What drivers are and why you might need to check them

A driver is software that lets your operating system talk to a piece of hardware — your graphics card, printer, network adapter, or sound card. When something isn't working right, or you're troubleshooting a problem, you often need to see which drivers are installed and what version they are.

You might check your drivers if a device stopped working after an update, if you're trying to figure out what hardware you have, or if you're preparing to replace a piece of equipment. The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows or Mac, and what device you're looking for.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, Device Manager shows all your installed drivers and lets you see version numbers and update status in one place.
  • On Mac, System Information under the Apple menu lists hardware and drivers, though Macs handle driver updates differently than Windows machines.
  • You can check drivers for specific devices like graphics cards or network adapters without opening Device Manager for everything.
  • If a driver shows a warning symbol or error code, that usually means the device isn't working properly and may need a reinstall or update.

Checking drivers on Windows using Device Manager

Device Manager is the main tool for seeing what drivers Windows has installed. Open it by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager," or by typing "Device Manager" into the Windows search box and pressing Enter.

Once Device Manager opens, you'll see a list of hardware categories — Display adapters, Network adapters, Sound, video and game controllers, and others. Click the arrow next to any category to expand it and see the specific devices. If a device has a yellow warning triangle or red X next to it, that device isn't working properly and the driver may need attention.

To see the driver version for a specific device, right-click the device name and select "Properties." In the window that opens, click the "Driver" tab. You'll see the driver provider (usually the manufacturer), the driver date, and the driver version. This is the information you need if you're looking to update or troubleshoot that particular device.

Checking drivers on Mac using System Information

On a Mac, open System Information by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then selecting "System Information" (or "About This Mac" on older versions, then "System Report"). This window shows your hardware and software setup.

Click "System Report" if you see that button, then look for categories on the left side like "Graphics/Displays," "Network," or "USB." Select the category for the hardware you want to check. The right side will show details about that device, including the driver or firmware version if one is installed.

Macs handle drivers differently than Windows — most hardware drivers come built into the operating system, and macOS updates them automatically. You won't usually need to download and install drivers separately the way you might on Windows.

Checking specific device drivers without opening Device Manager

If you only need to check one type of driver, you can often find it faster through the device manufacturer's software. For graphics cards, NVIDIA and AMD both have control panels you can open directly — search for "NVIDIA Control Panel" or "AMD Radeon Settings" in your Windows search box. These show your graphics driver version right away.

For network drivers, right-click the network icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner on Windows) and select "Open Network & Internet settings." Then click "Advanced network options" and scroll down to "Related settings" to find your network adapter. Click it, then click "Properties" to see driver details.

For printer drivers, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, find your printer in the list, click it, and select "Open queue." Then look for "Printer" in the menu bar and select "Properties" to see driver information.

Understanding driver version numbers and dates

Driver version numbers look like "27.21.14.5234" or similar — they don't follow a standard format because each manufacturer uses their own system. A higher number usually means a newer version, but the only way to be certain is to check the manufacturer's website.

The driver date tells you when that version was released. If the date is several years old and you're having problems with that device, an update might help. However, an old driver date doesn't always mean there's a problem — many drivers work fine for years without updates.

If you see "Microsoft" listed as the driver provider instead of the hardware manufacturer, that usually means Windows is using a generic driver. This works for basic functionality, but the manufacturer's own driver often has better performance or more features. You can download the manufacturer's driver from their support website.

What to do if a driver shows an error or warning

A yellow warning triangle or red X in Device Manager means Windows detected a problem with that device. Right-click the device and select "Properties" to see the error code — codes like "Code 43" or "Code 10" have specific meanings that you can search for along with your device name to find solutions.

Common fixes include restarting your computer (which often clears temporary driver problems), updating the driver through Device Manager by right-clicking and selecting "Update driver," or uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. To uninstall, right-click the device, select "Uninstall device," restart your computer, and Windows will usually reinstall a basic version automatically.

If you want to reinstall the manufacturer's driver instead of the generic Windows version, uninstall it first, then download the driver from the manufacturer's support website and run the installer. This usually works better than trying to update through Device Manager.

Finding driver information for older or unknown devices

If you see a device in Device Manager but don't know what it is, right-click it and select "Properties." Look at the "Details" tab and click the dropdown that says "Property." Select "Hardware IDs" — you'll see a code like "PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1234." You can search this code online to find out what the device is.

Alternatively, right-click the device and select "Update driver," then choose "Browse my computer for drivers." This opens a window showing the driver file location, which often contains the manufacturer name or device type in the folder path.

If you're trying to find a driver for a device that Windows doesn't recognize at all, you may need to install a chipset driver first — usually available from your computer manufacturer's support website. Chipset drivers let Windows recognize other hardware, and installing them can make unknown devices appear in Device Manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Check the driver date in Device Manager — if it's more than a year or two old and you're having problems, visit the hardware manufacturer's website to see if a newer version is available. For graphics cards and network adapters especially, manufacturers release updates regularly. You can also use the manufacturer's own software (like NVIDIA GeForce Experience) to check for updates automatically.

Can I update all my drivers at once?

Windows Update handles some drivers automatically, but not all. For specific devices like graphics cards or network adapters, you usually need to visit the manufacturer's website or use their software to update. Avoid third-party "driver updater" programs — they often install unnecessary software or outdated versions. Updating through Device Manager or the manufacturer's official software is safer.

What happens if I uninstall a driver?

The device will stop working until you reinstall a driver. Windows will usually install a basic generic driver automatically after you restart, but it may not have all features. If you want the full version back, download and install the manufacturer's driver from their website.

Why does my device show "Unknown Device" in Device Manager?

Windows doesn't recognize the hardware, usually because the driver isn't installed. Try updating the driver through Device Manager first — Windows will search online for it. If that doesn't work, visit your computer manufacturer's support website (not the device manufacturer) and download the chipset driver, which helps Windows recognize all hardware.

Is it safe to update drivers myself?

Yes, updating drivers from the manufacturer's official website or through Windows Update is safe. Avoid downloading drivers from third-party sites or using automatic driver updater programs. Always restart your computer after installing a driver update, and if something breaks, you can uninstall the new driver and go back to the previous version through Device Manager.