Updating your network driver is an important step in ensuring your computer’s performance is up to date and in top shape. A driver is a piece of software that tells your computer how to communicate with hardware or devices connected to it. Outdated drivers can lead to a host of issues, such as lagging performance, hardware compatibility problems, and even unexpected crashes. Fortunately, updating your network driver is relatively simple and straightforward.
Step 1: Check Your Current Network Driver Version
The first step is to check the version of the currently installed driver. This will tell you whether your system requires an update or not. To do this, open the Device Manager window. If you are using Windows 10, right-click the Start menu icon and select Device Manager. On other versions of Windows, simply type “device manager” into the search box.
Once inside the Device Manager window, look for the “Network Adapters” category. Expand this category, and you’ll be able to view all of the adapters installed on your system. Right-click the adapter you wish to update and select “Properties.” In the “Driver” tab, you’ll find the driver version. Compare this version to the manufacturer’s latest release to see if your system needs an update.
Step 2: Download the Latest Network Driver
If you find that your driver version is out of date, you’ll need to download the latest one. To do so, visit the website of the network card’s manufacturer. From there, search for the driver version compatible with the operating system on your computer. Be sure to download the correct version; otherwise, you could run into compatibility issues.
Once you’ve located the right driver, click on the “Download” button and save the file to a convenient location on your computer.
Step 3: Uninstall the Old Network Driver
Once you’ve downloaded the new driver, you’ll need to uninstall the old one. To do this, return to the Device Manager window and right-click the adapter you’re about to update. From the menu that appears, select “Uninstall device.” You may be asked to confirm the action; if so, click “OK.”
Step 4: Install the New Driver
Now it’s time to install the new driver. First, locate the file you downloaded earlier and double-click it to launch the installation wizard. Follow the instructions provided by the wizard; these will usually involve clicking “Next” and agreeing to the terms of the installation.
When the installation is complete, you may be asked to restart your computer. Do so, and your network driver should be updated.
Step 5 (Optional): Enable Automated Driver Updates
To ensure your system is up to date with the latest network driver, you may want to enable automated driver updates. Most modern versions of Windows allow you to do this via the Windows Update feature; however, some manufacturers also offer their own software for this purpose.
If you choose to use Windows Update, open the Settings window and head to “Update & Security.” From there, click the “Check for Updates” button, and Windows will scan your system for any missing or outdated drivers.
As a final note, remember that it’s always a good idea to create a backup of your system before updating any drivers. This will ensure that you can easily revert to the previous version of the driver, in case something goes wrong.