If you have an Nvidia graphics card, whether it’s one of today’s top graphics cards or an older model, you’ll want to make sure it’s updated regularly. To do this, you need to check for new updates from time to time and update your drivers to the latest version.
Nvidia often releases new drivers, which can offer new functionality, improve performance for existing and new games, and keep your GPU running at its best. The latest Nvidia drivers can be the difference between your favorite game running well and running at peak performance.
There are two main ways to update Nvidia drivers: using Nvidia’s GeForce Experience software, or by going to Nvidia’s driver download page. We will cover both methods in this guide. Those who prefer to make the upgrade decision themselves and don’t mind manually upgrading GeForce Experience features such as overlays, Ansel drawing features, or enhanced game settings may prefer.
If you are installing Nvidia drivers for the first time, you must first uninstall old AMD or Intel GPU drivers. You can use programs like Display Driver Uninstaller to ensure that everything from previous builds is removed.
How to update NVIDIA GPU drivers
Update NVIDIA drivers with GeForce Experience
This is the method I usually use. Nvidia GeForce Experience Software is the easiest way to update your Nvidia GPU drivers.
1- Download and install Nvidia GeForce Experience
To do this, you need to install the GeForce Experience software, which you can get directly from Nvidia here.
Follow the instructions and install the software. You also need to create an account, which is one of the biggest downsides to GeForce Experience, AMD doesn’t require that in its Radeon software.
Sometimes, GeForce Experience may show you a notification that updates or new software is ready, which will take you directly to the download page. It looks like this:
But if you want to check manually, keep reading.
2- Go to the “Drivers” tab in the upper right corner of the application
3- Click on “Check for updates”. If an update is already complete, skip this step.
4- Click on “Download” next to the update.
Select the type of installation you want. For most, “Express Installation” is a good choice. A custom install lets you choose to remove specific components, such as the audio driver, USB-C driver, or PhysX System Software, as well as perform a clean install.
The driver will be installed. just wait. This will only take a few minutes.
When you’re done, you’ll get a confirmation. You can click Close safely. You need to restart your computer.
Manually update Nvidia GPU drivers
If you don’t want the other features that come with GeForce Experience, or maybe you don’t want to create an account, you can still update your Nvidia GPU drivers manually. The other main way to do this is to go directly to the Nvidia driver download site.
Go to the NVIDIA drivers download page here.
Fill in the menus below to match your graphics card. Note that you must select whether you are using a desktop GPU in the “Product Series” section.
Under “Download Type,” gamers will want to use Game Ready Driver, while artists, designers, and other creatives may want to choose Driver Studio.
Click on “Search”. The website will display the latest available driver.
Click on “Download”. The driver will be downloaded to your Downloads folder.
Open the installation file in your Downloads folder.
Click “OK” to select the extraction path.
Wait while the driver is extracted.
Choose whether you want the driver or both the driver and GeForce Experience. Click “Agree and Continue”.
Select the type of installation you want. “Express” is the recommended option, and “Custom” allows you to select the parts you want. Click on “Next”.
Wait for the installation to complete.
Restart your computer to complete the installation.
Quick facts about Nvidia
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is an American semiconductor company and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs). Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, NVIDIA has approximately 80 percent of the global market share in GPU semiconductor chips through 2023.
Unlike conventional CPU semiconductor chips, graphics processing units (GPUs) are designed to accelerate graphics-intensive applications such as video games, editing, and rendering of 3D graphics, as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning applications (ML). NVIDIA has been at the forefront of GPU technology for over 25 years and is one of its early pioneers.
