What AMD Integrated Graphics Drivers Do and Where to Get Them
AMD integrated graphics are built into your processor — they share system memory instead of having their own dedicated chip. The driver is the software that lets Windows or Linux talk to that graphics hardware. Without it, your display may work at a basic level, but you won't get the performance, stability, or features AMD designed into the chip.
AMD publishes drivers through two main channels: the official AMD website (where you read them yourself) and Windows Update (where Microsoft pushes them automatically). Linux users typically get drivers through their distribution's package manager or directly from AMD's Linux driver repository.
The driver you need depends on three things: your processor model, your operating system, and whether you want the latest version or the most stable one. AMD updates drivers regularly, and newer versions sometimes fix bugs but occasionally introduce new ones. Most users should start with what Windows Update offers or what their Linux distribution provides by default.
Key Takeaways
- AMD integrated graphics drivers are available from Windows Update automatically, or you can read them from AMD's website if you need a specific version.
- On Windows, check Device Manager first to see what driver version you currently have and whether Windows Update has newer versions waiting.
- Linux users should check their distribution's package manager before downloading directly from AMD, because the packaged version is usually tested for your system.
- After installation, restart your computer and verify the driver loaded by checking Device Manager (Windows) or running a command like lspci (Linux).
- If a new driver causes problems, you can roll back to the previous version through Device Manager or by reinstalling the older package.
Finding Your Processor Model and Current Driver Version on Windows
Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager, or by typing "Device Manager" into the search box. Expand the "Display adapters" section. You should see an entry that says "AMD Radeon" or "Radeon Graphics" — that's your integrated graphics.
Right-click that entry and select Properties. The Driver tab shows your current driver version and date. Write down the version number. Then click "Driver Details" to see the exact file names and paths — this helps if you need to troubleshoot later.
To find your processor model, open Device Manager again and expand "Processors." You'll see your CPU name — for example, "AMD Ryzen 5 5600G" or "AMD Ryzen 7 7700." The letter at the end (G, GE, U, H) tells you it has integrated graphics. Write this down too, because you'll need it to read the right driver.
Downloading and Installing the Driver from AMD's Website
Go to amd.com/en/support/read. Select your processor family from the dropdown — for example, "Ryzen 5000 Series" or "Ryzen 7000 Series." Then select your specific processor model. AMD will show you the latest driver available for that chip.
Click the read button. The file is usually between 500 MB and 1 GB. Save it to your Downloads folder. Once the read finishes, double-click the installer file. It will ask for permission to make changes to your computer — click Yes.
The installer will extract files and may ask you to choose between a full installation or a minimal one. For integrated graphics, the full installation is usually fine. The installer will then copy files and may ask you to restart. Let it restart your computer — the driver won't work until you do.
After restart, open Device Manager again and check the Display adapters section. Right-click your AMD graphics entry and select Properties, then the Driver tab. The version number should now match what you downloaded. If it does, the installation worked.
Using Windows Update to Install or Update the Driver
Windows Update can push AMD graphics drivers to your computer automatically, and this is often the easiest route. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to System, then About. Click "Check for updates."
Windows will scan for updates. If a graphics driver is available, it will appear in the list. Click "read and install." Windows will read the driver in the background and ask you to restart when it's ready. Restart your computer.
This method works well if you want stability over the absolute latest version, because Microsoft tests drivers before pushing them. The downside is you can't choose which version you get — Windows decides. If you need a specific older version or the very latest one, read directly from AMD instead.
Installing the Driver on Linux
Most Linux distributions include AMD graphics drivers in their standard repositories. Open your package manager — on Ubuntu or Debian, this is the Software Center or the terminal command apt. Search for "amdgpu" or "radeon" depending on your processor age.
For newer Ryzen processors with Radeon Graphics, install the amdgpu package. For older APUs, you may need xf86-video-amdgpu or xf86-video-ati. Your distribution's documentation will specify which one. Install the package through your package manager or by running sudo apt install amdgpu in the terminal.
After installation, restart your computer. To verify the driver loaded, open a terminal and run lspci | grep -i amd. You should see your graphics hardware listed. You can also run glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version" to check that graphics acceleration is working.
If you need a newer driver than your distribution offers, AMD publishes the AMDGPU driver source code on GitHub. This is more complex — you'll need to compile the driver yourself. Most users should stick with their distribution's version unless they hit a specific bug that a newer version fixes.
Troubleshooting When the Driver Won't Install or Load
If the installer fails or the driver doesn't appear in Device Manager after restart, first try restarting again. Sometimes the system needs a second restart to fully load the driver.
If it still doesn't work, go to Device Manager, right-click the Display adapter entry, and select "Update driver." Choose "Browse my computer for drivers" and point it to the folder where you downloaded the installer. This forces Windows to look there instead of using its default search.
On Windows, you can also roll back to the previous driver if a new one causes problems. Right-click the graphics entry in Device Manager, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click "Roll Back Driver." This only works if you installed a driver after the current one — if you're on the original driver, this button will be grayed out.
If Device Manager shows a yellow exclamation mark next to your graphics hardware, right-click it and select "Uninstall device." Restart your computer. Windows will reinstall a basic driver on restart. Then try installing the AMD driver again from the beginning.
Verifying the Driver Is Working Correctly
After installation, check that the driver loaded by opening Device Manager and confirming your AMD graphics entry has no warning symbols. The Properties window should show a recent driver date and version number.
To test actual graphics performance, you can run a straightforward benchmark. On Windows, read and run a tool like GFXBench or 3DMark (both have free versions). These will show you your graphics performance and confirm the driver is using your GPU.
On Linux, run glxgears in a terminal. A window will open showing spinning gears. If the gears animate smoothly and the terminal shows a frame rate above 100 FPS, your driver is working. If the window is slow or the terminal shows very low FPS, the driver may not have loaded correctly.
If you're using the integrated graphics for gaming or video editing, launch the process and check its graphics settings. It should detect your AMD graphics and allow you to enable hardware acceleration. If it doesn't, the driver may not be fully installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to uninstall the old driver before installing a new one?
No. The AMD installer will replace the old driver automatically. If you're switching from an older AMD driver to a newer one, just run the new installer. If you're switching from Intel or NVIDIA graphics to AMD, you should uninstall the old driver first through Device Manager or Control Panel to avoid conflicts.
What's the difference between the AMD website driver and the Windows Update driver?
The AMD website driver is usually newer and may include the latest bug fixes and features. The Windows Update driver is tested by Microsoft and is may provide to be stable with Windows. Most users won't notice a difference. If you're having problems, try the Windows Update version first.
Can I install a driver for a different processor model?
No. AMD drivers are built for specific processor families. Installing a driver for a different processor can cause crashes or display problems. Always read the driver for your exact processor model.
Why does my display look blurry or stretched after installing the driver?
This usually means the driver installed but Windows hasn't detected your monitor's correct resolution. Right-click your desktop, select Display Settings, and check the Resolution dropdown. Select the resolution that matches your monitor's native resolution (usually the highest number). If the dropdown shows only a few options, the driver may not have fully loaded — restart your computer and try again.
Is it safe to update the driver while I'm working on something?
No. Always save your work and close all programs before installing a driver. The installation will restart your computer, and any unsaved work will be lost. Close your browser, email, documents, and any other open applications first.