How do I know which driver version is installed in Windows 10? Easy, let's follow a few simple steps in our tutorial!
When it comes time to update the device driver, Windows users have several options to choose from. One can use the software that automatically checks out the outdated drives and updates them. The second option downloads manually and installs the latest version. The third option, use the Windows built-in Driver Update feature. Running Windows Update sometimes helps you update the available device drivers.
Keeping your PC driver up-to-date can help improve PC performance and also avoid stability issues. It can also make the PC a little smoother. For these reasons, experts advise PC users to update their device drivers every time a newer model is available.
Although there is plenty of free software or applications out there to scan your PC from outdated drivers, the problem is that most do not update the drivers appropriately. Most free apps only help you know the obsolete driver version, but to download and install the latest, you are required to purchase paid software.
It is best to check for updates manually on the website of your hardware manufacturer and download it if an update is available. Although downloading and updating all manually installed drivers is a tedious job, but this is still better than utilizing the free app.
How to find out the current version number of Windows installed drivers
Before visiting the manufacturer's website, you should know the version number of the currently installed driver to avoid downloading the same version again. Since not all installed drivers appear in Programs and Features, checking the installed driver version is not an easy job for novice users.
Follow the instructions below to view the current version number of the device driver installed on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10:
Step 1: Open the Control Panel, click on Hardware and Sound, then click Device Manager, open the Device Manager window. Or, open the RUN dialog box by simultaneously pressing the Windows logo and R key, type devmgmt. MSC in the box, and then press the Enter key to open the Device Manager.
Step 2: Once Device Manager is Launched, expand the appropriate category, right-click on the device whose driver version you want to know.
In this tutorial, I'll check the version of the graphics card driver, I've broadened the Display adapters option first, right-click the name of the graphics card, and choose Properties.
Step 3: Switch to the Drivers tab to see the current driver version and the release date. Here, you can also find the option to uninstall the driver installation (useful if you want to remove the current model and then install the latest model) and deactivate the selected device.
The screenshot above shows the latest version of NVIDIA drivers installed on my laptop.
That's how you see driver models installed in Windows 10, Windows 7, and Windows 8.