What Are Drivers?
Simply put, drivers are software components that let the operating system and hardware communicate with each other. Without them, operating systems would not be able to detect the hardware and handle them effectively and efficiently. For example, printers require drivers to be installed on the computer so they can interact with each other. Your computer may be able to detect the printer, but without the appropriate driver you may not be able to print successfully. Drivers might install automatically when you plug in a new device, such as an external display, keyboard, or mouse, or they may require manual installation to function correctly.
Common Devices that Require Driver Installation on Computer
Printers
Scanners
Digital cameras
Video adapters
Card readers
Sound cards
Modems
Motherboard chipsets
Network interface cards
Storage devices
Importance of Updating Drivers
Driver updates help improve overall performance since they can include security patches, fix, and upgrade devices. By ensuring you have the latest drivers installed, you'll ensure your entire system will work smoothly.
When Should You Update Drivers?
The symptoms of an outdated driver can vary depending on the device. For example, if you haven’t updated your display driver for a while, it may show symptoms of blinking screens or your computer may not detect the display.
On Windows, a good way to tell if a device needs a driver update is when you go to Device Manager and you see a yellow triangle next to a device name. When you right-click on the device you will see an option to Update Driver, Disable Device, and Uninstall Device, and also access its properties.
How to Update Your Computer's Drivers and Install Others
The simplest way to update your drivers is to do it via your computer's built-in service.
Windows:
Go to Settings.
Go to Windows Update
Click on Check for updates button.
The computer will then check Microsoft's servers for updates to your current OS, including its drivers. If it finds one, it will inform you, then download and install the update. Otherwise, it will display You're up to date.
Mac:
Go to System Preferences
Click on Software Update.
Click Update Now or Upgrade Now:
Update Now installs the latest updates for the currently installed version, such as an update from macOS Big Sur 11.5 to macOS Big Sur 11.6.
Upgrade Now installs a major new version with a new name, such as macOS Monterey.
Another common way to install or update drivers to ensure it gets the latest features is by visiting the manufacturer’s website, searching for the device, and then downloading the latest driver. Make sure to download drivers from reputable sources, like the manufacturer of the device, or you put your computer at risk for viruses.
For example, if you want to install an HP printer, search the printer name like “HP OfficeJet Pro 8210 drivers”, navigate to HP’s page, and you will be brought to a page like this then you can download the driver.
Overall, drivers are what make software and hardware compatible with each other and are very important!!