Install drivers and other optional updates from Windows Update

Even if you have Windows Update set to automatically download and install all important and recommended updates, you still might not be getting all of the updated drivers available for your devices. For instance, optional updates might include updated drivers that become available for hardware or devices you've already installed. Windows doesn't automatically download and install optional updates, but you will be notified when optional updates are available.

To get all the available updates for your devices, periodically check Windows Update for all available updates, including optional updates. You can review the available updates and then select them from the list of updates that Windows finds for your computer. Here's how to do this:

1. Click to open Windows Update.
2. In the left pane, click Check for updates, and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your computer.
3. If there are any available updates, click the link in the box under Windows Update to see more information about each update. Each type of update might include drivers.
4. On the Select the updates you want to install page, look for updates for your hardware devices, select the check box for each driver that you want to install, and then click OK. There might not be any driver updates available.
5. On the Windows Update page, click Install updates.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

   Notes

   • Windows Update tells you if an update is important, recommended, or optional. For more information, see Understanding Windows automatic updating.

   • Some updates require you to restart your computer.

   • Windows Update will tell you if the updates were successfully installed.