A corrupted or faulty driver can cause a device to stop working, crashes, blue screens, or odd behavior like sound cutting out or a Wi-Fi adapter disappearing. Windows 11 doesn’t have a single “scan drivers” button, but it gives you several tools that, together, show which driver is causing trouble. This guide walks through them from quickest to most advanced, then covers how to fix a driver once you’ve found it.
Quick answer
Right-click Start and open Device Manager. Look for devices with a yellow warning triangle, then double-click one and read the Device status box. Fix it by updating, rolling back, or reinstalling the driver.
Step 1: Check Device Manager
- Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.
- Expand each category. Devices with a yellow triangle have a problem. A down arrow means the device is disabled.
- Double-click a flagged device and read the Device status box on the General tab.
Common messages include Code 10 (device can’t start), Code 28 (drivers not installed), Code 43 (Windows stopped the device because it reported problems), and Code 52 (Windows can’t verify the driver’s digital signature). These codes point straight at the driver.
If you don’t see any warnings, click View > Show hidden devices to include devices that aren’t currently connected.
Step 2: Look at Reliability Monitor
Search Start for reliability and open View reliability history. The chart shows crashes and hardware errors by day. Click a red X to see details. If the same driver file or device appears repeatedly, it’s a strong suspect.
Step 3: Check Event Viewer
Right-click Start, open Event Viewer, and go to Windows Logs > System. Click Filter Current Log and check Critical and Error. Look for entries that mention a device or a driver file (often ending in .sys) around the time problems occurred.
Step 4: Verify driver signatures
Press Windows + R, type sigverif, and press Enter. Click Start. The File Signature Verification tool lists system files and drivers that aren’t digitally signed. Unsigned drivers aren’t always broken, but they’re worth checking, especially if they came from an unofficial source.
Step 5: Check Windows system files
Built-in Windows drivers are system files, so corruption there can be repaired with SFC and DISM. Open Terminal as administrator and run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then sfc /scannow. See checking for corrupted files in Windows 11 for details.
Advanced: Driver Verifier
Windows includes Driver Verifier (run verifier), which stress-tests drivers and forces a crash when one misbehaves, revealing the culprit in the crash report. It’s a tool for experienced users: it can put the PC into a crash loop. Create a restore point first, know how to reach Safe Mode, and turn it off afterward with verifier /reset.
How to fix a problem driver
- Update: In Device Manager, right-click the device, choose Update driver, and pick Search automatically. Also check Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates.
- Roll back: If problems started after an update, open the device’s Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver.
- Reinstall: Right-click the device, choose Uninstall device, and restart. Windows reinstalls a driver automatically.
- Download from the maker: For graphics, audio, and network adapters, the PC or chip maker’s website usually has the newest stable driver.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a driver updater app?
Usually not. Windows Update and your PC maker’s support site cover most drivers. Third-party “driver updater” apps sometimes install the wrong versions or bundle unwanted software.
What are signs of a bad driver?
Blue screens that name a .sys file, a device that disappears or stops working after sleep, crackling audio, flickering screens, or Wi-Fi that drops repeatedly.
Using Windows 10?
The same tools exist there. See checking for corrupt drivers in Windows 10.
Summary
- Look for warning icons and error codes in Device Manager.
- Check Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer for repeated driver errors.
- Run sigverif, then DISM and SFC.
- Update, roll back, or reinstall the faulty driver.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.