To check your graphics driver version in Windows 10, right-click Start and select Device Manager. Expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and select Properties. On the Driver tab, look at Driver Version and Driver Date.
Applies to: Windows 10. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, and only PCs enrolled in Extended Security Updates still get security fixes, through October 12, 2027.
Check it in Device Manager
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager. Other ways are in opening Device Manager in Windows 10.
- Select the arrow next to Display adapters.
- Right-click your graphics card and select Properties.
- Select the Driver tab. Driver Version is the version number, and Driver Date shows how old it is.
If you see two graphics cards, your PC has two. Many laptops have a built-in one and a faster one. Each has its own driver, so check both.
Check it with the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
- Press Windows key + R, type
dxdiag, and press Enter. - Select the Display tab. If you have two screens or two graphics cards, there may be a Display 2 tab too.
- Under Drivers, look at Version and Date.
You can also select Save All Information to save a text file with the details. Checking your DirectX version in Windows 10 explains more of this tool.
Check it with PowerShell
Open PowerShell and run:
Get-CimInstance Win32_VideoController | Select-Object Name, DriverVersion, DriverDate
It lists each graphics card with its driver version and date.
Why the number may look different
Graphics card makers often show a shorter version number in their own app. Windows shows the full number. They can look different but still be the same driver, so compare the Driver Date too.
Match the Windows number to NVIDIA’s version
For NVIDIA cards, Windows shows a long number such as 32.0.15.6094. To turn it into the version NVIDIA uses, take the last five digits, 56094, and put a dot before the last two: 560.94. That’s the number you’ll see on NVIDIA’s website.
Check it in the maker’s app
- NVIDIA: open the NVIDIA App or NVIDIA Control Panel. The driver version is shown on the drivers page or under System Information.
- AMD: open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and look in Settings > System for the driver and software versions.
- Intel: open Intel Graphics Command Center or Intel Arc Control and check the support or system section.
If the version looks wrong
- Windows Update reports you’re up to date, but the driver is old. Windows Update doesn’t always offer the newest graphics driver. Get the latest one from your graphics card or PC maker.
- There’s a yellow warning icon. The driver isn’t working properly. Reinstall it from the card maker’s website.
Frequently asked questions
How do I update my graphics driver?
Follow these steps to update graphics drivers in Windows 10.
How do I find out which graphics card I have?
It’s the name under Display adapters. Checking your graphics card in Windows 10 covers more ways.
The driver shows Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. What does that mean?
Windows is using a basic driver because the right one isn’t installed. Install the driver from Windows Update or the graphics card maker’s website.
How often should I update my graphics driver?
If your PC works well, there’s no need to update every time. Update when a game or app asks for a newer driver, when you have display problems, or every few months for security fixes.
Can I go back to an older driver?
Yes. In Device Manager, open the card’s Properties, select the Driver tab, and select Roll Back Driver if it’s available. Otherwise, install an older driver from the maker’s website.
Does the driver version matter for games?
Often, yes. New games may need a recent driver to run smoothly or at all. Check the game’s requirements or the driver’s release notes. Remastered older titles can be just as picky, as the requirements in this Sims 1 on Windows 10 walkthrough show for the Vulkan-based Legacy Collection.
If apps flicker or crash after a driver update, try turning hardware acceleration off. If the newest NVIDIA version causes problems, you can roll back NVIDIA drivers on Windows 10.
Microsoft Support covers updating drivers through Device Manager and Which version of DirectX is on your PC?
Matt Jacobs writes and maintains the guides on Support Your Tech, which he started in 2017. He spent most of his career keeping small-business PCs running and still takes the occasional consulting job, so the steps here come from fixing the same problems on other people’s computers. Every guide is checked on his own Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, iPhone and iPad before it goes up.