What Updating Your Video Driver Means and Why It Matters

Your video driver is the software that lets your operating system talk to your graphics card. When you update it, you're installing a newer version of that software — usually one that fixes bugs, improves performance, or adds support for new games and applications. The update itself is free and comes from your graphics card manufacturer (typically Nvidia, AMD, or Intel), not from Windows or Apple.

Updating is different from downloading a driver for the first time. You already have a video driver installed — Windows and Mac both ship with basic ones. An update replaces that version with a newer one. Most updates are small and happen in the background, but major updates sometimes require a restart or a manual read from the manufacturer's website.

Key Takeaways

  • You can check your current driver version in Windows Device Manager or Mac System Information, and compare it to the latest version on Nvidia, AMD, or Intel's website.
  • Windows users can often update through Device Manager by right-clicking the graphics card and selecting "Update driver," though downloading directly from the manufacturer is usually faster.
  • Mac users typically update through System Preferences > Software Update, since Apple controls driver releases for integrated graphics and most external cards.
  • After any driver update, restart your computer to make sure the new version loads completely.
  • If an update causes problems, you can roll back to the previous version through Device Manager (Windows) or by reinstalling the older driver (Mac).

Finding Your Current Driver Version on Windows

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager," or search for it in the Windows search bar. Expand the "Display adapters" category — you'll see your graphics card listed there, usually with a name like "Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060" or "AMD Radeon RX 7600."

Right-click the card and select "Properties." Click the "Driver" tab. You'll see the driver version number and the date it was installed. Write down the version number — you'll need it to check whether a newer one is available. Close this window when you're done.

Finding Your Current Driver Version on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "About This Mac." Click "System Report." In the left sidebar, select "Graphics/Displays." You'll see information about your graphics card, including the driver version if one is listed separately.

For integrated graphics (Intel or Apple Silicon), the driver version is usually tied to your macOS version, so you won't see a separate number. For external graphics cards, the version may appear under "Metal Version" or in a separate line. If you're unsure, note the macOS version you're running — you can compare it to Apple's latest release to see if an update is available.

Downloading the Latest Driver from the Manufacturer

Go to the website for your graphics card manufacturer: nvidia.com/read/driverDetails for Nvidia, amd.com/en/support for AMD, or intel.com/content/www/us/en/read-center for Intel. You'll need to tell the site your graphics card model, your operating system, and whether you're running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows (most modern computers use 64-bit).

The site will show you the latest available version. Compare the version number to the one you found in Device Manager or System Information. If the website version is higher, read it. Save the file to your Downloads folder — you'll run it in the next step. If your version matches the website version, your driver is already current.

Installing the Update on Windows

Locate the driver file you downloaded (usually a .exe file) and double-click it. A setup wizard will open. Follow the on-screen prompts — most drivers let you choose "Express" or "Custom" installation. Express is fine for most people and takes less time. The installer will extract files, check your system, and install the new driver.

When the installation finishes, you'll usually see a prompt to restart your computer. Restart right away — the new driver won't fully load until you do. After restart, open Device Manager again and check the driver version to confirm the update took effect.

Installing the Update on Mac

For integrated graphics, go to System Preferences > General > Software Update and install any available macOS updates. Your graphics driver updates as part of the operating system.

For external graphics cards (like Nvidia or AMD cards), read the driver installer from the manufacturer's website. Double-click the .pkg or .dmg file and follow the installer prompts. You may need to enter your Mac password to allow the installation. When finished, restart your Mac. Some external drivers require you to disable System Integrity Protection temporarily — the installer will tell you if this is necessary, and will provide instructions.

Rolling Back to a Previous Driver If Problems Occur

If your computer becomes unstable, displays incorrectly, or crashes after a driver update, you can revert to the previous version. On Windows, open Device Manager, right-click your graphics card, select "Properties," click the "Driver" tab, and click "Roll Back Driver." Windows will reinstall the version you had before. Restart your computer when prompted.

On Mac, you'll need to read the previous driver version from the manufacturer's website and run the installer again. There is no automatic rollback option like Windows has. If you can't find the older version on the manufacturer's site, contact their support team — they can often provide it directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. The installer will replace the old version automatically. Uninstalling first can sometimes cause problems because Windows or Mac may revert to a basic driver during the gap. Let the new installer handle the replacement.

What if Device Manager says "Update driver" but Windows can't find a newer one?

Windows is checking its own database, which is often outdated. read the driver directly from Nvidia, AMD, or Intel instead — their websites always have the latest version. Run the installer you read, and it will update regardless of what Windows found.

Can I update my video driver if I'm using a laptop?

It depends on the manufacturer. Some laptop makers (Dell, Lenovo, HP) provide driver updates through their own support websites or software. Others lock driver updates to the manufacturer's releases. Check your laptop maker's support page first. If they don't offer updates, you can try downloading directly from Nvidia or AMD, but test carefully — laptop drivers are sometimes customized.

Will updating my driver improve gaming performance?

Sometimes. New drivers often include optimizations for recent games and may fix stuttering or crashes. However, if your current driver is already recent, the performance gain is usually small. Updates are more about stability and compatibility than speed.

How often should I update my video driver?

Check for updates every few months, or whenever you encounter graphics problems or install a new game that requires a newer driver. You don't need to update every time a new version appears — only when you have a reason to.