How to Update NVIDIA Drivers
If you are a gamer or a PC enthusiast, you know the importance of updating drivers. But how to update NVIDIA drivers? There are several ways to do so. Through this article, you’ll find out a few of them and will be able to do it on your own. So, let’s quickly dive in.
Why You Should Update Your NVIDIA Drivers
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where a newly launched game crashes or your graphics don’t look as sharp as they should? Most times, it’s not the game that’s the issue; it’s your outdated drivers.
NVIDIA frequently releases driver updates that improve compatibility, enhance game performance, and fix bugs. Updating your NVIDIA drivers ensures your PC runs smoothly and provides the best gaming experience.
Remember, having a powerful graphics card like RTX 4090 for gaming is not enough to experience smooth gameplay or other tasks. You need to update the drivers regularly. If it doesn’t get an automatic update, do it manually.
How To Check Your Current NVIDIA Driver Version
Before diving into the updates, let’s first see how to check your current driver version. To check your current NVIDIA Driver Version:
Right-click on your desktop and select ‘NVIDIA Control Panel.‘
Under the ‘Help‘ tab, select ‘System Information.’
At the bottom right, you’ll see ‘Driver Version.’ This is your current NVIDIA driver version.
Methods of Updating NVIDIA Drivers
There are two ways to update your NVIDIA drivers: through GeForce Experience and manually. Let’s see each one.
Updating NVIDIA Drivers Through GeForce Experience
GeForce Experience is an application developed by NVIDIA. It makes driver updates as seamless as possible. You can download it from the official NVIDIA website if you don’t have it yet.
Once installed, follow these steps:
- Open GeForce Experience and log in.
- Click on the ‘Drivers‘ tab at the top of the window.
- You’ll see a ‘Check for Updates’ button on the right. Click it.
- If an update is available, it will appear under ‘New Game Ready Driver.’ Click on ‘Express Installation.’
Wait for the download and installation process to complete, and your drivers will be up-to-date.
Updating NVIDIA Drivers Manually
If you prefer doing things manually or don’t want to install extra software, you can update NVIDIA drivers directly from the NVIDIA website by following these steps:
- Visit the NVIDIA Driver Downloads page.
- Specify your GPU model and operating system in the relevant fields.
- Click on ‘Search.’
- It will show you the latest available driver for your GPU. Click on ‘Download.’
- Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
Remember, manually updating drivers requires a bit of patience and careful attention to instructions.
Troubleshooting Common Issues When Updating NVIDIA Drivers
You may encounter various issues during the update process, even with the right steps. Let’s address some common issues and their solutions.
The Installation Failed: This could be due to a corrupted download or interference from other software. Try re-downloading the driver or closing all other applications before installation.
Driver Version Not Supported by Your Version of Windows: Ensure your operating system is up-to-date before installing new drivers. If your Windows version is outdated, the driver update might not work.
System Restarts Unexpectedly After Update: This could be due to various reasons, such as software conflict or hardware issues. Try rolling back to the previous driver version and then reinstall the update.
NVIDIA’s support community is a great place to seek further assistance if all else fails.
Conclusion
Keeping your NVIDIA drivers up-to-date is not just about enhancing your gaming experience; it’s about maintaining your PC’s overall performance. Whether you prefer the ease of GeForce Experience or the hands-on approach of a manual update, the important thing is to keep those drivers fresh. And don’t let a hiccup or two discourage you – troubleshooting is part of the process.
FAQs
Updating NVIDIA drivers can enhance gaming performance, improve compatibility with newer games, and fix bugs.
While there’s no hard and fast rule, it’s recommended to check for updates monthly or whenever a new major game release is out.
While technically possible, avoiding resource-heavy applications during the update is best to prevent installation issues.
If you’re experiencing issues after an update, try rolling back to the previous driver version and reinstall the update.
Yes, whether you’re updating through GeForce Experience or manually, an active internet connection is needed to download the latest driver.