How to Update Graphics Drivers on Windows 11 (NVIDIA, AMD and Intel)

To update graphics drivers on Windows 11, use the vendor’s own app: the NVIDIA app for GeForce cards, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition for Radeon cards, and Intel’s graphics software or Driver & Support Assistant for Arc and Intel integrated graphics. Each one detects your card, downloads a matching package and installs it, usually in 10 to 15 minutes including a restart. This guide applies to Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 on desktops and laptops, and it also covers clean installs, rolling back a bad driver and what to do when an install fails.

Quick Answer

• Check what you have first: right-click Start, open Device Manager > Display adapters, and note the name of each graphics device.
• NVIDIA: open the NVIDIA app, go to the Drivers tab, click Check for updates, then Download and Install.
• AMD: open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and use its update prompt or Check for Updates button on the Home tab.
• Intel: open Intel Graphics Software if it is installed, or run Intel Driver & Support Assistant and choose to check for new drivers.
• Restart when the installer asks, then confirm the new version in Device Manager.

Before You Start

Updating a graphics driver replaces core display software, so choose a stable moment: save your work, close games and recording tools, and expect the screen to flicker or go black for a few seconds during installation. Make sure you have administrator rights and a working internet connection, and do not shut the PC down while the installer is running.

Create a restore point first (search for Create a restore point in the Start menu). It gives you a fallback if something goes wrong, although the driver rollback described below is usually the faster fix.

If you use a laptop, know that the manufacturer may customize the graphics driver for your model. Generic drivers from the chip maker are usually fine, but Intel warns that its generic driver can overwrite an OEM driver chosen by your laptop maker. If your laptop has special hotkeys, switchable graphics or a custom display panel, check the laptop maker’s support page for a matching driver before you install a generic one. Many laptops have both an Intel or AMD integrated GPU and a separate GPU, and each one may need its own driver.

Finally, remember that a newer driver is not always a better one. If your games run well and you see no errors, updating can wait until a game you play lists a driver requirement in its patch notes.

Method 1: Update With the Vendor App

NVIDIA GeForce

1. Open the NVIDIA app from the Start menu. It replaced GeForce Experience, so older instructions that mention that program no longer apply.
2. Click the Drivers tab on the left. The app checks automatically; you can also click Check for updates at the top right.
3. Check the driver type shown at the top: Game Ready Driver or Studio Driver. Game Ready focuses on new game support, while Studio targets creative software. Gaming performance between the two on the same generation is usually very close.
4. Click Download. When it finishes, choose Express installation for a normal update, or Custom installation if you want to choose components or tick the clean installation box.
5. Click Install and approve the Windows prompt. The screen may go dark briefly.

AMD Radeon

1. Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition from the Start menu or the system tray.
2. On the Home tab, look at the driver and software section. If a new version is available, a Download button or update notice appears; you can also use Check for Updates.
3. Choose to install, follow the prompts, and let the screen refresh. The app keeps checking periodically unless you turn that off in its update manager.

Intel Arc and Intel integrated graphics

1. If Intel Graphics Software is installed (it ships with recent drivers and replaces Arc Control), open it and look for the driver update option. Exact labels can differ between versions.
2. If it cannot find the newest release, use the Intel Driver & Support Assistant. Find its icon in the hidden tray icons, open it, and choose to check for new drivers. Intel names this tool as its workaround when other apps do not find the latest package.
3. Download and install, then restart.

Method 2: Use Windows Update or Device Manager

This route needs no extra software, although the driver Windows offers may be older than the newest vendor release.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates.
2. Expand Driver updates. If a graphics driver is listed, tick it and click Download & install.
3. Alternatively, right-click Start and open Device Manager. Expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics device, and choose Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers, or Browse my computer for drivers if you have already downloaded a package from the manufacturer.

Windows is a safe way to get a working driver, but vendor apps usually deliver newer packages together with control software. Some users report Windows Update replacing a newer Intel driver with an older one; if that happens, hide the unwanted update or pause updates for a short time.

Method 3: Clean Install, Manual Download and Rollback

1. Download the driver for your exact model from the NVIDIA, AMD or Intel support site. Pick your product family and Windows 11, and save the file to a folder you can find.
2. Right-click the installer and choose Run as administrator. For NVIDIA, select Custom (Advanced) and tick Perform a clean installation, which resets driver settings and any profiles you created to defaults. AMD’s installer offers its own reset-style option in the install choices if you need it; the wording differs between versions.
3. Restart when prompted. Reapply your game profiles, color settings and any custom fan or display options afterward.
4. To go back to an older driver, open Device Manager > Display adapters, right-click your GPU, choose Properties, open the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver if the button is available.
5. The NVIDIA app also keeps a list under Previously installed on the Drivers page, where you can reinstall an older version.

A clean installation helps because it removes leftover settings from earlier versions that can conflict with the new files. It also removes custom profiles, so only use it when you need it. Third-party removal tools exist, but the chip makers do not support them, so try the vendor’s clean install first.

To confirm the version, open Device Manager, double-click your GPU, and read Driver Version on the Driver tab. On NVIDIA cards, the number in Device Manager looks like 32.0.15.xxxx; the last five digits, read as three digits, a dot and two digits, match the version shown by NVIDIA. You can also type dxdiag in Start and check the Display tab for the driver date and version.

If It Did Not Work

• The installer fails or hangs. Close background programs, finish any pending Windows Update, restart, and run the installer again as administrator. NVIDIA’s own guidance is to use the standalone installer with a clean installation if the app install fails.
• The screen stays black after install. Press Windows key, Ctrl, Shift and B together to reset the graphics stack. If that does not help, restart in Safe Mode from Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup and use Roll Back Driver.
• Device Manager shows Code 43. The message “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems” can come from a driver fault, a loose power connection or a failing card. Reinstall the driver cleanly, then reseat the power cables if you are comfortable opening the case.
• Crashes continue after an update. Look in Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System for Event ID 4101, which says the display driver stopped responding and recovered. Roll back to the previous driver and note which version works.
• The update check finds nothing. The app may be offline or out of sync. For Intel, switch to Driver & Support Assistant; for AMD, clear the app’s cache or download the package manually.
• Windows reinstalls an older driver. Hide that update using Microsoft’s show-or-hide tool, or review optional updates in Windows Update before you accept new drivers.

Common Questions

How often should I update my graphics driver?

Update when a game you play needs it, when you see bugs that a release note mentions, or every few months for general security fixes. There is no need to install every release the day it appears.

Should I pick Game Ready or Studio?

For gaming, Game Ready is the usual choice because it carries launch-day support for new titles. Studio suits creative software, and the two are very close in game performance. You can switch between them in the NVIDIA app.

Will updating delete my game settings?

A normal update keeps most settings. A clean installation resets driver settings and profiles, but your games and their saves are separate and stay where they are.

Is it safe to use a driver updater tool from a third-party website?

It is better to avoid them. Drivers control the hardware at a low level, so install them from the chip maker, your laptop or PC maker, or Windows Update.

Do I need to update the integrated graphics driver too?

If your PC uses switchable graphics, yes, it is worth keeping both current, especially on laptops. Check the laptop maker’s support page for the matching version.

Update History

• October 14, 2026 – Initial publication; steps checked against Windows 11 24H2/25H2 and current driver releases.
• Menus can differ slightly by Windows build, BIOS vendor and driver version; check your own screens against the steps.

Sources

• NVIDIA support documentation on the NVIDIA app and clean driver installation
• AMD support documentation for AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition
• Intel support documentation for Intel Arc graphics drivers and Intel Driver & Support Assistant
• Microsoft Support documentation on Windows Update and Device Manager