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How to Update Your Graphics Driver
There are three main ways to update your GPU driver:
1. Windows Update
The first option is Windows Update, but in my experience, it doesn’t always provide the latest drivers. I’ve noticed this happens especially after a fresh install or system reformat, when Windows Update checks for updates and updates the basic display driver to the appropriate GPU driver.
Read also: Hide Drivers from Windows Update: Why and How
2. NVIDIA App (Geforce Experience) or AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition
For NVIDIA GPUs, you can use the NVIDIA app (formerly Geforce Experience).
For AMD GPUs, the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition is available. Both tools
provide driver updates directly.
3. Official Websites
You can also download drivers from their official websites: nvidia.com and amd.com.
Should You Always Download the Newest Driver?
The latest driver doesn’t always guarantee the best performance—it might even cause new problems.
Hence, from the three options, the third one (downloading from the official
website) is the best choice. This allows you to select the driver that works
best for your system even it may not be the newest.
That doesn’t mean you should avoid updating your driver. Sometimes, updating solves issues you’re currently facing, and the bugs in the newest driver might not affect your system at all.
When a new driver is released, I often check Reddit for feedback about its fixes and potential bugs. The best driver, in my opinion, is the one the community considers stable and free of major issues that could affect gaming or everyday use. The "best" driver isn’t always the one that gives the highest FPS.
Driver Installation Issues
Sometimes, problems arise from how the driver was installed. For example, if you reverted to an older driver and now have issues, the cause might be a bad driver removal process.
To avoid this, properly uninstall the previous driver before installing a new one. Some people recommend doing a clean uninstall only when rolling back to an older driver. While that works, I prefer doing a clean uninstall every time, whether I’m updating or downgrading, to start fresh.
However, clean uninstalling drivers first has a downside. Some games will need to recompile shaders, which can cause stuttering during the first launch as this process uses a lot of CPU power.
To uninstall drivers properly, special tools like the AMD Clean Uninstall Utility or Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) can help. These tools remove old or damaged driver files and registry entries, ensuring a smooth installation of the new driver.
Using DDU to Uninstall GPU Drivers
Important: DDU is a third-party tool, so always read its documentation before using it. Use it at your own risk.
Download Driver Display Uninstaller DDU
The tool can be used in Normal mode but for stability when using DDU, Safemode is the best.
To boot into safe mode on windows, restart the PC and press F8 repeatedly until you see Safe Mode screen.
Another way to enter safe mode is through System Configuration, by typing msconfig.exein the start.
When in safe mode, you can start uninstalling the GPU driver from your PC using DDU.
The process is simple, but there’s an additional step you might need to take before proceeding: disabling Windows Update from automatically downloading the GPU driver after the removal.
You can do this by clicking Options at the top left.
After that, proceed to uninstallation.
Before restarting your PC, make sure to uncheck the setting shown in the msconfig method (if you followed that method) or else the system will boot back into safe mode again.
Once your PC restarts, you can proceed with a clean installation of the NVIDIA or AMD driver.
Read also:
Optimize Windows for gaming performance