How to Check Driver Version in Windows 11

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Driver Version in Windows 11

Knowing your driver versions can help troubleshoot issues, ensure compatibility, and verify whether you have the latest updates installed. Windows 11 offers multiple ways to check your driver version, depending on what you want to review—Display, Network, Audio, or other device drivers.

Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide covering several reliable methods.

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1. Check Driver Version Using Device Manager

This is the most common method and works for all types of hardware drivers.

Steps:

1. Open Device Manager
   • Press Win + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
   • Alternatively, you can press Win + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
2. Locate the Device
   • In Device Manager, expand the category for your device.
     For example:
     • Display adapters → for GPU drivers
     • Network adapters → for Wi-Fi or Ethernet drivers
     • Sound, video, and game controllers → for audio drivers
3. Open Properties
   • Right-click the specific device (e.g., Intel UHD Graphics or Realtek Audio).
   • Select Properties.
4. Check the Driver Version
   • In the Driver tab, look for Driver Version.
   • You can also view Driver Date and Provider.
5. Optional: View Driver Details
   • Click Driver Details to see the actual files associated with the driver and their paths on your system.

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2. Check Driver Version Using System Information

Windows’ built-in System Information (msinfo32) tool provides detailed system data, including driver info for display and sound devices.

Steps:

1. Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter.
2. In the left pane, expand Components.
3. Select a category, such as:
   • Display – for GPU driver info
   • Sound Device – for audio driver version
   • Network – for Wi-Fi or Ethernet driver version
4. Look for fields like Driver Version, Driver Date, and INF File.

This method is useful if you want a summarized view without navigating through Device Manager.

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3. Check Driver Version Using PowerShell

If you prefer command-line tools, PowerShell can quickly list all installed drivers.

Steps:

1. Press Start, search for PowerShell, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
2. Enter this command: Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, Manufacturer | Format-Table -AutoSize
3. PowerShell will display a table of all devices, their driver versions, and manufacturers.

You can scroll or export the list for documentation by adding:

... | Export-Csv "C:\driver_list.csv" -NoTypeInformation

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4. Check Driver Version Using DirectX Diagnostic Tool (for Graphics and Sound)

The DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag) gives detailed info about video and sound drivers.

Steps:

1. Press Win + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter.
2. In the Display tab, check:
   • Driver Version
   • Driver Date
3. Go to the Sound tab to view audio driver details.
4. You can save this information as a text file by clicking Save All Information, which creates a full diagnostic report.

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5. Check Driver Version via Command Prompt

Command Prompt offers a lightweight way to check driver versions for specific devices.

Steps:

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
2. Use this command to list drivers: driverquery /v | findstr /i "Name Version Date" This shows a table including the Driver Name, Version, and Date.

To save the list to a file, type:

driverquery /v > C:\driverlist.txt

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6. Check Driver Version via Windows Settings (for Display and Network Drivers)

For Display Drivers:

1. Open Settings > System > Display.
2. Scroll down and click Advanced display.
3. Click Display adapter properties.
4. In the new window, go to the Driver tab to see the version and date.

For Network Drivers:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings.
2. Under More settings, select Hardware and connection properties.
3. Scroll to find your network adapter and its Driver Version.

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7. Optional: Use Third-Party Tools for Complete Driver Insights

If you want comprehensive details and update recommendations:

• Driver Booster, Snappy Driver Installer, or Driver Easy can scan all installed drivers.
• They often show version comparisons between your current drivers and the latest available versions.
• Use these only from trusted sources and always back up your system before making changes.

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Tips

• Keep drivers up to date: Outdated drivers may cause system instability or device malfunctions.
• Use Windows Update first: Microsoft often provides safe, tested versions via Windows Update.
• Avoid unnecessary updates: Only update if you’re facing hardware issues or a newer version improves stability or compatibility.
• Backup current drivers: Use the command pnputil /export-driver * C:\DriverBackup before updating, so you can restore them if needed.

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Summary

You can check driver versions in Windows 11 through Device Manager, System Information, PowerShell, dxdiag, or Command Prompt—each giving different levels of detail.
For most users, Device Manager or the Settings app is enough, while IT admins and advanced users may prefer PowerShell or driverquery commands for bulk audits and reports.