How to Check Drivers on Windows 11

To check a driver on Windows 11, right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand the device’s category, right-click the device, and choose Properties. The Driver tab shows the driver’s provider, date and version, and the General tab tells you whether the device is working properly.

These steps apply to Windows 11 (24H2 and 25H2) as of October 2026, and Device Manager looks almost the same in Windows 10. A driver is the software that lets Windows talk to a piece of hardware, such as a graphics card, Wi-Fi adapter, printer or webcam. Checking a driver only reads information, so nothing changes on your PC until you choose to update, roll back or uninstall it.

Check a Driver’s Version in Device Manager

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. You can also click Start, type Device Manager, and select the result. Our guide on how to open Device Manager in Windows 11 lists a few other ways in.
2. Click the arrow next to a category to expand it. Graphics cards are under Display adapters, Wi-Fi and Ethernet under Network adapters, sound under Sound, video and game controllers, and webcams under Cameras.
3. Right-click the device you want to check and select Properties.
4. Click the Driver tab. Note the Driver Provider, Driver Date and Driver Version.
5. To see the actual driver files, click Driver Details. This is useful when a support agent asks for a specific file name.
6. Click the General tab and read the Device status box. “This device is working properly” means Windows sees no problem with it.

Write the version down, or take a quick screenshot of the Driver tab, before you change anything. That gives you something to compare against after an update.

Keep in mind that the Driver Date is the date the driver package was built, not the day it was installed. Graphics, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers from Microsoft often show an old-looking date even when they’re current, so compare version numbers rather than dates.

Spot Devices With Driver Problems

Device Manager flags problem devices with icons, so a quick scan shows whether anything needs attention.

• Yellow triangle with an exclamation mark: Windows found a problem with the device. Open Properties > General to read the error code.
• Down arrow on the icon: the device is disabled. Right-click it and choose Enable device to turn it back on.
• Unknown device under Other devices: Windows doesn’t have a driver for this hardware. Install the driver from the PC or hardware maker.

Common codes include Code 28 (no driver is installed), Code 10 (the device can’t start) and Code 43 (Windows stopped the device because it reported a problem). Microsoft’s Device Manager error code list explains each one and what to try.

If you don’t see a device you expect, click View > Show hidden devices. Disconnected and disabled hardware appears faded in that view.

See a List of All Installed Drivers

Device Manager shows one device at a time. To see every driver at once, use the driverquery command.

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal.
2. Type driverquery and press Enter. Windows lists each driver’s module name, display name, type and link date.
3. For more detail, including whether each driver is running, type driverquery /v instead.

To save the list to a file you can open in Excel, run driverquery /fo csv > drivers.csv. The file is saved in the folder shown in the prompt, usually your user folder.

This list is mostly useful for support and troubleshooting. For everyday checks on a single device, Device Manager is easier to read.

Check Whether a Driver Update Is Available

Windows Update installs recommended drivers automatically. Some extra drivers are offered as optional updates, which you have to choose yourself.

1. Open Settings and select Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates and install anything that’s listed.
3. Click Advanced options, then Optional updates under Additional options.
4. Expand Driver updates, check the box next to any driver for a device you’re having trouble with, and click Download & install.

5. Restart the PC when the install finishes.

Microsoft’s driver update page notes that optional drivers aren’t installed automatically. If no Optional updates entry appears, Windows has nothing extra to offer right now.

Windows Update doesn’t always carry the newest driver. For graphics cards, compare your version with the one on NVIDIA’s, AMD’s or Intel’s site. For laptops and prebuilt desktops, check your PC maker’s support page or app, such as Dell SupportAssist, HP Support Assistant or Lenovo Vantage. Download drivers only from those official sources, not from “driver updater” sites.

Update, Roll Back or Reinstall a Driver

All three options are in Device Manager. You need to be signed in with an administrator account.

Update a driver

1. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select Update driver.
2. Choose Search automatically for drivers to let Windows look for one, or Browse my computer for drivers if you’ve downloaded and extracted a driver from the manufacturer.
3. If you see “The best drivers for your device are already installed,” Windows has nothing newer. That doesn’t rule out a newer version on the maker’s website.
4. Click Close, restart if asked, and check the version on the Driver tab again.

If the manufacturer’s download is an .exe installer, run that instead of using Update driver. For graphics specifically, see our guide on how to update a graphics driver in Windows 11.

Roll back a driver

If a device stopped working right after an update, go back to the previous version.

1. Right-click the device and select Properties.
2. On the Driver tab, click Roll Back Driver.
3. Pick a reason, click Yes, and restart if prompted.

If the button is grayed out, Windows has no earlier driver saved for that device. Reinstall it instead.

Reinstall a driver

1. Save your work. If the device is your network adapter, download its driver first, because you may lose your connection.
2. Right-click the device and select Uninstall device, then click Uninstall.
3. Restart the PC. Windows tries to reinstall the driver automatically.
4. If the device still shows a problem, install the driver from the manufacturer or Windows Update.

Microsoft walks through all three tasks in its Device Manager driver guide.

Troubleshooting

Device Manager is empty or won’t open. Close it and reopen it from the Start right-click menu. If it still fails, restart the PC.

Update driver and Roll Back Driver are grayed out. You’re probably on a standard account. Sign in as an administrator, or ask whoever manages the PC.

The same driver keeps coming back after a rollback. Windows Update may reinstall it. Check Optional updates before installing driver packages, and look for a fixed version on the manufacturer’s site.

A Wi-Fi driver problem left you offline. Connect with an Ethernet cable or a phone’s USB tethering, or download the driver on another computer and copy it over with a USB drive. Our Wi-Fi driver update guide covers this in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my drivers are up to date?

Note the version on the device’s Driver tab, then compare it with the latest version on the manufacturer’s support page for your exact model. Windows Update covers many devices but not always with the newest release.

Does checking a driver change anything?

No. Opening Properties and reading the Driver tab only displays information. Nothing changes unless you click Update Driver, Roll Back Driver, Disable Device or Uninstall Device.

Where do I find my graphics driver version?

In Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and choose Properties > Driver. NVIDIA and AMD also show the version in their own apps.

Do I need to update every driver?

No. If a device works well, you don’t need to chase new versions. Update when a device has a problem, when a game or app asks for a newer driver, or when the maker releases a security fix.