How to Update GPU Drivers in Windows 11

To update GPU drivers in Windows 11, right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and choose Update driver. If Windows finds nothing newer, look under Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, or install the newest driver straight from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.

Applies to: Windows 11 PCs with NVIDIA GeForce, AMD Radeon, or Intel graphics.

Before you start

A GPU (graphics processing unit) is the chip that draws everything on your screen, and its driver is the software that lets Windows talk to that chip. “GPU driver,” “graphics driver,” “video card driver,” and “display driver” all mean the same thing. A few minutes of preparation makes the update safer:

• Sign in with an administrator account. Driver installers need administrator rights, and so does rolling back a driver.
• Find out which graphics chip you have. Device Manager lists it under Display adapters, and there are other places to check your graphics card on Windows 11. Some laptops list two adapters, usually Intel or AMD integrated graphics plus a separate NVIDIA or AMD chip. Each one has its own driver.
• Write down the current driver version. You will compare it with the new one afterward. The steps are in the “confirm” section below.
• Create a restore point. Select Start, type Create a restore point, and open the result. On the System Protection tab, select Create…, type a description, and select Create. If the button is unavailable, select Configure…, choose Turn on system protection, and select Apply first. Screens for each stage are in creating a restore point in Windows 11.
• Save your work and close open apps. The screen can flicker or go dark for a moment while a display driver is replaced, and a restart is usually needed at the end.

Which update method should you use?

Method	Best for	What you get
Device Manager	A quick check on any PC	The driver Windows can find for your device
Windows Update optional updates	Laptops and brand-name PCs	Drivers offered through Windows Update, which do not install on their own when they are optional
NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel download	Gaming, creative apps, or fixing a specific bug	The newest release from the chip maker

For everyday use, letting Windows Update handle drivers is enough. The chip makers publish new versions more often, so a new game or a bug named in a release note is the usual reason to go to them directly. A newer driver is also worth trying when a game flickers or won’t stay in full screen; the other fixes are in making a game full screen on Windows 11.

Update the GPU driver in Device Manager

These steps follow Microsoft’s instructions for updating drivers through Device Manager.

1. Right-click the Start button on the taskbar and select Device Manager. A window opens with a list of hardware categories.
2. Select the arrow next to Display adapters to expand it. Your graphics chip appears underneath, for example an NVIDIA GeForce, AMD Radeon, or Intel adapter.
3. Right-click the adapter and select Update driver. A small wizard opens and asks how you want to search.
4. Select the option to search automatically, labeled Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows looks for a newer driver and installs it if it finds one.
5. If Windows reports that nothing newer was found, select Search for updated drivers on Windows Update. This opens Windows Update in Settings so you can check there.
6. Select Close, then restart the PC so the new driver is fully loaded.

A message saying the best driver is already installed only means Windows has nothing newer to offer. The chip maker may still have a later version, so use one of the methods below if you need it.

Install a graphics driver from Windows Update optional updates

Windows Update installs recommended drivers automatically. Optional drivers are different: they are not installed automatically, so you have to pick them yourself.

1. Select Start, then Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
2. Make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft products is turned on.
3. Under Additional options, select Optional updates.
4. Look through the driver entries for one that names your graphics chip, such as NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel display. Check its box.
5. Select Download and install and wait for the installation to finish.
6. Restart the PC, even if Windows does not ask. Right-click Start and choose Shut down or sign out > Restart.

It is also worth selecting Check for Windows updates on the main Windows Update page, since regular updates sometimes bring a driver with them. The whole process is laid out in Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers.

Update an NVIDIA GeForce driver

NVIDIA offers two routes. The NVIDIA app keeps drivers up to date for you from its Drivers tab, and signing in to the app is optional. If you would rather not install it, download the driver by hand:

1. Open the NVIDIA driver download page in your browser.
2. In the manual search form, fill in Select Product Category, Select Product Series, and Select Product so they match the adapter name you saw in Device Manager. Laptop chips are listed in series marked as notebook.
3. Set the operating system to Windows 11 and choose your language.
4. Select Find Drivers. A list of matching drivers appears. If you see a message that no drivers were found, one of the menus does not match your card.
5. Download the newest result and open the file. Follow the installer’s prompts, then restart.

The results can be filtered by Game Ready Driver or Studio Driver. Game Ready Drivers are tuned and tested for new game releases, and Studio Drivers focus on reliability in creative work such as video editing, animation, and graphic design. Either type can run both games and creative apps, so pick the one that matches what you do most. After the driver is installed, you can open NVIDIA Control Panel on Windows 11 to adjust display and 3D settings.

Update an AMD Radeon driver

AMD’s Auto-Detect and Install tool identifies your Radeon graphics and your Windows version, then downloads the matching AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition package. It supports Windows 11 version 21H2 and later.

1. Go to the AMD Drivers and Support page and select Download Windows Drivers.
2. Double-click the downloaded file and select Install to unpack it. Keep the default location.
3. Wait while the AMD Software Installer opens and checks your hardware. It then shows the driver packages available for your PC.
4. Choose a package. Recommended drivers are the most stable and certified by Microsoft, and Optional drivers are the newest, with the latest features and fixes.
5. Pick an install type: Default for the full AMD Software, Minimal for basic controls, or Driver Only for no control panel at all.
6. Start the installation and wait a few minutes. Display flickering during this stage is normal. Restart when it finishes.

The installer also has a Factory Reset option that removes earlier AMD driver versions before installing and requires a restart. Turn on Keep User Settings with it if you want to preserve your profiles. This is the official way to do a clean installation when an ordinary update has not fixed a problem.

