The driver is used for controlling the hardware components so that they can work properly. The truth is that we cannot expect our system to work properly if the drivers are old or not installed. This is common. We have brought you the 9 best free driver updaters that are free forever to download.
When Windows receives an update only then does it update its drivers but it does not cover all the manufacturers and hardware components. However, there are chances that they might miss out on an update or not any driver at all which leads to a component not working.
If you are facing issues such as freezes, glitches, poor and slow performances then you are at risk of driver issues. It is not easy to update a driver manually as you need to find out the component causing the problem, its model, driver installed, and then search online for the latest one.
If you do not want to get into all these hassles then all you need is an automatic driver updater that can update the hardware drivers as well as keep them up to date for better yet smooth working. These tools carry quite a big database of millions of drivers which make sure you get the latest driver or older ones that are not found commonly.
We are using a PC with Windows 11 installed, updated to the latest version to make sure all the drivers by Windows are ready to run.
Best 9 Free Driver Updater Software for Windows 11
IObit Driver Booster 8 – The editors pick
This is a powerful tool that is used to update drivers and carries some extra tools to fix related issues and boost up your gaming experience if you are a game lover. It has a free version as well which is used to scan and update important drivers but to update the outdated drivers manually you need to click on them individually.
With the pro-version, one can update all outdated drives automatically and get all the important gaming components that are missing from the system like Microsoft Visual C++. Moreover, you can also backup drivers before updating them plus it carries a Rollback button through which one can quickly undo the changes.
It carries some side tools as well like a sound fixer, driver errors fixer, and resolution fixer, as well as a tool to clear data of all the unplugged devices which are not used anymore. The best thing is that one can set it to update drivers offline as well; this is very useful to update different devices or update network, card drivers.
AVG Driver Updater – Fast and secure
This is a simple one that makes all this a two-click process. For this, click the “scan” button to scan all the drivers and compare them with the database. After this, hit “update selected” to download outdated drivers and automatically install them.
One can view details like the published date and when it got installed on the system. Uncheck the one you don’t want to update.
The best thing is to set for notification so that whenever an update is available you get to know. Moreover, you can also back up the current settings of the driver before having a scan to save yourself from incorrect installation.
Get this one at $39.99 per year. It does not carry a free version but give it a try through its free trial version.
ALSO CHECK: Fix Radeon Settings and Driver Not Matching for Lenovo and HP.
Driver Easy – Good for newbies
This is yet another one on the list with many features to make things go easy. What this does is scan the system while still looking for the highest number of outdated drivers. It has a free version that finds all the outdated drivers but needs to be updated manually.
You can update all the drivers at once with the paid version and backup and restore them if any issues occur. Moreover, you can also their complete information within driver easy interface and scan drivers offline.
The best thing is that it also comes with an option with which one can manage an internet proxy, make a full system restore point as well as schedule automatic scans. These features are included in the free version as well.
ALSO CHECK: Best Free Duplicate File and Folder Finder Software.
Avast Driver Updater – A huge Database
This one carries a premium updater through which we can also find updated drivers, it gives a quick scan and updates in a single click.
It has similar features and scanning power to AVG driver updater from what we have seen and tested. With this find out about the drivers, and set notifications to get updates. The best thing is that works in a fast mode.
If you are not sure you have the option to back up and go back. It costs £34.99 per year and a 15 days trial version.
DriverPack Solution Online – Most Reliable and 100% Free
If you are a new user then this one is suggested as it handles everything automatically without any user interface. All you have to do is click on the “start installing” button and it shall do its job.
To take full control, click on “open expert mode” at the bottom. In this mode, the toll shall list all the drivers who need to be updated and provide alternatives if there is more than one.
It provides its users with an offline version that can be downloaded to update them (25 GB). In short, download their entire database for free and use it from anywhere.
DriverMax – No Shortage
This is another free option on this list. With this scan all the outdated scanners as well as download important missing components.
With this users can also get components such as Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime, Direct X, Java, Microsoft .NET framework as well as other ones which make it to run games and apps.
With its free version, one can backup drivers as well as restore them whenever they want to, now interestingly this feature is found only in paid versions. This is a good tool to use through which one can install extra components for free. Its paid version only makes things quite convenient.
ALSO CHECK: Download PS5 Controller Official USB and Bluetooth Driver for Windows.
Auslogics – HP, Lenovo and Dell specific
On our system, it took quite some time to scan all the drivers around 4x more than the average time compared to other tools. It found 23 outdated drivers which are more as compared to others on the list plus found a security driver that others missed out on.
It carries a free version with which one can manually update drivers plus is limited to certain updates as well. If you want unlimited updates get the paid version plus it also offers complete backups, automatic installation as well and automatic schedules.
As compared to others it is much more efficient, if others do not work this definitely will.
DriverFix – Best Driver Updater for Windows 11
Now, this tool was not able to find many outdated drivers plus it did not scan drivers for plugged devices such as keyboards or mice. This is a good thing as such devices are prone to stop working if the wrong driver is installed.
It carries features like full back, restore, and notification as well as automatic updating drivers. The best thing is that it carries all the history of installed drivers. To update unlimited drivers just get the paid version.
ALSO CHECK: How To Fix and Diagnose AMD Ryzen Master Driver File Not Installing.
Ashampoo Driver Updater – Most Recommended
This is a good option that found 11 drivers without including plug-in device drivers. It carries a good interface as it gives in outdated as well as up-to-date drivers; with a single click see all the details. We suggest this if you want to manually find drivers.
It is customizable and makes an ignore list to avoid updating ones you find cause an issue. If you find any issue after updating a driver then just add it in the ignore list, with this schedule scans to keep drivers up to date.
Like others, it has a paid version as well with which you can update the driver with a single click while others features can be found for free.
ALSO CHECK: Best Windows 11 Edition For Professional Gamers.
Driver Genius – Most diverse and current driver files
Driver Genius is the AIO solution for IT administrators and technical support engineers. It allows you to take backups, and restore and install any version of a driver. This gives great flexibility in troubleshooting issues when a driver is being blamed.
It supports more than 25 languages making it very friendly across countries. It also allows you to log temperatures and do log analysis for any corruption signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Windows automatically update drivers?
The answer depends on the updates you get from Microsoft. Some drivers including Intel, Nvidia, or AMD drivers can come in an update directly.
Is using any driver utility safe for my PC?
Yes, it is fully safe and reliable. These tools have various checks in place and some also create restore points before doing any installation.
Conclusion: Which Driver Updater is your top choice?
Drivers are a very important part of the operating system to make the hardware run. It’s like having a car without anyone to drive it, make sense? This is why we have put together a list of the best driver updater for Windows 11. We have top choices on the list such as IObit, Ashampoo and DriverPack. All of these have their perks but the most important one is that they are Free.
