Updating your video card drivers in Windows is an important part of maintaining the performance of your computer. Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can cause a range of issues, from visual artifacts and crashing applications to poor system performance. In this article, we’ll look at how to update your video card drivers in Windows.
1. Check Your System and Drivers
Before you begin, it’s important to find out what type of video card you have in your system. To do this, open the Windows Start menu and type “Device Manager” into the search bar. You’ll need to be an administrator to open this tool.
Once the Device Manager window has opened, expand the Display Adapters section. Here you should see the name and manufacturer of your video card. It’s usually best to download the latest drivers for your specific model, so make sure you have this information handy.
2. Download Drivers from the Manufacturer Website
Once you’ve found the exact model of your video card, it’s time to download the newest drivers from your card’s manufacturer website. If you’re unsure of who made your card, you can often find this information in the Device Manager as well.
Most manufacturers will have a dedicated “Downloads” or “Drivers” page on their website. Here, you should be able to find the software necessary to install the new drivers for your card. Depending on your model, the process might differ, so be sure to read any included documentation before proceeding.
3. Uninstall Existing Drivers
It’s always a good idea to uninstall existing drivers before installing new ones. To do this, open the Device Manager again and select your video card from the list. Then, right-click and select “Uninstall device”. This step ensures that any old drivers are completely removed from your system before you install the new ones.
4. Install the New Drivers
Now that you’ve downloaded the driver package, you’re ready to install the new video card drivers. Depending on the instructions given by the manufacturer, there are usually two ways you can do this.
The first option is to locate the downloaded file on your computer and double-click it to launch the installation process. You may have to approve certain screens during the setup process, but once it’s complete, your new drivers should be installed and ready to go.
Alternatively, some drivers allow you to simply copy the files to a folder on your system and then manually update your drivers. This is done by opening the Device Manager, right-clicking your video card and selecting “Update driver” from the list. You’ll then have the option to search for updated drivers either on your PC or online. Select the location you want to search and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
5. Check Your Drivers Are Installed
Once you’ve completed the installation process, it’s important to check that everything has gone according to plan. To do this, open the Device Manager again and select your video card from the list. The driver version number should now be listed at the top of the window, as well as the date it was released.
If you’re still having issues with your video card or you’re not sure if the drivers were installed correctly, it’s always a good idea to contact the manufacturer’s support team for help.
Updating your video card drivers in Windows is an important part of keeping your system running smoothly and efficiently. By downloading the latest drivers, you can ensure that all your graphics tasks run without any issues. Before you start, make sure you have the exact model of your video card handy. Then, download the latest driver package from the manufacturer’s website and follow the instructions to install them. Once you’ve finished, check that the version and date of the driver are correct in the Device Manager. With these steps, you’re sure to keep your system running optimally.