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How to Find Missing Drivers on Windows PC [Auto Detect & Install]

Discover various ways and tools to detect your device drivers

9 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Driver detector and updater software are meant to take the hassle of having touse Device Manager constantly so as to update your driversin Windows 10/11.

The swift, yet clever nature ofsoftwarethat automatically detects drivers also frees you from having to visit your device or hardware manufacturer’s website every other time to find the right driver as and when you need it.

In short, they make it easy to keep your computer ordevice driversupdated. Let’s see how these tools can simplify your digital life.

How can a driver detector help you?

How can a driver detector help you?

Here are the general benefits of using a driver detector:

How do I find and install missing drivers for free?

How do I find and install missing drivers for free?

Some of the tools listed below, including Outbyte Driver Updater, offer a free version that will find and install your missing drivers.

How to install missing drivers via Windows Update?

1.Press theWindows+Ikeys, then go toUpdate & Security.

2.Select theView all optional updatesoption.

3.Click on theDriver updatessection.

  1. Select the available drivers, then click onDownload and install.

  2. Wait for the installation process to complete.

The traditional method of installing missing drivers on your PC involves using the built-in Windows Update feature.

Under Optional updates, you can manually select which driver updates you want to install.

This is how you can update or install drivers via Windows Update. Alternatively, you can try touse Device Manager, as it is another manual way to do this.

How do I automatically detect drivers?

We’ve listed some of the topsoftwarethat automatically detectsdriversso you can pick the one that matches your needs. Yes, it can be that simple!

What are the best tools to auto detect your Windows drivers?

Here’s what we found to be the best:

Topping off our list is adriverupdater that focuses on two major aspects: being simple and being efficient.

All you need to do is download the program, launch it, and it will automatically scan your system for all missing or outdateddrivers. There is no installation process for Outbyte Driver Updater, as it is 100% portable.

Once the scan is complete, you will be provided with a detailed list of thedriversyou have on your system, both the ones that need to be updated and the ones that don’t.

From that moment, all you need to do is select which ones you want to update, or simply press the Update All button to bring your entire system up to date.

Additionally, it works to repair anydriversthat are already damaged but are installed badly.

Here are some of thebest advantagesof using Outbyte Driver Updater:

Outbyte Driver Updater

Driver Fusion– User friendly choice

If you are looking for a user-friendlysoftwaretool that automatically detectsdrivers, you can’t go wrong withDriverFusion.

You need to know from the very start the fact that it has a collection of over ten milliondriversat the moment.

Even more, you get access to alldriverversions that it can find for yourdrivers, so it’s easier than ever to choose a different version to install.

On top of all these, it enables you to cleandriverentries that were at any time installed for a device, so that no errors could ever occur while using it.

DriverFusionkey featuresthat you’re about to enjoy:

Driver Fusion

TweakBit Driver Updater– Eliminates compatibility issues

TweakBit Driver Updater helps you solve and prevent issues related todriverson your computer. It is officially approved by Norton and Microsoft so you can use it without any risks.

Thissoftwareautomatically scans your computer to detect any corrupt, missing, or outdateddriversand looks for the latest versions in its online database with more than 300,000 official versions ofdrivers.

Based on your device or computer type and model, TweakBit Driver Updater picks out the perfectdriversthat match it.

Plus, you can click a button to have it automatically apply any or all suggesteddriverupdates, though you can do it manually.

The manual process is tedious and carries with it risks such as getting the wrongdriverversion or downloading unofficial versions that may bring along spyware or viruses into your system.

This is why TweakBit Driver Updater is the number one complete solution and recommendedsoftwarethat automatically detectsdrivers so you don’t have to makecomplex decisions.

Features include a free scanner, and better stability as it eliminates compatibility issues anddriver-related system errors.

It also boosts improved functionality as you get the latest manufacturerdriverupdates, faster performance, saving time, and absolute safety.

It also hasdriversfor different Windows devices including laptops, tablets, printers, scanners, hard drives, Bluetooth, and video and audio cards, among others.

⇒Get TweakBit’s Driver Updater

DriverMax– Offers scheduled scans

The DriverMaxdriverdetector and updatersoftwareworks for Windows operating systems and all Windows Server editions to update, backup, and restore outdated, missing, or faultydriversfor more than 2.3 million devices.

DriverMax has an easily automated update fordriverswith automated installs, scheduled scans, and fulldevice driverbackups.

It also delivers increased computer productivity as it reduces system freezes and malfunctions, making for a great performance of your computer as you get the best and latest updates.

It also analyzes your existingdriverswith the latest versions for more than 2.3 million devices, with an intelligent and unique online self-learning technology.

That ensures that only the most appropriate and recent versions ofdriversare installed.

You also get maximum security as DriverMax tests each newdriverbefore installing it on your computer, with backups for the currentdriversand system restore points that allow for quick installation rollback.

⇒Get DriverMax

Device Doctor– Best for offline scans

Device Doctor is a free Windows app that scans your computer hardware and checks for any newdriverupdates available for your computer or device. It also locatesdriversfor unidentified devices in the Windows Device Manager.

Once you clickBegin Scan, Device Doctor queries its manufacturerdriverdatabase and immediately fetches the correctdriverfiles for your computer or device.

It updatesdriversfor over 13 million individual devices and computers, with more added every week.

Other features include consistent updates, future proof with Windows versions and 64-bit support, offline scans, and it provides device names for unknown devices before updatingdrivers.

To use Device Doctor, you’ll need Windows 10/8/8.1/7/Vista/XP and 10 MB of available hard drive space.

⇒Get Device Doctor

DriverIdentifier– Best for minimalistic usage

DriverIdentifier is designed as asoftwaretool that automatically detectsdriversso you can get the rightdrivereach time you need an update on your computer.

Its features include an incredible database with the most updateddrivers, and no need for an Internet connection as it’s enough to download the app to a USB flash drive and use it offline.

You’re also about to enjoy simplifieddriverdownloads,driverupdates, ease of use with a simple and foolproof interface, and support for all modern operating systems on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

⇒Get DriverIdentifier

Free Driver Scout– Offers one-click maintenance

FreeDriverScout is a simple, all-in-onesoftwarethat automatically detectsdriversthat offer freedriverupdates, with a database for more than 1 million different devices.

FreeDriverScout helps get your computer up and running while eliminating whatever slows down the system.

It is created to update alldriversinstalled on your computer, and remove outdated, broken, and defectivedriversfrom your computer while offering the latestdriverversions as free downloads.

It is 100 percent compatible with Windows versions and features one-click maintenance for quick and easy updates ofdrivers,driverscans, download manager,backup and recovery.

Other features include securedriverupdates, no sluggish gaming asdriversare updated, plus you can determine the storage location for your backups and updates.

You can also auto-download, install, and update yourdriverswith the tool’s Driver Booster 5 for better performance and updateddrivers.

⇒Get Free Driver Scout

How do I know if I have missing drivers in Windows 11?

Believe us, you will know when you have missing drivers. Errors orPC slowdownswill immediately ensue.

One such error is thedrivers not found error while installing Windows 11issue which occurs exactly when users failed to install and update their drivers.

How do I find old drivers on my computer?

OpenDevice Managerby pressingWindows+Ithen go through the list of device drivers in order to find them.

By double-clicking the drivers, you will access their properties which includes information about their version and when they were updated/installed.

Where are Windows 10 drivers stored?

When Windows 10 drivers are stored in the following locations:

C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder

C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore folder

Did any of thesesoftwaretools that automatically detectdriverscatch your attention?

Let us know your favorite pick, or if you’ve used any of these, share your experience in the comments section below.

More about the topics:driver

Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.

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Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.