Find your installed drivers in three ways
You can see what device drivers are installed on your computer right now using built-in Windows tools — you do not need to download anything or dig through system files. The fastest method takes about 30 seconds. Which route you pick depends on what you want to know: whether a specific driver exists, what version it is, or a full list of everything installed.
All three methods show the same information, just organized differently. Pick whichever one makes sense for what you are looking for. If you are troubleshooting a specific device — a printer, graphics card, or network adapter — the Device Manager method is usually fastest. If you want to see everything at once, the System Information tool gives you a complete list.
Key Takeaways
- Device Manager shows every driver on your system organized by device type, and you can see version numbers and update dates by right-clicking any device.
- System Information displays a searchable list of all drivers in one window, useful when you want to check multiple devices quickly.
- Command Prompt can pull driver information without opening any graphical windows, which is helpful if you are documenting what is installed.
- Right-clicking a device and selecting Properties reveals the driver version, manufacturer, and the date it was installed.
- If a driver shows a yellow warning triangle, that device has a problem and may need a newer version or a manual fix.
Check drivers using Device Manager
Device Manager is the most common way to see what drivers are installed because it shows them organized by what they control. Open it by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager, or by typing "Device Manager" into the Windows search box and pressing Enter.
Once Device Manager opens, you will see a list of categories like Display adapters, Network adapters, and Sound, video and game controllers. Click the arrow next to any category to expand it and see the specific devices. Each device listed has a driver installed. To see the driver version and installation date, right-click the device name and select Properties, then click the Driver tab. The window shows the driver provider (usually the manufacturer), the version number, and the date it was installed.
If you see a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark next to a device, that means the driver has a problem. The device may not be working correctly, or Windows could not find the right driver when you plugged it in. You can right-click that device and select Update driver to search for a newer version, or Uninstall device to remove it and let Windows reinstall it automatically on restart.
View all drivers at once in System Information
System Information shows every driver installed on your computer in a single searchable list, which is useful if you want to check multiple devices without expanding categories. Open it by typing "System Information" into the Windows search box and pressing Enter, or by pressing Windows key + Pause/Break.
In the System Information window, click the plus sign next to Components on the left side to expand it, then click Device Drivers. The right side will show a complete list of every driver, including the driver name, manufacturer, version, and installation date. You can scroll through this list or use Ctrl+F to search for a specific driver by name — for example, typing "nvidia" will show only graphics drivers from that manufacturer.
This method is faster than Device Manager if you need to compare versions across multiple devices or if you are documenting your system for troubleshooting. Copy and paste the list into a text file if you need to save it for later.
Use Command Prompt to list drivers
If you prefer working in Command Prompt or need to document drivers in a text file, you can pull a driver list without opening any windows. Right-click the Start button, select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin), and type this command: driverquery then press Enter.
This shows a table with the driver name, display name, and version. If you want to save this list to a file, type driverquery > drivers.txt instead. This creates a text file called drivers.txt in your user folder with the complete list. You can then open it in Notepad or email it to someone helping you troubleshoot.
For more detailed information including driver paths and dates, use driverquery /v (the /v stands for verbose, meaning more detail). This takes longer to run but shows additional columns like the driver file location and when it was installed.
Understand what the driver information means
When you look at driver details, you will see several pieces of information. The driver name is the internal name Windows uses — it may not match the device name. The version number tells you how recent the driver is; higher numbers are usually newer. The provider or manufacturer is the company that made the driver, usually the device maker like Intel, NVIDIA, or Realtek.
The installation date shows when that specific version was installed, not when the device was first plugged in. If a driver is several years old and your device is not working well, a newer version may fix the problem. You can check the manufacturer's website to see if they have released updates since that date.
A signed driver means Microsoft has verified it is safe to use. Most drivers are signed. An unsigned driver is rare and usually means it is very old or from a manufacturer that no longer supports it. Windows may warn you about unsigned drivers, but they can still work.
What to do if a driver is missing or outdated
If you cannot find a driver for a device you know is connected, or if a device shows a warning triangle in Device Manager, the driver may be missing or corrupted. Right-click the device and select Update driver. Windows will search online for the newest version. If it finds one, it will install it automatically and may ask you to restart.
If Windows cannot find a driver online, visit the device manufacturer's website directly. Search for your device model and download the latest driver from their support page. Run the installer file and follow the prompts. After installation, restart your computer and check Device Manager again to confirm the driver updated.
If you recently updated Windows and a driver stopped working, you can roll back to the previous version. Right-click the device in Device Manager, select Properties, click the Driver tab, and look for a Roll Back Driver button. This only appears if a previous version is available. Click it to return to the older driver, then restart your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to know what drivers I have?
Drivers are what let Windows talk to your hardware. If a device is not working, checking the driver version tells you whether it is outdated or missing. You also need to know your driver versions when troubleshooting with tech support or before upgrading Windows, since some drivers may not work with the new version.
Can I delete a driver I do not recognize?
Do not delete drivers unless you are sure what device they control. Deleting the wrong driver can break something you rely on. If you see an unfamiliar driver name, search for it online first to learn what it does. If it is for a device you do not use, you can uninstall it from Device Manager, and Windows will reinstall it automatically if the device is ever plugged in again.
What if two drivers show the same device?
Sometimes Windows lists multiple versions of the same driver, or a device appears under two different categories. This is usually harmless. If one shows a warning triangle and the other does not, the working one is active. You can safely uninstall the broken one and let Windows reinstall it.
Do I need to update all my drivers?
You do not need to update every driver immediately. Update drivers for devices that are not working well, or for graphics and network adapters if you are having performance problems. Drivers for devices that work fine can usually stay as they are. Check the manufacturer's website if you want to know whether a newer version fixes a specific problem you are experiencing.
Where do I find driver version numbers if Device Manager does not show them?
Right-click the device in Device Manager and select Properties, then click the Driver tab. The version number appears in the Driver Version field. If it is blank, the device may not have a proper driver installed. You can also use System Information or the driverquery command to see version numbers for all drivers at once.