Update an Intel graphics driver

The easiest Intel route is the Intel Driver & Support Assistant, which detects your hardware and installs the right driver. For a manual download, follow Intel’s guide to installing an Intel graphics driver:

1. Press the Windows key, type System, and open System information. Note the processor number shown there.
2. Open the Intel Download Center and type that processor number into the search bar.
3. Under Filter By, select Drivers and Software, then choose the graphics driver from the results.
4. Select Download and open the .exe file when it finishes.
5. Select Begin Installation and follow the steps until the installer shows Installation Complete.

Many laptops and brand-name desktops use an Intel driver customized by the computer maker. You can install a graphics driver either from your computer manufacturer or from Intel’s Download Center. On some PCs the Intel installer stops with a message that the system has a driver “locked to manufacturer specification.” In that case, get the graphics driver from your PC maker’s support site or from Windows Update. Be aware that replacing a customized driver with Intel’s generic one removes the manufacturer’s customizations.

Install a driver you already downloaded

Some drivers arrive as a folder of files with no installer. Device Manager can load them directly:

1. Download the driver from the manufacturer’s website. Make sure it matches your Windows version and architecture, and use only the manufacturer’s official site. Extract the files if they came in a compressed folder.
2. Right-click Start, select Device Manager, and expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click the adapter and select Update driver.
4. Select Browse my computer for drivers, then the Browse… button.
5. Go to the folder that holds the driver files and select OK.
6. Check that the path is right and select Next. Windows installs the driver from that folder.
7. Select Close and restart.

Confirm the new driver is installed

1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics adapter, and select Properties.
3. Open the Driver tab and read Driver Version.

The number should match the version you downloaded and be different from the one you wrote down earlier. Then open the game or app that prompted the update and check that it behaves properly.

Roll back or reinstall the driver if something goes wrong

If problems begin right after an update, return to the previous driver. That often resolves issues that appear after a driver change.

1. Open Device Manager and expand Display adapters.
2. Right-click the adapter and select Properties.
3. On the Driver tab, select Roll Back Driver.
4. Choose a reason when asked, then select Yes to confirm.

To reinstall instead, right-click the adapter, select Uninstall device, confirm with Uninstall, and restart. Windows attempts to install the driver again when it starts. NVIDIA’s app also offers a way to return to the previously installed driver after you have installed a newer one through it. If nothing else helps, use the restore point you created before updating.

Troubleshooting GPU driver updates

The screen is blank or black after the update

Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B. This resets the graphics driver, and you should hear a beep or see the screen flicker. If the picture does not return, press Windows logo key + P to cycle through display modes in case Windows is sending the image to another screen. If the display is still blank, start Windows 11 in Safe Mode, open Device Manager, and roll back the display driver. Microsoft’s blank screen troubleshooting page covers the full sequence.

Roll Back Driver is greyed out

Windows can only roll back when it still has the earlier driver stored. If the button is unavailable, download the older version you want from the manufacturer and install it over the current one, or use your restore point. Also confirm you are signed in as an administrator. A crashing graphics driver can leave you with a blank grey display, and fixing a grey screen on Windows 11 explains when rolling back a driver works better than updating it.

Optional updates shows no graphics driver

Turn on Receive updates for other Microsoft products in Advanced options, return to Windows Update, and check for updates again. Install anything that is pending, restart, and look once more. If there is still nothing, visit the hardware manufacturer’s website for the latest driver that supports your version of Windows.

The installer says the driver is not compatible or will not start

Compare the product you selected on the download page with the adapter name in Device Manager, and confirm you chose Windows 11. On a laptop, check the computer maker’s support page, because the graphics driver may be customized for that model.

You are using a work or school PC

Organizations often block driver installation or control which updates appear. If the installer asks for an administrator password you do not have, or options are missing, ask your IT department to install the update.

You are tempted by a driver updater program

You do not need one. Windows Update and the NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel tools cover every graphics driver, and Microsoft warns against downloading drivers from any website other than the manufacturer’s official site.

Frequently asked questions

Does Windows 11 update GPU drivers automatically?

Yes, to a point. Windows Update automatically downloads and installs recommended driver updates, including those for video cards. Optional driver updates wait until you select them, and the newest releases from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel are usually available from those companies first.

How often should I update my graphics driver?

There is no required schedule. Update when a new game or app asks for a newer driver, when a release fixes a problem you actually have, or when you notice glitches, crashes, or poor performance. If everything works, letting Windows Update handle it is fine.

Do I need to uninstall the old driver first?

Normally no. The NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel installers replace the existing driver during setup. If an update leaves you with problems, use the vendor’s own clean-up choice, such as AMD’s Factory Reset, or uninstall the device in Device Manager and restart.

What if I install the wrong driver?

The chip makers’ tools are built to prevent this: AMD’s installer checks hardware compatibility before it offers a package, and Intel’s assistant detects your hardware for you. If a wrong or faulty driver does get installed, use Roll Back Driver or your restore point.

Should a laptop use the laptop maker’s driver or the chip maker’s?

Start with Windows Update and the laptop maker’s support page, since those drivers are matched to your model. Move to the chip maker’s version when you need a newer release, and keep in mind Intel’s warning that a generic driver can remove manufacturer customizations.

Is it normal for the screen to flicker or go black during installation?

Yes, that is normal. Leave the PC alone until the installer finishes.

Once the driver is current, you can go a step further on a PC with two graphics chips and choose which graphics card an app uses in Windows 11.

If a driver refuses to cooperate, try uninstalling and reinstalling NVIDIA drivers on Windows 11 or removing incompatible drivers in Windows 11.