How to Update or Reinstall Your Graphics Driver

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A malfunctioning or outdated graphics driver can cause screen flickering, black screens, slow performance, or game crashes. Keeping your graphics driver up-to-date ensures optimal display performance and compatibility with new software. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to updating or reinstalling your graphics driver in Windows.

Step 1: Identify Your Graphics Card

Before updating or reinstalling the driver, you need to know which GPU your PC uses:

  1. Press Windows + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the Display tab.
  3. Note the Name and Manufacturer of your graphics card (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).

Step 2: Update Drivers via Device Manager

  1. Press Windows + X → Device Manager.
  2. Expand Display adapters.
  3. Right-click your graphics card → Update driver.
  4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your PC if prompted.

Step 3: Download Drivers from the Manufacturer

Sometimes Windows cannot find the latest drivers automatically. In that case:

Steps:

  1. Select your GPU model and operating system.
  2. Download the latest driver package.
  3. Run the installer and follow the instructions.
  4. Restart your PC after installation.

Step 4: Uninstall and Reinstall the Graphics Driver

If updating doesn’t solve the problem, reinstalling the driver may help:

  1. Open Device Manager → Display adapters.
  2. Right-click your GPU → Uninstall device.
  3. Check the box Delete the driver software for this device (if available).
  4. Restart your PC.
  5. After restart, Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically, or you can manually install the latest driver downloaded from the manufacturer.

Step 5: Use Manufacturer Software for Updates

Many graphics card manufacturers provide software that simplifies driver updates:

  • NVIDIA GeForce Experience – Automatically detects updates and installs drivers.
  • AMD Radeon Software – Provides automatic driver downloads and performance optimization.
  • Intel Driver & Support Assistant – Updates Intel integrated graphics drivers.

Step 6: Verify Driver Installation

  • Open Device Manager → Display adapters and confirm the driver version is updated.
  • Alternatively, right-click the desktop → Display settings → Advanced display settings → Check adapter properties.
  • Test your system for performance improvements and resolution stability.

Step 7: Troubleshoot Common Issues

  • Screen Flickering or Black Screens: Boot into Safe Mode and reinstall the driver.
  • Game Crashes or Freezes: Update to the latest version of both the driver and DirectX.
  • Installation Fails: Use a clean driver removal tool like DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) before reinstalling.

Tips for Maintaining Graphics Drivers

  1. Keep your driver software up-to-date to ensure compatibility with games and apps.
  2. Regularly check manufacturer websites for the latest releases.
  3. Avoid beta drivers unless you need features unavailable in stable releases.
  4. Backup system restore points before major driver updates.
  5. Monitor GPU temperature and performance after updates to detect issues early.

Conclusion

Updating or reinstalling your graphics driver can resolve display issues, improve system stability, and enhance gaming or multimedia performance. By identifying your GPU, updating through Windows or manufacturer software, and reinstalling if necessary, you ensure your PC maintains optimal graphics performance.

Regular updates, careful installation, and monitoring help keep your graphics card functioning reliably and efficiently.

Also Read : 

  1. Flickering Screen? Try These Quick Fixes
  2. Monitor Not Detected? Here’s How to Fix It
  3. How to Fix a Computer That Won’t Turn On

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