How to Find Out Which Graphics Driver You Have Installed

The fastest way to check your graphics driver

Open Device Manager on Windows by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it from the menu, or press Windows key + X and choose it from the list. Expand "Display adapters" by clicking the arrow next to it. The name shown there — usually something like "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660" or "AMD Radeon RX 6600" — is your graphics card. Right-click it, select "Properties", then click the "Driver" tab. The driver version number appears under "Driver Version".

On Mac, click the Apple menu, select "About This Mac", then click "System Report". In the window that opens, click "Graphics/Displays" in the left sidebar. The driver information appears on the right side, though macOS typically handles driver updates automatically and does not display version numbers the way Windows does.

On Linux, open a terminal and type lspci | grep -i vga to see your graphics card, then type glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version" to see driver details. Different Linux distributions handle graphics drivers differently, so the output will vary.

Key Takeaways

On Windows, Device Manager shows your graphics card name and driver version in one place — right-click the card under "Display adapters" and open Properties.
The driver version number tells you when the driver was last updated, which matters if you are experiencing crashes or performance problems.
You can also check the driver through the graphics card manufacturer's control panel — NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings — if you have it installed.
On Mac, graphics drivers update with the operating system itself, so there is no separate driver version to track.

Checking through the graphics card control panel

If you have NVIDIA graphics, right-click your desktop and select "NVIDIA Control Panel" if it appears in the menu. In the window that opens, look for a "Help" or "About" option, or check the bottom right corner for version information. Some versions of NVIDIA Control Panel display the driver version directly on the main screen.

For AMD graphics, right-click your desktop and select "AMD Radeon Settings" if available. Open the settings menu and look for "System" or "About" to find the driver version. The exact location varies depending on which version of Radeon Settings you have installed.

These control panels are optional software — you may not have them installed even if you have the graphics card. If they are not on your desktop right-click menu, Device Manager remains the most reliable way to check.

What the driver version number means

Graphics driver version numbers follow different formats depending on the manufacturer. NVIDIA typically uses a format like 531.18 or 546.29, where the first number is the major release and the second is the minor update. AMD uses formats like 23.12.1 or 24.1.1, structured by year and month. Intel uses formats like 27.20.100.9316.

A newer version number does not always mean a better driver for your specific situation. Newer drivers sometimes introduce problems with older games or software, while older drivers may lack support for new hardware or games. If you are experiencing crashes or performance drops after a driver update, checking the version number helps you decide whether to roll back to a previous version.

Driver release notes — published on the manufacturer's website — explain what each version fixes or changes. If your version number matches a release that fixed a problem you are having, updating may help. If your version is very old (more than a year behind the current release), updating is usually worth trying if you are experiencing problems.

Checking driver age and update status

Once you know your driver version, visit the manufacturer's website to see what the current version is. NVIDIA publishes drivers at nvidia.com/read/driverDetails.html, AMD at amd.com/en/support, and Intel at intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html. Search for your graphics card model and operating system to find the latest available version.

Compare the version number you found in Device Manager to the latest version on the manufacturer's site. If they match, your driver is current. If the latest version is significantly higher, your driver is outdated. A difference of one or two minor versions (like 531.18 versus 531.29) usually means you are close to current. A difference in the major version number (like 531 versus 546) means several months have passed since your last update.

Windows Update sometimes installs graphics drivers automatically, but they are often generic versions that may not include the latest features or fixes. Checking the manufacturer's website directly tells you whether a newer driver exists that Windows Update has not yet delivered to your system.

Why checking your driver matters for driving apps

If you use your computer for gig work — delivery apps, rideshare platforms, or navigation software — an outdated graphics driver can cause the app to run slowly, freeze, or crash. These apps rely on your graphics card to render maps, display notifications, and handle video calls. A driver that is more than six months old may lack optimizations for current app versions.

Checking your driver version takes two minutes and costs nothing. If you are experiencing app crashes or slowdowns, an outdated driver is one of the first things to investigate. Updating is usually free and automatic once you read it from the manufacturer's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my graphics driver version without opening Device Manager?

Yes. Right-click your desktop and look for "NVIDIA Control Panel" or "AMD Radeon Settings" in the menu. If either appears, you can open it and find driver information there. On Windows 11, you can also go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display and scroll down to see graphics information, though it may not show the exact driver version.

What should I do if Device Manager shows "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter"?

This usually means Windows does not have the correct driver installed for your graphics card. Visit the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), search for your graphics card model and operating system, read the driver, and run the installer. After installation and a restart, Device Manager should show the correct card name.

Is it safe to update my graphics driver?

Yes, updating is generally safe. Manufacturers test drivers before release. However, if you are using specialized software that relies on a specific driver version, check the software's documentation first. For most people and most apps, including delivery and rideshare platforms, the latest driver is the safest choice.

Why does my driver version look different from what the manufacturer's website shows?

Different manufacturers display version numbers differently. NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel all use different formats. Also, some drivers are released for specific hardware or operating system versions, so the latest version on the website may not be the latest for your exact setup. Device Manager shows what is actually installed on your computer, which is what matters.

Do I need to uninstall the old driver before installing a new one?

Most modern driver installers handle this automatically. read the latest driver from the manufacturer's website, run the installer, and follow the prompts. The installer will replace the old driver without requiring manual removal. If you experience problems after updating, you can use Device Manager to roll back to the previous version by right-clicking the graphics card, selecting Properties, going to the Driver tab, and clicking "Roll Back Driver".

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.