Drivers for devices are essential for the overall functioning of the computer system. Their drivers act as a link between the software and the hardware whose drivers are installed. These drivers are essential for the detection and interaction of specific devices, which includes monitor, graphics card, keyboard, mouse, network adapter, etc. Yes, this article is about updating the audio drivers, but the same procedure mentioned below will work for any kind of device.
Under usual circumstances, Windows 10 automatically detects and installs drivers for certain devices automatically. But due to some issues, this function might not be working all the time. Keeping such a situation in mind, Windows 10 was launched with the additional ability to update the driver for a device manually. Here we will take a look at two ways to get the audio drivers up to date.
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Using Windows Update:
Sometimes it takes some time for a driver update to show up on windows update, but it is still the best way to install drivers as everything through the windows update channel is verified and signed by Microsoft itself.
- Go to Settings.
- Click on Update and Security
- Click on the tab windows update.
- Here you will see a button that says check for updates. Simply click on it, and the system will check for any new driver or software update automatically. If there is anything new, then the system will install it automatically after downloading it.
Using the device manager:
When windows update fails to recognize driver updates for devices, the next thing to do is go into the device manager and do the update manually.
- Click on the search bar present in the taskbar.
- Search for Device Manager and click on the option of “device manager” that shows up above the search box.
- In the device manager window, you will see the list of all your devices connected to the system—Right-click on the audio device whose drivers you want to update.
- Click on the update driver option that pops up after the right-click.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, and the latest version of drivers should be updated now.
From the Manufacturer’s website:
Sometimes, none of the above methods work. In such a scenario, we need to do what we used to with our older versions of windows. We need to visit the system manufacturer’s website and look for drivers for that specific model. Once you find your system on the website, look for the option to download drivers for that system. Depending upon your requirements, download the appropriate drivers and directly install them into the system by following the on-screen instructions.
Reinstall a driver:
Sometimes due to a buggy upgrade or installation, some features stop working completely. In such a situation, it is recommended to reinstall the driver. To do so, go to search in the taskbar and type in the device manager. From the list, select the driver you want to reinstall. Right-click on it and click on uninstall the driver. After the uninstall process is done, simply restart the PC, and Windows 10, by default, will look for that driver again online and install it automatically.