How to update drivers on PC

Over 2,200 cyberattacks occur daily worldwide, and outdated drivers have become a favorite choice of entry point for many attackers. Unlike patching applications or operating systems, driver updates often get delayed or forgotten; creating signed, trusted pathways straight to your system’s kernel.

That six-month-old NVIDIA driver or postponed Dell BIOS update isn’t just a minor maintenance item. It’s potentially giving attackers the keys to bypass your antivirus, disable your security software, and gain complete system control.

Here’s the quickest and simplest way to update your PC drivers with some bonus tips for automating the process in enterprise environments.

The problem with outdated drivers

The most common drivers that need regular updates include:

• Network adapters: These control connectivity and data transfer speeds.
• Chipset drivers: These manage communication between core system components.
• Audio drivers: These don’t just affect multimedia but also communication tools essential for remote work and collaboration.
• Storage controllers: These directly impact data access speeds and system responsiveness.

When outdated, these drivers create a cascade of operational and security challenges that can cripple business productivity and expose organizations to serious threats. The impact extends far beyond minor inconveniences, affecting everything from daily workflows to mission-critical infrastructure.

Key problems with outdated drivers include:

• System instability and crashes: Legacy drivers cause application failures, especially after OS updates when compatibility breaks down. Outdated drivers are a common cause of Blue Screen of Death errors like the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error.
• Security vulnerabilities: Unpatched drivers become entry points for privilege escalation attacks and remote code execution, according to NIST, which could open the door to compliance penalties and public distrust.
• Performance degradation: Outdated drivers fail to utilize hardware capabilities, creating bottlenecks in data processing and rendering. For example, outdated NVIDIA graphics drivers is a common cause of glitches or crashes in AutoCAD.
• Hardware incompatibility: New peripherals and components may not function properly with older driver versions. For example, legacy printer drivers often fail after Windows patches, disrupting workflows in administrative teams.

» Here are our picks for the best printer monitoring software

The simplest way to update drivers on different PCs

Before updating any drivers, you should consider implementing a multi-layered backup procedure to prevent downtime on the off chance something goes wrong. The first step is to create system restore points using Windows’ built-in tools.

Unfortunately, this feature isn’t available on Mac or Linux; but you can try something similar using third-party tools like Time Machine for MacOS or Timeshift for Linux.

On Windows, start by typing “create a restore point” in the Windows search bar.

Then click “Create” in the dialog box that opens. This allows quick rollback if the update causes instability.

» Worried about losing track? See our guide to Activity History in Windows

Updating Windows drivers

Updating drivers in Windows can be done via Device Manager or Windows Update, both built-in tools. Follow these steps:

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager)

2. Expand the category (e.g., Display Adapters)

3. Right-click the device > Update driver

4. Choose “Search automatically for drivers”

5. If no update is found, go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Optional Updates

6. Restart your PC to apply changes

Windows also has many vendor-specific utilities that work for branded PCs like Dell, HP, and Lenovo and offer more comprehensive driver management:

• Dell Command Update: Scans for BIOS, firmware, and driver updates, then installs them silently or with user confirmation.
• HP Support Assistant: Provides a dashboard for health checks and driver updates with firmware patches.
• Lenovo Vantage: Identifies missing drivers and integrates with Lenovo’s update servers to ensure compatibility across ThinkPad and Legion series.

These utilities are particularly valuable for enterprise environments because they ensure compatibility across specific hardware models and often bundle critical firmware updates that generic Windows tools might miss. They simplify driver management by offering automated detection, targeted downloads, and safe installation tailored to each device model.

» Don’t miss our guide to manually re-enabling Windows updates

Updating MacOS drivers

Unlike Windows, macOS handles most drivers automatically through system updates. Built-in components like Wi-Fi, graphics, and audio are updated when macOS is upgraded.

To check, follow these steps:

1. Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Software Update
2. Click “Update Tonight” or “Update Now”
3. Let the process finish without putting your Mac to sleep, such as by closing the lid
4. Restart your Mac

For specialized hardware (e.g., MIDI interfaces or Thunderbolt audio devices), drivers must be downloaded from the manufacturer’s site. These often include kernel extensions or control apps that manage updates internally.

Updating Linux drivers

On Linux, driver updates are typically managed through package managers (e.g., apt, dnf, yum) and kernel updates. Most distributions include open-source drivers that update with system packages.

For most hardware (network, audio, USB):

1. Update system packages: <sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade>
2. These drivers update automatically with your regular system updates

For drivers requiring newer kernel versions:

1. Install the latest kernel: <sudo apt install linux-generic>
2. Restart your system to use the new kernel

For proprietary graphics drivers, the easiest method is to use Ubuntu’s “Additional Drivers” GUI tool, but you can also manually download and install vendor packages directly from NVIDIA or AMD websites.

Unlike Windows, you rarely need to hunt down individual driver files since most Linux distributions include open-source drivers that stay current through normal system updates.

» Learn more about Linux commands

What to do if your driver update causes problems

If a newly installed driver causes system crashes or freezes, use Windows Device Manager to roll back:

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X)
2. Locate the affected device
3. Right-click > Properties
4. Go to the Driver tab and click “Roll Back Driver”

This restores the previous version without needing manual downloads.

However, if the rollback option is unavailable, reinstall the older driver manually from your DISM backup or download it from the manufacturer’s site.

But this might not be the best option for enterprise IT environments; just think of the hassle of having to isolate which driver is the problem and manually roll it back on dozens (or even hundreds!) of PCs. In this case, initial automation and progressive Autonomous IT might be your best bet:

Automating the driver update process

Modern enterprise environments require tools that support centralized control, policy-based software deployment, and hardware compatibility validation. Solutions like Atera’s Agentic AI platform are transforming the IT landscape and allowing IT teams to automate driver updates at scheduled times that you decide.

It typically works like this:

• Policy-based approval: IT administrators set rules for which drivers can be automatically updated versus requiring manual approval.
• Scheduled deployment: Updates are pushed during maintenance windows or low-usage periods designated through automation profiles to minimize business disruption.
• Remote management: IT teams can handle driver issues on distributed workforces without requiring on-site visits through the RMM solution.

For example, Atera’s Robin sits between end users and IT teams, diagnosing and troubleshooting known IT issues on end-user devices without intervention by acessing your knowledge base. When it encounters problems it can’t fix, it escalates tickets to human technicians with full context, then learns from the solution so it’s better equipped in the future. In the meantime, AI Copilot assists those technicians by enabling natural language device searches like “Find PCs with driver conflicts” and creating custom scripts that you can use to manage driver updates across the network from a central location.

» Looking for specific software? Here are the best driver updater software options

Make PC driver updates simple

Keeping your drivers updated is essential for system stability, security, and PC performance. Whether you’re using Windows’ built-in Device Manager, macOS’s automatic system updates, or Linux package managers, the key is understanding which method works best for your operating system and hardware setup.

If you’re just an average PC user at home or even part of a small team, these manual methods are sure to provide reliable ways to maintain your drivers. But if you are part of a larger organization needing enterprise IT management, definitely give centralized management tools a closer look. In either case, don’t forget to create backups before updating, test in safe environments when possible, and know how to roll back if something goes wrong.

And don’t forget that the best enterprise AI tools for IT management can make the entire process simpler and more efficient.

» Want to try it out? Get started with Atera