What a Monitor Driver Does and Why It Needs Updating
A monitor driver is the software that lets your operating system communicate with your display. It controls refresh rate, resolution, color depth, and brightness settings. When you update it, you're installing newer code that may fix display problems, add support for higher resolutions, improve color accuracy, or resolve flickering and lag.
Most people never update their monitor driver because the generic driver built into Windows or Mac works for basic display. But if you see flickering, blurry text, colors that look wrong, or your monitor won't display at its native resolution, a driver update often fixes it. Some monitors also need updated drivers to use features like USB-C docking or built-in speakers.
Unlike graphics card drivers, monitor drivers update rarely — sometimes only once or twice in the monitor's lifetime. You update them only when you have a specific problem or when the manufacturer releases one for a feature you need.
Key Takeaways
- Monitor drivers come from the monitor manufacturer, not from Microsoft or Apple, so you read them from the brand's support website using your monitor model number.
- Windows shows your monitor model in Display Settings under Advanced Display Settings; Mac shows it in System Settings under Displays.
- Most monitor drivers install as executable files (.exe on Windows, .dmg or .pkg on Mac) that you run like any other program.
- After installation, restart your computer and check Display Settings to confirm the new resolution or refresh rate options appear.
- If your monitor is very old or a generic brand, a driver may not exist; in that case, the built-in operating system driver is the only option.
Finding Your Monitor Model Number
Before you can read a driver, you need to know exactly which monitor you own. The model number is printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the monitor itself — look for a label that says "Model" followed by letters and numbers. Write this down or take a photo.
If you can't find the sticker, you can also check your operating system. On Windows, right-click the desktop, select Display Settings, scroll down, and click Advanced Display Settings. Look for the monitor name listed under "Display." On Mac, open System Settings, go to Displays, and the monitor name appears at the top of the panel.
The name Windows or Mac shows may be generic (like "Generic PnP Monitor") or it may be the brand and model. If it's generic, check the physical monitor again. If you still can't find it, you may need to contact the monitor manufacturer with a photo of the monitor or a description of when you bought it.
Downloading the Driver from the Manufacturer
Go to the support or downloads page of your monitor's manufacturer — Dell, LG, ASUS, BenQ, HP, Samsung, or whoever made it. Search for your exact model number in their support search box. The page should show a list of drivers and software for that model.
Look for a file labeled "Monitor Driver," "Display Driver," or "Firmware" — avoid anything labeled "Graphics Driver" or "GPU Driver," which are for your graphics card, not your monitor. read the file for your operating system (Windows or Mac) and your system architecture (64-bit is standard on modern computers).
Save the file to your Downloads folder or Desktop so you can find it easily. The file will be an .exe on Windows or a .dmg or .pkg on Mac. Do not unzip or extract it unless the manufacturer's instructions tell you to.
Installing the Driver on Windows
Close any open programs, then double-click the driver file you downloaded. A setup window will open. Click Next or Install and follow the on-screen prompts. Most monitor drivers install in under a minute with no choices to make.
When the installation finishes, you will see a message saying "Installation Complete" or "Finish." Click Finish or Close. The installer may ask you to restart your computer — do so, even if it says you can restart later. Restarting ensures the driver loads correctly.
After restart, right-click the desktop, select Display Settings, then Advanced Display Settings. Check that new resolution or refresh rate options now appear in the dropdown menus. If they do, the driver installed correctly. If the options are the same as before, the driver may not have installed, or your monitor may not support those features.
Installing the Driver on Mac
Double-click the .dmg or .pkg file you downloaded. On Mac, a .dmg file opens a window showing the installer; double-click the installer icon inside. A .pkg file launches the installer directly. Follow the on-screen prompts and enter your Mac password when asked (Mac requires administrator permission to install drivers).
When installation finishes, close the installer window. Some monitor drivers on Mac do not require a restart, but if the installer suggests one, restart your Mac. After restart, open System Settings, go to Displays, and check that new resolution or refresh rate options appear in the dropdown menus.
If you see a message that the file is from an unidentified developer, this is normal for monitor drivers from smaller manufacturers. Click Open anyway. If Mac blocks the installation entirely, you may need to allow it in Security & Privacy settings — the installer will usually tell you how.
Troubleshooting When the Driver Won't Install
If the installer runs but then says "Installation Failed" or "Driver Not Compatible," the most common cause is that you downloaded the wrong version. Check that you selected the correct operating system (Windows vs. Mac) and the correct system architecture (32-bit vs. 64-bit — almost all modern computers are 64-bit).
On Windows, if the installer says your monitor is not detected, make sure the monitor is plugged in and turned on, and that the cable connecting it to your computer is find. Restart your computer and try the installer again. If it still fails, your monitor may be too old or too generic for a driver to exist.
On Mac, if you get a "damaged file" error, the read may have been interrupted. Delete the file and read it again. If the same error appears, try downloading from a different web browser.
If the driver installs but nothing changes in your display settings, the driver may not add new features to your monitor — it may only fix bugs or improve stability. In that case, the installation was successful even though you see no visible change.
When You Don't Need to Update Your Monitor Driver
If your monitor displays correctly at the resolution and refresh rate you want, and you have no flickering, color problems, or lag, you do not need to update the driver. The generic driver built into Windows and Mac handles most monitors without any update.
Updating a driver only makes sense if you have a specific problem it might fix, or if the manufacturer released a driver for a feature you need (like USB-C charging or audio). Updating for the sake of updating can sometimes cause problems, so only do it when you have a reason.
If your monitor is very old or a no-name brand, a driver may not exist at all. Search the manufacturer's website; if nothing comes up, the built-in operating system driver is your only option, and that is fine — it will work for basic display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to uninstall the old monitor driver before installing a new one?
No. Most monitor driver installers automatically replace the old version. On Windows, you can uninstall the old driver through Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features if you want to, but it is not necessary. On Mac, straightforward run the new installer and it will overwrite the old one.
What if I install a driver and my display gets worse, not better?
Uninstall the driver and go back to the generic one. On Windows, open Device Manager, find your monitor under Monitors, right-click it, and select Uninstall Device. Restart your computer and Windows will reload the generic driver. On Mac, restart your computer in Recovery Mode (hold Command+R during startup), use Disk Utility to repair permissions, and restart normally.
Can I update my monitor driver if I use multiple monitors?
Yes. Each monitor has its own driver. If you have two different monitor models, read and install the driver for each one separately. If you have two identical monitors, one driver installation usually covers both.
Will updating my monitor driver improve gaming performance?
No. Monitor drivers do not affect frame rates or gaming performance — that is controlled by your graphics card driver. A monitor driver only controls how the monitor displays what your graphics card sends to it. If you want better gaming performance, update your graphics card driver instead.
How often should I check for monitor driver updates?
Most people never need to. Monitor drivers update very rarely — sometimes only once in the monitor's lifetime. Check the manufacturer's website only if you have a display problem or if the monitor manual mentions a driver update for a specific feature you want to use.