How to update outdated drivers on Windows 11 to fix hardware performance issues

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to update outdated drivers on Windows 11 to fix hardware performance issues. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Outdated hardware drivers can lead to system instability, poor peripheral performance, and occasional "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD) errors. In Windows 11, while many drivers update automatically, some critical components—such as graphics cards, network adapters, and specialised printers—may require manual intervention to ensure your organisation's hardware is running optimally.

Quick Fix Steps

Before diving into manual updates, try the fastest method to resolve most driver conflicts:

1. Open Settings (Win + I).
2. Navigate to Windows Update in the left-hand sidebar.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. Select Advanced options > Optional updates.
5. Tick any available driver updates and click Download & install.

Detailed Instructions

Using Device Manager for Specific Hardware

If a specific piece of hardware (like a webcam or Wi-Fi card) is malfunctioning, use the Device Manager to target that specific driver.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the menu.
2. Locate the category of the hardware you wish to update (e.g., Network adapters for Wi-Fi issues).
3. Click the arrow to expand the category, then right-click the specific device.
4. Select Update driver.
5. Choose Search automatically for drivers. Windows will then analyse your system and search the web for the latest version.

Manually Installing Manufacturer Drivers

For high-performance hardware like NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards, the manufacturer's own software is often more up-to-date than the Windows generic driver.

1. Identify your hardware model in Device Manager.
2. Visit the official support page of the hardware manufacturer.
3. Search for your specific model number and select the Windows 11 version of the driver.
4. Download the .exe or .msi installer file.
5. Run the installer as an administrator and follow the on-screen prompts.
6. Restart your computer to finalise the installation.

Troubleshooting Driver Issues

Rolling Back a Driver

If your system becomes unstable immediately after an update, you can revert to the previous working version.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Right-click the problematic device and select Properties.
3. Navigate to the Driver tab.
4. Click Roll Back Driver.
5. Select a reason for the rollback and click Yes.

Updating via BIOS/UEFI

In some rare cases, hardware performance issues are caused by outdated system firmware rather than a Windows driver. This is common with newer laptops and custom-built workstations.

• Check your manufacturer's support app (e.g., Dell Command Update or Lenovo Vantage).
• Look for BIOS Update or Firmware Update.
• Ensure your laptop is plugged into power before starting a BIOS update, as a power loss during this process can render the machine unbootable.

If you have followed these steps and your hardware is still not performing as expected, please Open a Ticket so our technical team can analyse your system logs.

Still Having Issues?