Windows automatically downloads and installs recommended drivers through Windows Update when a compatible package is available. Optional driver updates in Windows 11 are different: you must choose them yourself. For a device-specific problem, check the official support source for your exact PC or component rather than relying on a universal driver-updater app. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so its current support status also matters.
What Windows updates automatically
Windows Update regularly checks for drivers and can download and install a newer compatible driver offered for your device. To check for updates, open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. This is the simplest route for routine maintenance.
Automatic delivery does not mean every device receives the newest driver as soon as its manufacturer releases one. Windows matches driver packages to applicable hardware and applies selection rules that consider factors such as hardware ID, date, version, and category. A newer optional package may not take precedence over an older critical package. Microsoft’s driver-distribution guidance explains how automatic and manual distribution work, while its driver-selection guidance describes package matching and ranking.
How to install optional driver updates in Windows 11
Optional drivers are not installed automatically. Check this list when troubleshooting a device or when you have a reason to install a particular offered package; it is not a checklist that you must clear.
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- Games and applications bogged down by outdated drivers run smoothly again and start faster.
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- Offers a driver backup function, allowing for easy rollback to the previous state if problems arise.
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Advanced options > Optional updates.
- If a Driver updates section appears, expand it and review the listed devices and providers.
- Select only the relevant driver update or updates, then choose Download and install.
- Restart the PC when installation finishes. Microsoft recommends restarting after these steps even if Windows does not prompt you.
The available list depends on what Windows has to offer for your hardware. An empty list does not prove that a device has no driver or that it needs no attention. If you are investigating a specific issue, identify the affected device and check its official support source.
For Microsoft’s current instructions, see Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers.
Which driver-update route should you use?
| Route | Coverage and matching | How automatic is it? | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Update | Broadly applicable recommended drivers matched to the device | Recommended drivers can download and install automatically; optional drivers require your selection | Routine upkeep and the first check for an available update |
| PC manufacturer support or utility | Packages for a particular laptop, all-in-one, or prebuilt desktop model | May scan for updates, but availability and installation steps vary by model and vendor | Model-specific drivers, especially when investigating a PC issue |
| Component manufacturer utility | Supported products from that component maker | Can identify or list applicable updates; follow its instructions and review what it offers | A matching Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA component when an update is needed |
Check your PC manufacturer for model-specific drivers
For a laptop, all-in-one, or prebuilt desktop, start with the maker’s official support page or support application and identify the exact PC model. These sources can provide packages tailored to a particular system. Features vary by device, region, and current support policy; a utility or update menu may not be available on every model.
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ASUS
On supported systems, ASUS documents checking for updates in MyASUS > System Update. Its support page also provides model-specific downloads. ASUS notes that MyASUS update features may not appear on unsupported devices. See ASUS’s BIOS and driver update instructions.
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Lenovo
Lenovo’s guidance lets you detect or browse for your product and use Automatic Update to scan for drivers. Availability depends on the product. See Lenovo’s driver-update tips.
Use a component maker’s utility only for supported hardware
Component utilities are not universal driver updaters. Use one that matches hardware actually installed in your PC, and check the maker’s current compatibility details before installing. For laptops and prebuilt systems, the PC maker may provide customized packages, so check its support source first.
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- Comprehensive Solution: This Windows 10 reinstall DVD provides a complete solution for resolving various system issues, including crashes, malware infections, boot failures, and performance slowdowns. Repair, Recover, Restore, and Reinstall any version of Windows.
- USB will work on any type of computer (make or model). Creates a new copy of Windows! DOES NOT INCLUDE product key.
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Intel Driver & Support Assistant
Intel Driver & Support Assistant detects Intel products and presents available driver and software updates for most Intel hardware. Check Intel’s page for current operating-system applicability and product exclusions: Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
AMD Auto-Detect and Install
AMD’s utility checks compatible Radeon graphics, Ryzen chipsets, and the Windows version before offering compatible packages. AMD’s instructions, updated June 2, 2025, list Windows 11 version 21H2 and later and Windows 10 64-bit version 1809 and later. Unsupported products should be handled through AMD’s product selector and support pages; confirm current applicability on AMD’s Auto-Detect and Install page.
NVIDIA Update
NVIDIA describes a scan for supported GeForce and ION GPU configurations, with driver notifications that direct users to the relevant NVIDIA driver page. The documented scope does not establish support for every NVIDIA product, so verify your exact hardware and follow current instructions at NVIDIA Update.
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Windows 10: support ended October 14, 2025
Microsoft states that after October 14, 2025, it no longer provides free software updates through Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. This is a support lifecycle change; it does not mean a PC immediately stops working. Microsoft’s driver instructions cover Windows 10 and Windows 11, but do not treat Windows 10 as a currently supported operating system. Check Microsoft’s Windows end-of-support information for lifecycle details.
Do not confuse a Windows feature upgrade with a driver update
Windows Update Assistant is for manually downloading and installing a Windows feature update on a compatible PC; it is not a universal driver updater. For ordinary updates, including drivers offered through Windows Update, use Settings > Windows Update. Microsoft explains the distinction on its Windows Update Assistant page.
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