What Armoury Crate does and why you might use it
Armoury Crate is ASUS's control software that bundles driver downloads, hardware monitoring, and device settings into one application. If you own an ASUS motherboard, graphics card, or peripheral, Armoury Crate can detect which drivers your system needs and download them directly from ASUS servers — rather than hunting through the ASUS website or relying on Windows Update.
The main reason to use it: Armoury Crate knows what hardware you actually have installed. It scans your system, matches components to their drivers, and shows you which ones are outdated or missing. This is faster and more reliable than guessing which driver file to download from a support page.
You do not have to use Armoury Crate to get ASUS drivers — you can always download them manually from the ASUS support website. But if you have multiple ASUS components, the software saves time and reduces the chance of downloading the wrong version.
Key Takeaways
- Download Armoury Crate from the ASUS website or Microsoft Store, then launch it and sign in with an ASUS account (or create one free).
- The software automatically scans your system and lists drivers that are available, outdated, or missing — you do not have to search manually.
- Click the download button next to any driver, wait for the file to finish, then run the installer that appears in your Downloads folder.
- Restart your computer after installing drivers, especially for graphics cards, chipsets, or network adapters.
- If Armoury Crate does not detect a driver you need, you can still download it manually from the ASUS support page using your product model number.
Installing Armoury Crate on your computer
Go to the ASUS website and search for "Armoury Crate download", or open the Microsoft Store app and search for "ASUS Armoury Crate". Both routes lead to the same software. The Microsoft Store version installs and updates automatically, which is simpler if you do not mind that convenience; the website version gives you more control over when updates happen.
Click the download or install button, wait for the file to finish, then run the installer. You will be asked to choose an installation folder — the default location is fine for most people. Once installation completes, launch Armoury Crate from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.
On first launch, you will see a sign-in screen. Create a free ASUS account using your email address, or sign in if you already have one. Armoury Crate does not require an account to download drivers, but signing in lets the software remember your preferences and sync settings across devices if you use ASUS products on multiple computers.
Scanning for drivers and viewing what needs updating
After you sign in, Armoury Crate automatically scans your system to detect ASUS hardware. This scan runs in the background and usually takes one to three minutes. You will see a progress bar, and once it finishes, the main window shows a list of detected components — typically your motherboard, graphics card, chipset, and any ASUS peripherals connected to your computer.
Next to each component, you will see a status label: "Latest" means the driver is current, "Update available" means a newer version exists, and "Not installed" means the driver is missing. The software prioritizes components that need attention, so outdated or missing drivers appear at the top of the list.
You can also manually trigger a rescan by clicking the refresh or scan button in the interface. This is useful if you just installed new ASUS hardware and want Armoury Crate to detect it immediately, rather than waiting for the next automatic scan.
Downloading drivers through Armoury Crate
Find the driver you want to download in the list. Click the download button next to it — usually a down arrow or a button labeled "Download". Armoury Crate will fetch the driver file from ASUS servers and save it to your Downloads folder. The download progress appears in the Armoury Crate window, and you can continue using your computer while it runs.
Once the download finishes, you will see a notification or a button to open the installer. Click it, or navigate to your Downloads folder and double-click the driver file manually. The installer will launch, and you will be guided through a setup wizard. Most driver installers require you to accept a license agreement and choose whether to perform a standard or custom installation — standard is the right choice unless you have a specific reason to customize.
Some drivers, particularly graphics drivers, may ask you to close running applications before installation proceeds. Save your work and close any open programs, then click continue. The installer will copy files to your system and may ask you to restart your computer when finished.
Restarting after driver installation
Always restart your computer after installing drivers, even if the installer does not require it. Drivers control how Windows communicates with hardware, and a restart ensures the new driver loads correctly and takes effect. Skipping the restart can lead to the hardware not working properly, or the old driver remaining in use.
If the installer asks you to restart, click yes and let the computer shut down and boot back up. If it does not ask, go to your Start menu, click the power button, and select Restart. Save any open work first.
Troubleshooting when Armoury Crate does not find a driver
Armoury Crate only shows drivers for ASUS components it detects. If you have an ASUS product but the software does not list it, the component may not be recognized, or the driver may not be available through Armoury Crate yet. This sometimes happens with very new products or older hardware.
In that case, download the driver manually from the ASUS support website. Go to asus.com, click Support, and search for your product model number — you can find this on the device itself, its box, or in Windows Device Manager. Once you find your product page, look for the Drivers section, download the correct driver for your operating system, and run the installer the same way you would with Armoury Crate.
If Armoury Crate crashes, fails to scan, or shows an error, try restarting the application or reinstalling it. You can also check the ASUS support forums or contact ASUS support directly if the problem persists.
When to update drivers and what to expect
Driver updates usually fix bugs, improve performance, or add support for new features. Graphics drivers are updated frequently — sometimes monthly — and are worth installing if you game or do graphics-heavy work. Motherboard chipset drivers are updated less often but are important for system stability. Peripheral drivers (mice, keyboards, headsets) update rarely unless they add new functionality.
You do not have to install every update immediately. If your hardware is working well, you can wait a few days to see if other users report problems with a new driver. But if a driver fixes a known issue that affects you, or if Armoury Crate marks it as critical, install it sooner.
After updating a driver, monitor your system for a day or two. If you notice crashes, performance drops, or hardware not working, you can roll back to the previous driver version through Windows Device Manager or by reinstalling the older driver from ASUS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an ASUS account to download drivers with Armoury Crate?
No. You can download drivers without signing in, but creating a free account lets Armoury Crate remember your preferences and sync settings if you use ASUS products on multiple computers. Signing in takes less than a minute.
Can I use Armoury Crate if I have non-ASUS components?
Armoury Crate only detects and downloads drivers for ASUS hardware. If you have components from other manufacturers, you will need to download their drivers separately from their own support websites. Armoury Crate will not interfere with non-ASUS drivers.
What if a driver installation fails or causes problems?
If an installer fails, restart your computer and try again. If a newly installed driver causes crashes or hardware to stop working, open Device Manager, find the device, right-click it, and select "Roll back driver" to return to the previous version. You can also uninstall the driver and reinstall an older version from ASUS manually.
How often should I check Armoury Crate for driver updates?
Armoury Crate can notify you when updates are available, so you do not have to check manually. Enable notifications in the software settings. Graphics drivers update frequently, but chipset and other drivers update less often — checking once a month is reasonable if you prefer to update on your own schedule.
Can I download multiple drivers at once with Armoury Crate?
Yes. You can click the download button for several drivers in a row, and Armoury Crate will queue them. However, you should install and restart after each driver, especially for graphics or chipset drivers, rather than installing all of them before restarting. This makes it easier to identify which driver caused a problem if one does.