Device drivers, explained simply

Four reasons, stated plainly

• System stability

  A driver that matches the hardware and the system version removes a common source of crashes, freezes and stop errors. When a fault appears, the driver is one of the first things worth checking.

• Security fixes

  Many drivers run with high system privileges, so device makers sometimes release updates that close security issues. Release notes usually say when an update includes one.

• Performance

  Graphics, storage and network drivers are revised over time, and some revisions improve performance on hardware you already own. The release notes describe what changed.

• Compatibility

  A new system version or application can need a newer driver. Equally, if a device works and nothing reports a problem, there is often no reason to change its driver.