The dark side of updating drivers is that every user will have to spend a good part of their time tracking the latest available versions. Added to that is the possibility that the newest driver may not be the best for their case, due to bugs or stability issues. The alternative is to use one of the three programs we are sharing today, which take care of updating drivers automatically, or at least inform you of the existence of new builds.
Why do you need to update drivers?
The textbook answers are three: Compatibility, stability, and performance. Windows 10 has a fairly comprehensive driver database, and they are generally adequate to cover the first two points. However, the performance factor depends almost exclusively on the manufacturer, and that's when we need to visit the official pages. The most striking example is graphics cards: Windows drivers allow the hardware to work correctly, but if you want to squeeze the most out of it, you have to look for the Nvidia-AMD-Intel packs.
What about the rest? As Facebook would say... it's complicated. In the best case, the official page has everything you need. In the worst case, that page disappeared completely (e.g., HP deleted its legacy section and Intel no longer offers BIOS for its older boards) and you have to deal with strange mirrors. The alternative to avoid losing your sanity is to use software that updates drivers automatically, and, if possible, install them from scratch when they are not present. Today we will explore three options:
The best programs to update drivers
Snappy Driver Installer Origin
Free, open source, and with a spectacular database. One of the great advantages of Snappy Driver Installer Origin is that it can work offline, and install/update drivers on almost any computer without depending on the Web. If you are struggling with the most obscure devices of a laptop without official support, it's very likely that Snappy Driver Installer Origin has all the drivers you need.
The good: Clean software, portable, without strange dependencies. The best without a doubt, start here. The bad: The offline build download comfortably exceeds 20 GB, and it's via BitTorrent. Patience.
Driver Easy
If the 20+ GB driver download is not an option and you prefer a program that works online, then you should download a copy of Driver Easy. Its interface is friendly and intuitive. One click on the Scan Now button is enough to compare your current drivers with those offered by Driver Easy. It supports driver backup, and warns about creating a restore point before continuing.
The good: Its general appearance is much more pleasant for beginner users. The bad: Freemium. Automatic driver download, but installation is manual. If you want Driver Easy to do all the heavy lifting, you have to buy a license.
IOBit Driver Booster
Mentioned ad nauseam on many dedicated forums and adopted by a large number of users, IOBit Driver Booster reduces the process of updating drivers to one click on the "Analyze" button. IOBit says the basic edition has more than three and a half million drivers in its database. If that's not enough...
The good: Easy to use. First a click to analyze, and the rest is a matter of updating the components you see fit. The bad: Nagware, nagware, nagware. The program will drive you crazy to upgrade to the Pro edition, or buy something... anything. Its installer also makes offers of legitimate services (e.g., Dashlane).
What about the others?
Honestly, I can't find anything free that surpasses these three applications, and especially Snappy Driver Installer Origin. DUMo (from the creator of SUMo) requires a license of 25 euros. 3DP Chip feels very outdated. DriverPack killed one of my environments, and Windows Defender had an existential crisis as soon as it detected it on the system.
In summary: To update drivers, start with Snappy Driver Installer Origin, and if something goes wrong, try the others. I know very well that the 20+ gigabyte download via BitTorrent is inconvenient, but the potential of loading all that material onto a USB stick and updating drivers anywhere is enormous. Good luck!
