Does Windows 11 automatically install drivers or do I need to handle them myself?
Does Windows 11 automatically install drivers or do I need to handle them myself?
Yes, if they identify the components correctly. Certain drivers are general-purpose, such as CPU, drives, and GPU since without them it wouldn't even boot from installation media. The main issue might be that the drivers provided by MS and Windows aren't the latest and tend to be basic, so they should be updated from the manufacturer's sources.
Microsoft will add standard driver files that suppliers have shared the source code with, enabling them to develop and test these updates.
These standard versions are maintained via Windows updates and tend to become more reliable over time.
Third-party suppliers usually remove unique features before handing over their customized code to Microsoft.
It is recommended to refresh drivers from the motherboard vendor’s site. (or using a third-party solution such as Dell Update or Intel Driver Update)
Certain drivers are tailored for your exact system and must be obtained directly from the motherboard manufacturer’s platform. (typically for stability, bug fixes, and ensuring compatibility with BIOS updates and hardware specifications. Hardware components can have issues similar to software, requiring BIOS upgrades and non-standard drivers)
Yes and no. As most others have pointed out Microsoft does maintain a compilation of general drivers for most things. However, the time gap between Microsoft's WHQL list having a driver vs the manufacturer's updates can be measured in years. So you could be leaving bug fixes and performance on the table for a long time while you wait on MS.
For OEM Laptops and pre-built desktops it is always recommended to go directly to the OEM's website. While drivers from the likes of Nvidia, Realtek, etc may work on laptops just fine, there is always the potential for some OEM specific feature or setting to get disabled or broken. (For integrated Intel or AMD graphics on laptops, if you are having issues, certainly try the direct Intel/AMD driver rather than the OEM manufacturer's driver) And for laptops with discrete GPUs, it is also generally safe to use the AMD/Nvidia/Intel graphics drivers rather than the OEMs.
For a general desktop made from retail components, you should visit the motherboard manufacturer for chipset and functional drivers like network, sound, USB, and Intel/AMD specific firmware. Graphics drivers should always come from the brand/manufacturer. So Nvidia for Nvidia, AMD for AMD, and Intel for Intel.
There may also be times you need to update hardware firmware on various devices, including motherboard BIOS, graphics card vBIOS, and even simple things like SSDs and sound cards. Always stick to the direct manufacturer here. There are no generic firmwares.