The best driver update software keeps your drivers up-to date. The most effective software is one with a user-friendly interface that automates the process and requires only minimal user interaction. They search for outdated drivers to download and install latest versions, and purge old drivers from your computer so they won’t be installed accidentally in the future. Some are free, while others are more extensive and come with a range of features.

IObit Driver Booster is among the most effective, since it is able to update drivers quickly and without limits on bandwidth or time. DriverMax features a simple interface and is able to detect several devices that aren’t supported by most other driver update programs. It’s also more customizable with the capability to create an ignore list to avoid updating drivers you’ve found problematic or run a scan according to an interval that can be personalized.

Another good choice is PC HelpSoft Driver Updater which automatically compares your current drivers to the ones in its massive database before installing any new ones. This can save you many hours of searching for and reinstalling missing or obsolete drivers. It can also backup the drivers on your computer. This is accomplished by compressing them all into one executable is easy to restore should you have to install Windows or upgrade.

It’s important to note that some of the most well-known driver update applications can be quite annoying, with a pop-up window every time you scan, which could be a driver update software major drain on productivity. Snappy Driver Installer Origin, one of the few applications that doesn’t provide this feature, is available in the form of a free version. However it only updates two drivers per day.