell laptop or desktop, you can use Dell SupportAssist to check if your device drivers are current. Since Dell pre-installs many drivers and firmware updates, this tool ensures your PC stays up to date with the latest optimizations.
- Many Dell PCs come with SupportAssist pre-installed. If you don’t have it, download it from Dell’s website .
- After installing the tool, run it and click on Update software.
- Check the box for Check for updates and click Start .
- The tool will scan your system and list any outdated drivers. After the scan, click on View updates under Report summary.
Here, you’ll see all your drivers that need an update.
While Windows offers built-in ways to check for driver updates, and manufacturers like Intel and Dell have their own tools, these methods have limitations.
For instance, Device Manager doesn’t always show the latest drivers, and manufacturer tools only scan for updates related to their own hardware. That’s where third-party driver updater tools come in.
These tools are designed to scan your entire system and check if any of your drivers are outdated, regardless of the manufacturer. Then, they provide a quick and hassle-free way to ensure all your drivers are up to date without having to manually check multiple websites.
One such tool is Auslogics Driver Updater . This tool:
- Scans your entire system and provides a list of outdated drivers.
- Pulls drivers from a wide range of manufacturers to make sure you don’t miss critical updates.
- Gives you a full breakdown of which drivers are out of date, their current version, and the latest version available.
- Offers a full driver backup if you decide to update your drivers. That way, you can revert any changes, if needed.
You can check out our
full overview of all the driver updaters available on the market to help you make the right choice. These tools not only help you check for outdated drivers but can also update them instantly.
Here’s h ow to check if your drivers are up to da te using Auslogics Driver Updater:
- Launch the program. It’ll automatically start scanning your system for outdated drivers.
- After the scan, the tool will list all outdated drivers, showing the currently installed version and the latest available version.
If you only need to check for outdated drivers, you can use this information to help you decide on what to do next.
What to Do After Checking Your Drivers
After checking if your drivers are up to date, the next step is deciding whether an update is necessary. While updating drivers can improve performance, compatibility, and security, it’s important to approach updates carefully.
- If your current driver is causing issues and the update includes relevant fixes, updating is a smart choice.
- If everything is working fine and the update is brand new, it may be best to wait and see if other users report any problems.
Before making any changes, it’s a good idea to back up your current drivers. This way, if an update causes issues, you can quickly roll back to the previous version and avoid unnecessary disruptions.
Drivers are essential for system stability, so keeping them updated shouldn’t be ignored. If you’re noticing signs of outdated or corrupted drivers and are ready to take action, we’ve prepared
a complete guide on how to update them —covering everything from manual methods to automatic solutions.
Lastly, we’d love to hear from you! Did this guide help? Do you have any tips or experiences to share? Drop a comment below; we’re always open to your feedback.
Still have PC-related questions? Don’t hesitate to visit our
Ask a Question forum! Just post your question and share your issue with our specialists—they’ll be ready to give you hands-on help.
FAQ
The answer will depend on what you do with your computer. For casual users that use their PCs for browsing the internet, streaming videos, sending emails, and light productivity tasks, checking for updates every 3–6 months should be enough to stay current without getting in trouble. However, for gamers, video editors, or other power users, monthly checks, especially after big game drops or OS updates (like Windows patches), are very important.
The best way to find out is to check the details. Most manufacturers add patch notes where they explain what they have fixed in the updates and the potential problems they noticed. After checking those notes, cross-check with discussions on forums to see what real users are saying.
To check if your drivers are up to date, you can use Device Manager by searching for and selecting Update driver for specific devices. Alternatively, third-party tools like Auslogics Driver Updater can scan your system for outdated drivers and ensure you have the latest versions. You can also check for driver updates via Windows Update under Settings > Update & Security, though it may not always provide the most recent drivers.
Not necessarily. If a driver isn’t causing issues and there are no critical security updates, it may be best to leave it alone. Focus on updating drivers for components like the graphics card, network adapter, chipset, and audio when necessary.
