In 2014, Microsoft presented Windows 10, an operating system that was supposed to replace the Windows 7. Then this OS was ambiguously perceived by users, it was criticized for aggressive marketing, new visual solutions and the absence of some features. Today, after numerous patches and additions, this OS is the most popular of the entire Windows family.

But even after all updates, it still had one weakness that Microsoft cannot eliminate - drivers. Every Windows user faces it sooner or later. You want to connect the printer to the PC - install the driver. Your video card vendor improved its stability - updating the driver and so on.

In comparison with old Windows the Windows 10 comes with the best set of universal drivers that allow you to use all the features of the system immediately after the OS installation. But they only implement basic functions, such as graphic interface on the screen, connected mouse, installed RAM. If you want to manage your processor power, post-effects on the screen, or even print a document to a connected printer, you need to get drivers specifically for your hardware.

Method 1: Windows 10 System Utilities

In Windows 10, there are two possible algorithms for updating drivers using system utilities. The first is, of course, Windows Update. The main advantage of this service is that it is available in any version of Windows 10 and, thanks to an Internet connection, can independently download new versions of drivers. But as I said, it is not always effective for updating drivers for outdated devices.

Second option is based on the use of Device Manager. In general, this utility has existed at least since the days of Windows XP. Its main purpose, as you can see from the name, is to manage all devices connected to the PC: from the processor to the memory card or USB devices. And since device management depends on the availability of suitable drivers, it also can search and install them.

But unlike Windows Update, it searches only in the local storage, or simply speaking, only among those drivers that are already available on the hard drive. Naturally, in such a situation, any positive result is possible only if you have previously downloaded the new version of the driver in other ways.

Yet in Device Manager there is an option to request a search for new drivers via Windows Update. So instead of showing you two separate ways, I'll show you how to combine them in one which requires less interaction from the user.

1. To get started, hold down the Windows and R buttons on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run utility. In the window that appears, enter devmgmt.msc and click OK. Using the Run utility is a universal way to launch system utilities which doesn’t depend on your PC language settings.

2. In the list of devices, find that one whose driver you want to update. Note that the first level of the list contains only device groups. To open the list within a group, click this arrow.

3. Then, do the right-click on the device name to open the context menu and select the Update driver.

4. The first option will start searching for new driver versions within the system. Keep in mind that during driver’s installation corresponding device operation may be interrupted. For example when you update network drivers it may lose the Internet connection for some time and so on.

Your next steps depend on the result. If the driver has been successfully updated, then you can stop searching and close the Device manager. But if the utility didn’t find updates or you want to check for an even more up-to-date version, then run this menu again.

5. Ok, here is this menu again and now we will select the second option here. If you have a file with a new driver version, then specify a path to it in this field. And for better reliability you can also tick the option to “Scan subfolders”.

If the utility successfully recognizes the driver, you will receive a notification that the new driver has been successfully installed. Well, if you didn’t get it, then go back and click “Search for updated drivers on Microsoft Update”.

6. Depending on your Internet speed, it may take some time, as it always checks for all possible updates for your system so please be patient. Depending on your OS settings, updates will be installed automatically or will wait for your permission.

If you want to update only the drivers, then find them in the list of optional updates and tick them as required for installation. Since this installation goes through Windows Update, you may also need to reboot the system to complete the process.

And at the end a short guide about additional features in Device Manager. For each device in the system you can select properties. In the “Details” tab you can get information about the current device driver by switching these tabs.

It is useful to search for vendor name and device ID if you download drivers manually. And in the “Driver” tab you can check your current driver version and provider. Also here you can roll back it, if the new version causes problems in using your hardware.

Method 2: Update drivers with vendor utility

Surely you know such companies as Intel, AMD or Nvidia. Gamers will also be familiar with products by Logitech, A4Tech, Gembird and others. These companies are engaged in the production of hardware and peripherals - those devices which require drivers for normal work. Most often, users search for processors and video card drivers, but other equipment can also receive drivers updates.

Vendors don't want you to experience lags or intruders' attacks on privacy. Therefore, their device support programs include regular releases of driver updates. As a rule they can be downloaded manually from the official vendor’s site, but this method is usable for advanced users and those who make offline drivers installation and updating.

For beginners it is more suitable to use the utilities for automatic driver updates downloading and installation. Each vendor makes these utilities in their own way but they all use one work scheme. You need to download the utility, run it on a PC with an Internet connection, and initiate a system scan. The drivers will be downloaded and installed automatically or after your permission.

Please note that each vendor has its own name for such utilities, for Nvidia it will be GeForce Experience, for Intel - Driver & Support Assistant, for AMD - Auto-detect tool, etc. My PC uses hardware by Intel, so I'll show you how to use vendor utilities to update drivers using the Driver & Support Assistant as an example.

1. Find the utility download page. As a rule, it is easily googled for a query like: name of the vendor and driver update phrase. As you can see, the first result in the search results match with the search intent.

2. Open the webpage and download the utility. As a rule they are small and download quickly, unlike the drivers themselves. Then you run a file to initialize the installation of the utility.

3. Read the license agreement and agree with it to continue the installation. Further, as a rule, various optional options can be offered, such as participation in the Customer Experience program. Then click Install, wait for the end of the process and reboot it if required. In my case, this utility works fine without a reboot, so I'll start using it right now.

4. When you run the utility, it will open a web page with your system scan report. In utilities by other vendors, this process may differ, for example, a list of drivers to download and a report can be placed in the utility's interface window without using web interface.

5. The page offers to download an update for my graphics device drivers. Click Download and wait for the end, and then, of course, click Install. If several driver updates will be available for you, then it is better to click “Install all” to initialize one-by-one installation.

6. The installation process in such utilities is very simple so beginners wouldn’t have problems with drivers updating. As a rule, only three options are offered there: sharing customer experience, changing the installation location and installed programs package. If you don’t want what you need then it’s better to leave everything "as is" and launch it.

As in the previous method, don't forget to reboot your system after driver installation. This method allows you to get updates for device drivers more quickly. But at the same time, if you have a lot of hardware from different vendors you will have to use a variety of utilities like this, which may not be convenient in everyday life. 

Method 3: Use driver updater software

Software developers also offer their products to solve driver update problems. Such software is distinguished into a separate class of programs called driver updaters.   

1. As usual, to get started, you need to download and run the installation file.

2. Then, launch the installer and carefully look at what additional services it offers to you. Highly likely, these will be promotional offers by the vendor or its partners, so you can safely refuse what you don’t need.

3. After the installation, the application will typically scan your system for devices with outdated drivers.

4. If it finds relevant updates for your devices, you can install them simply by marking them in the list and clicking Install.

One of the main advantages of this method is that driver updating software searches for updates for all devices in your system, not just for a specific vendor. In addition, such apps can automatically monitor new updates' appearance, install them in 1-click, and even make backups of selected drivers.