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Windows 11 updates most compatible drivers through Windows Update, but it does not install every driver released by a hardware manufacturer. For graphics, Wi-Fi, audio, printers, chipsets, and other devices, you may need to check Optional updates, use Device Manager, or download the correct package from the PC or hardware maker.
This guide covers the safest automatic and manual methods, how to verify the installed driver, how to roll back a bad update, and what to do when Windows says the best driver is already installed.
Before updating: check your Windows 11 version
Driver procedures in this guide apply to supported Windows 11 installations. To check your version:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
winverand select OK.
As of August 8, 2026, Microsoft lists Windows 11 versions 26H1, 25H2, and 24H2 as current client releases. Windows 11 23H2 is no longer supported for Home and Pro editions after November 11, 2025. Keeping Windows itself supported can matter when a driver requires newer system components.
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Method 1: update drivers automatically through Windows Update
Windows Update automatically installs recommended drivers when Microsoft has a compatible package available. This is the best first method because Windows checks compatibility and driver signing before installing the package.
Check for normal driver updates
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- Install the available updates.
- Restart the computer if Windows asks you to.
A driver may be installed as part of a normal cumulative or quality update. However, Windows Update does not necessarily offer every driver version published on a manufacturer’s website.
Install optional driver updates
Optional drivers are not installed automatically. Check this section when you are troubleshooting a device or when Windows Update has not offered a driver through the normal update process.
- Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Advanced options.
- Under Additional options, select Optional updates.
- If available, make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft products is enabled.
- Expand Driver updates.
- Select the driver packages you want to install.
- Select Download and install.
- Restart Windows after installation, even if a restart is not explicitly requested.
The Optional updates page can be empty or missing. That normally means Microsoft has no optional driver package currently applicable to your computer. It does not prove that the hardware maker has no newer driver.
Method 2: update a driver with Device Manager
Device Manager is useful when one particular device is malfunctioning, appears with a warning symbol, or needs a driver from a folder you have already downloaded.
Search automatically for a driver
- Search for Device Manager from the taskbar and open it.
- Expand the category containing the device. Common categories include Display adapters, Network adapters, Sound, video and game controllers, Bluetooth, Keyboards, and Printers.
- Right-click the device and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers.
- Follow the prompts and restart if requested.
If Windows reports that the best drivers are already installed, it means Windows did not find a newer or better-ranked compatible package through its available sources. It does not guarantee that the manufacturer has not released a newer driver.
Install a downloaded driver folder
Use this option when the manufacturer supplied extracted driver files containing an .inf file.
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- Open Device Manager.
- Right-click the target device and select Update driver.
- Select Browse my computer for drivers.
- Select Browse and choose the folder containing the extracted driver.
- Leave Include subfolders enabled if the package contains multiple folders.
- Select Next.
Some packages cannot be installed this way. A manufacturer’s .exe or .msi installer may also install firmware, control-panel software, background services, or related components. Use the manufacturer’s installer when its instructions require it.
Method 3: download the driver from the official manufacturer
Use the source that matches the hardware:
| Hardware | Where to get the driver |
|---|---|
| Laptop or branded desktop | The PC manufacturer’s support page |
| Custom-built PC | The motherboard manufacturer for onboard components; the component maker for add-in hardware |
| Discrete graphics card | The graphics card or GPU manufacturer |
| Printer or scanner | The printer or scanner manufacturer |
| USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other adapter | The adapter manufacturer |
Match the download to the exact model, Windows 11 architecture, and hardware revision when applicable. Laptop owners should generally prefer the laptop maker’s package over a generic package from Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, Realtek, or another component supplier. The OEM package may include device-specific tuning and related software.
Find the exact hardware ID
If Device Manager shows Unknown device or an unhelpful model name:
- Right-click the device and select Properties.
- Open the Details tab.
- Open the Property menu.
- Select Hardware Ids or Compatible Ids.
- Use the displayed identifier to locate the correct support page.
Do not rely on third-party “driver updater” databases as your primary source. Windows chooses among compatible packages using signing, compatibility, ranking, date, and version information. The package with the newest-looking version number is not necessarily the correct one.
Method 4: install an INF driver with PnPUtil
PnPUtil is built into Windows 11 and can add, install, list, and remove driver packages. Use it only when you know which driver package you are installing.
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Add and install one INF file
Open Command Prompt as administrator, then run:
pnputil /add-driver "C:Driversdevice.inf" /installAdd all INF files in a folder
pnputil /add-driver "C:Drivers*.inf" /installInclude subfolders
pnputil /add-driver "C:Drivers*.inf" /subdirs /installList third-party driver packages
pnputil /enum-driversList devices with a problem code
pnputil /enum-devices /problemShow matching drivers for a device
pnputil /enum-devices /instanceid "<device instance ID>" /driversThe /install switch does not force an incompatible or lower-ranked driver onto a device. Windows may stage the package in the Driver Store without making it the active driver. Driver packages must also pass Windows integrity and validation checks; unsigned or improperly packaged drivers can be rejected.
