Motherboard drivers let your operating system talk to your hardware

A motherboard driver is software that lets Windows or macOS communicate with the physical components built into your motherboard — the chipset, audio system, network port, and USB controllers. Without these drivers, your computer may not recognize connected devices, your network may not work, or your audio may be silent. Most of the time Windows installs basic versions automatically, but the manufacturer's drivers are usually more stable and unlock full features.

You install motherboard drivers in three ways: let Windows find them, download them from your motherboard maker's website, or use a driver disc that came with your computer. The website method is fastest and most reliable because you get the exact version for your specific motherboard model.

Key Takeaways

  • Find your exact motherboard model by opening Device Manager on Windows or System Report on Mac, then searching the manufacturer's support page.
  • Download drivers directly from the motherboard maker's website rather than using third-party driver software, which often installs unwanted extras.
  • On Windows, use Device Manager to install downloaded drivers by right-clicking the device and selecting "Update driver", then pointing to your downloaded file.
  • Restart your computer after installing motherboard drivers so the changes take effect.
  • If a driver installation fails, roll back to the previous version through Device Manager to restore stability.

Find your motherboard model number

You need to know your exact motherboard model before you can download the right drivers. On Windows, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager". Look for "System devices" in the list and expand it. You should see entries like "Intel Chipset" or "AMD Chipset" — these tell you the chipset family, but not the motherboard model itself.

For the actual motherboard model, open Command Prompt as administrator, type wmic baseboard get product, and press Enter. The output will show something like "B550-PLUS" or "Z790-E". Write this down exactly. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, select "About This Mac", then click "System Report". Look under "Hardware Overview" for "Model Identifier" — this tells you which Mac model you have, and Apple provides drivers for all recent models automatically.

Download drivers from the manufacturer's website

Go to the support or downloads page of your motherboard maker — common ones are ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock, and Intel. Search for your exact motherboard model. The page will list drivers for chipset, audio, network, USB, and sometimes RGB lighting or fan control software.

Download only the chipset driver first — this is the foundation that other drivers depend on. It is usually labeled "Chipset Driver" or "Intel Management Engine Interface" for Intel boards, or "AMD Chipset Driver" for AMD boards. Save the file to a folder you can find easily, like your Downloads folder. Do not download driver packs from third-party sites like Driver Booster or DriverPack Solution; these often bundle unwanted software and may install outdated versions.

Install the chipset driver on Windows

Open Device Manager again and look for "System devices". Right-click on the chipset entry (usually "Intel Chipset" or "AMD Chipset") and select "Update driver". Choose "Browse my computer for driver software". Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the chipset driver and select it. Windows will install the driver and may ask you to restart.

After the chipset driver installs, restart your computer. Then return to the manufacturer's website and download the audio driver, network driver, and any USB drivers listed for your board. Install each one the same way — right-click in Device Manager, select "Update driver", browse to the file, and restart after each one. Installing the chipset driver first ensures the others install correctly.

Install additional drivers for audio and networking

Once the chipset driver is in place, your audio and network devices should appear in Device Manager. If they show a yellow warning triangle, they need drivers. Download the audio driver from your motherboard maker's page — it is usually called "Realtek Audio Driver" or "High Definition Audio Driver". Install it the same way as the chipset driver.

Next, install the network driver if your computer is not connecting to the internet. Download the LAN or Ethernet driver from the manufacturer's page. If you have Wi-Fi built into your motherboard, download the wireless driver as well. Each driver installs through Device Manager the same way: right-click the device, select "Update driver", browse to the downloaded file, and restart when prompted.

What to do if a driver installation fails

If a driver installation causes problems — like audio cutting out, network dropping, or USB devices not working — you can roll back to the previous version. Open Device Manager, right-click the device that is causing trouble, select "Properties", click the "Driver" tab, and select "Roll Back Driver". Windows will restore the version that was working before.

If "Roll Back Driver" is grayed out, the previous version is no longer available. In that case, uninstall the driver by right-clicking the device and selecting "Uninstall device", then restart your computer. Windows will reinstall a basic version. You can then try downloading a different version of the driver from the manufacturer's website, or contact their support with the exact error message you received.

Motherboard drivers on Mac

macOS handles motherboard drivers differently than Windows. Apple includes chipset, audio, and network drivers in the operating system itself, and you cannot download separate versions from the motherboard maker. Instead, keep your Mac updated by going to System Settings, clicking "General", then "Software Update". This installs any motherboard-related updates that Apple has released.

If you have an Intel-based Mac and need to update the chipset or firmware, Apple occasionally releases these through Software Update. If you have an Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, or newer), all motherboard components are integrated into the processor, and updates come only through macOS updates. You do not need to download drivers separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install motherboard drivers if Windows is already working?

Windows installs basic drivers automatically, but the manufacturer's versions are usually more stable and include features like audio enhancements or network optimization. If your audio, network, or USB devices are working fine, you can skip them. If you notice problems or want full performance, install the manufacturer's drivers.

What if I cannot find my motherboard model on the manufacturer's website?

Double-check the model number you found in Device Manager or Command Prompt — it is easy to misread. If the exact model is not listed, look for a similar model from the same generation or chipset. For example, if you have a B550-PLUS, drivers for B550 boards often work. Contact the manufacturer's support if you are still stuck.

Can I use driver software like Driver Booster to install motherboard drivers?

These programs often install outdated or incorrect drivers and bundle unwanted software. Download directly from the motherboard maker's website instead. It takes five minutes longer but gives you the exact, current driver without extras.

Do I need to uninstall old drivers before installing new ones?

No. When you right-click a device in Device Manager and select "Update driver", Windows replaces the old version with the new one automatically. You do not need to uninstall first.

Why does my computer keep asking me to restart after installing drivers?

Motherboard drivers control core hardware functions, so Windows needs to restart to load them into memory and activate them. Always restart when prompted. If you skip the restart, the driver may not work correctly.