To update drivers on a supported Dell Windows computer, open SupportAssist, select Home > Update software > Start, then select View updates > Install after the scan. You can also download individual drivers from Dell or install drivers offered through Windows Update. The Windows steps below use Windows 11 menus.
The short version
- Start with SupportAssist: Scan your supported Dell Windows PC and install the updates it offers.
- Match your computer: Use your Service Tag or model to find compatible packages on Dell Drivers & Downloads.
- Check Windows Update: Recommended drivers arrive automatically, while optional drivers require your selection.
- Finish the installation: Restart when prompted to complete the update.
| Method | When to use it | Requirement or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| SupportAssist app scan | Check for Dell updates together | Supported Dell Windows PC |
| Dell website scan | Start a scan from your browser | SupportAssist web component and administrator access |
| Individual Dell downloads | Install a specific driver or transfer it from another PC | Package matching your model and operating system |
| Windows Update | Check for recommended drivers | Applicable updates for your Windows 11 PC |
| Windows optional updates | Select additional offered drivers | Manual selection and installation |
| Device Manager folder installation | Install extracted driver files | Compatible driver folder |
| Device Manager automatic search | Search for a driver already on your PC | Search checks the local computer |
| Driver rollback | Undo an update that caused a problem | Previous driver and administrator access |
| Driver reinstallation | Repair a problematic device installation | Does not guarantee a newer driver |
| Scheduled SupportAssist checks | Check for future updates regularly | Administrator sign-in; automatic installation varies by PC |
Choose drivers for your Dell model
Start with Dell’s model-specific packages for hardware supplied with your computer. Open Dell Drivers & Downloads, enter your computer’s Service Tag or model, and select Search. Alternatively, select Browse all products to identify it manually.
The available operating systems and driver packages depend on the model you identify. Match the package to both your computer and its operating system before downloading it. For a peripheral made by another manufacturer, get its driver from that manufacturer’s website.
Use a SupportAssist scan when you want to check for Dell updates without choosing each device yourself. Choose an individual download when you know which component needs attention or need to transfer a driver from another computer. Dell advises against third-party driver-updater utilities.
Run a driver scan with SupportAssist
Open Start, search for SupportAssist, and open the app. Select Home > Update software > Start to begin scanning. Once the scan finishes, select View updates, then select Install and restart to complete installation.
If you need to install the app first, open SupportAssist for Home PCs and select Download SupportAssist. Run the downloaded installer, then open the app and follow the scan steps. SupportAssist works on supported Dell Windows PCs, including supported Inspiron, XPS, Alienware, and G Series systems.
If SupportAssist notifications are enabled, you can also select a notification announcing available updates to open the update workflow. Alternatively, open the app directly and select Update software. If SupportAssist cannot complete the scan, download the compatible driver from Dell and run its installer.
Dell ended support for Dell Update and Alienware Update on December 31, 2024. Dell directs you to SupportAssist as the replacement for those applications.
Start an automatic scan on Dell’s website
On the Dell computer you want to update, open Dell Drivers & Downloads. Under Automatic Updates, select Check for updates. Complete the SupportAssist scan, then install the offered updates.
This browser workflow requires a supported Dell Windows computer, a working SupportAssist web component, and administrator access. If the web component prevents the scan from completing, use a compatible individual driver download from the same Dell page.
Download and install a specific Dell driver
Return to Dell Drivers & Downloads and identify your computer using its Service Tag or select Browse all products. Find the required driver for your model and operating system, then select Download. Run the downloaded installer and follow its installation prompts.
Restart when the installer prompts you to do so. Use the installation instructions supplied with the package you selected for your Dell model and operating system.
When your Dell has no network connection, download the compatible driver on another computer and transfer it to the Dell. Run the transferred installer on the Dell and restart when prompted. You can use this method to install a network driver without completing an online scan on the affected computer.
For graphics updates, start with the Dell package for your model because generic graphics packages can differ from Dell-customized versions. If you need help identifying the component first, follow the steps to find and update your graphics driver. NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel utilities update supported components, so they do not replace Dell’s complete driver catalog.
Check Windows Update for additional drivers
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Windows Update, then select Check for updates. Allow available updates to install, and select Restart now when prompted. Windows Update also delivers recommended drivers automatically.
Optional drivers require a separate selection. On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options and turn on Receive updates for other Microsoft products. Under Additional options, select Optional updates.
Select the required driver entries, then select Download and install. Restart afterward to finish the process. Only applicable drivers offered by Windows Update appear here, and optional drivers are not installed automatically.
Install extracted drivers through Device Manager
Use Device Manager when you have downloaded and extracted compatible driver files into a folder. Right-click Start, select Device Manager, and expand the category containing the device. Right-click the device and select Update driver.
Choose Browse my computer for drivers, select Browse..., and choose the extracted driver folder. Select OK > Next > Close to complete the workflow. If you downloaded a Dell installer instead, run that installer using the individual-download method above.
Device Manager also offers an automatic search, which checks your local computer. To use it, right-click the device and select Properties > Driver > Update Driver > Search automatically for drivers. If offered, select Search for updated drivers on Windows Update to continue online, or open Windows Update using the steps above.
Fix device problems after updating
If a device starts malfunctioning after an update, you can return to its previous driver when that version is available and you have administrator access. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. Choose a reason, select Yes, and restart if prompted.
Reinstalling is another option for a problematic device driver. Right-click Start, open Device Manager, and expand the device’s category. Right-click the device, select Uninstall device, then select Uninstall. Restart so Windows can attempt to reinstall the driver; this does not guarantee a newer version.
For keyboard trouble that remains, follow the steps to update or reinstall keyboard drivers. If audio input is still the issue, continue with troubleshooting microphone problems on your computer.
Schedule future SupportAssist checks
Sign in as an administrator, open SupportAssist, and select Settings. In Scans and optimizations, select Open, then select Check for software updates. Choose how often the app should check.
Automatic installation is available only on certain PCs. On those PCs, enable Automatically install software updates if you want SupportAssist to install updates automatically after checking for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you update drivers on a Dell running Ubuntu?
On a supported Ubuntu installation with compatible Dell hardware, open Software Updater, install available updates, and restart. For supported NVIDIA graphics, open Additional Drivers and, under NVIDIA Corporation, choose the newest suitable driver marked proprietary, tested. Select Apply changes, enter your password, and restart when installation finishes.
Does a Dell Chromebook need separate driver downloads?
Your Dell ChromeOS device receives drivers through ChromeOS updates. On a device still receiving updates, connect to the internet, select the time, and open Settings > About ChromeOS > Check for updates. Select Restart in the update notification after the download completes.
Is a BIOS update the same as a driver update?
A BIOS update changes firmware rather than an operating-system device driver.
Can Dell email you when new drivers are released?
With a Dell account and a supported product, you can create driver-update email subscriptions. Open Driver Subscriptions, sign in, select Create Subscription, and choose the product, model, operating system, and components. Name the subscription, verify its email address, choose the frequency and notification preferences, then select Save. Follow the notifications to download applicable packages; the subscription does not install drivers.