Verify the installed driver
- Open Device Manager.
- Right-click the device and select Properties.
- Open the Driver tab.
Review the Driver Provider, Driver Date, and Driver Version. These details help confirm whether the intended package was installed. A newer date alone does not prove that the driver is better for your hardware.
Roll back a driver that causes problems
If the device worked before the update but fails afterward, use the previous driver when Windows still has one available.
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- Expand the relevant category.
- Right-click the device and select Properties.
- Open the Driver tab.
- Select Roll Back Driver.
- Select Yes.
- Restart the PC.
The button is unavailable when Windows has no previous driver to restore. Administrator privileges are required.
Reinstall or remove a driver
Reinstall through Device Manager
- Open Device Manager.
- Right-click the device and select Uninstall device.
- If available, select Delete the driver software for this device.
- Select Uninstall.
- Restart Windows, or select Action > Scan for hardware changes.
The deletion checkbox may not appear without administrator privileges. If the hardware remains connected, Windows can rediscover it and reinstall a driver automatically.
Remove a published package with PnPUtil
First list the packages:
pnputil /enum-driversFind the package’s Published Name, such as oem42.inf, then remove it with:
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pnputil /delete-driver oem42.inf /uninstallBe careful: removing the wrong package can leave a device without a working driver. Uninstalling a device is not the same as permanently deleting its package from the Driver Store.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteCommon driver-update problems
“The best drivers for your device are already installed”
Windows did not find a newer or better-ranked compatible package from its available sources. Check the official PC or device manufacturer’s support page if you need a particular fix or release.
No driver is listed under Optional updates
This is normal when Windows Update has no optional package applicable to the device. Check the manufacturer’s site if you need a newer package than the one Windows provides.
The driver installs, but the device still fails
Look for a yellow warning triangle in Device Manager and open Properties to view the problem code. You can also run:
pnputil /enum-devices /problemPossible causes include an incompatible package, a missing associated service, an installation policy, or a restart that did not complete.
The vendor installer says the hardware is unsupported
The package may target a different model, Windows release, architecture, hardware revision, or device variant. For a laptop or branded desktop, try the manufacturer’s own support package instead of a generic component-driver package.
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Windows reinstalls the old driver
Uninstalling a device does not necessarily remove its package from the Driver Store. Windows can detect the connected hardware again and reinstall that package. If permanent removal is necessary, identify the correct Published Name and remove it with PnPUtil.
A driver is blocked after a Windows update
Windows uses driver-signing and code-integrity protections, and security updates can block known vulnerable third-party kernel drivers. Install an updated driver or application from the publisher. Do not disable Windows security protections just to load an old driver.
Windows Update fails during a driver installation
Start with the automated Windows Update troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Other possible causes include third-party antivirus software, disk errors, insufficient free space, or corrupted Windows component files.
Should you update every driver manually?
No. A driver does not need replacing merely because a utility labels it “outdated.” Update when Windows Update, the PC maker, or the hardware manufacturer supplies a compatible package—or when the update addresses a real problem, adds required support, or fixes a security issue.
A practical order is:
- Run Windows Update.
- Check Optional updates.
- Use the OEM support page for laptops and branded desktops.
- Use the component manufacturer for discrete graphics cards, printers, adapters, and other separately purchased hardware.
- Use Device Manager or PnPUtil when you need to target a specific package.
- Roll back if the update creates a new problem.
FAQ
Does Windows 11 automatically update all drivers?
No. Windows 11 automatically installs recommended drivers available through Windows Update, but optional drivers are not installed automatically. Hardware manufacturers may also publish drivers that Windows Update does not offer.
What is the safest way to update drivers in Windows 11?
Start with Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Then check Advanced options > Optional updates. For a manual package, use the official support page for the PC or hardware manufacturer and match the exact model.
Why does Device Manager say the best driver is already installed?
Windows did not find a newer or better-ranked compatible package through its available driver sources. The message does not guarantee that the hardware manufacturer has no newer driver.
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How do I undo a bad driver update?
Open Device Manager, right-click the device, select Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver, confirm, and restart. Roll Back Driver is unavailable if Windows has no previous driver to restore.
The Bottom Line
Use Windows Update first, including Optional updates, and use the official PC or hardware manufacturer when you need a specific or newer package. Device Manager and PnPUtil are useful for targeted installations, but do not force an unverified driver simply because its version number is newer. Always verify the device afterward and roll back an update that introduces problems.
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