Keeping drivers updated in Windows 11 is critical for ensuring stability and peak performance, whether for your graphics card, network adapter, or USB devices. While Windows 11 offers intuitive graphical interfaces, the Command Prompt (CMD) remains a powerful and straightforward tool for managing drivers, especially for IT administrators and advanced users. This guide presents five CMD commands to list, install, and fix drivers, optimizing your system with precision. Note: Run CMD as an administrator for all commands. Let’s keep your Windows 11 running at its best!

Examples

1. Updating Drivers Using Windows Update

When to Use: Trigger an automatic check for driver updates via Windows Update, ideal for obtaining Microsoft-certified drivers.

wuauclt.exe /detectnow

Steps:

1. Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Enter the command and press Enter.
3. Open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates to monitor progress.

Result: Windows Update scans for and installs available drivers, visible in Settings > Windows Update > Update history.

Note: In Windows 11, wuauclt.exe is less common due to automated updates. If no drivers are found, download them from the manufacturer’s website (e.g., NVIDIA, Intel).

2. Managing Drivers with DISM

When to Use: List installed drivers or manually install specific drivers, useful for offline scenarios or custom drivers.

List Installed Drivers

dism /online /get-drivers

Steps:

1. Open CMD as administrator.
2. Enter the command and press Enter.

Result: Displays a list with .inf file names, vendors, versions, and dates (e.g., oem1.inf, Intel, 10.1.2.85).

Install a Specific Driver

dism /online /add-driver /driver:C:\Drivers\wifi.inf

Steps:

1. Download the driver (.inf file) from the manufacturer (e.g., C:\Drivers\wifi.inf).
2. Enter the command, replacing the path, and press Enter.

Install All Drivers in a Directory

dism /online /add-driver /driver:C:\Drivers /recurse

Verify Installation

dism /online /get-drivers | findstr "nome_do_driver"

Steps:

1. Replace nome_do_driver with the driver name and press Enter.

Result: “The operation completed successfully” confirms installation.

Note: Ensure the driver is compatible with Windows 11 (64-bit). Errors like “not applicable” indicate incompatibility.

3. Managing Drivers with PnPUtil

When to Use: Install, remove, or list drivers with precision, ideal for bulk management or specific driver updates.

Install a Driver

pnputil /add-driver C:\Drivers\wifi.inf

Steps:

1. Open CMD as administrator.
2. Enter the command, replacing the path, and press Enter.

Result: “Driver package added successfully” confirms installation.

List Installed Drivers

pnputil /enum-drivers

Result: Lists .inf file names, vendors, and versions (e.g., oem2.inf, AMD, 31.0.12044.1).

Remove a Driver

pnputil /delete-driver oem3.inf

Steps:

1. List drivers with pnputil /enum-drivers and note the name (e.g., oem3.inf).
2. Enter the command and press Enter.

Result: A confirmation message indicates removal.

Warning: Avoid removing drivers for active devices without replacements. Restart the PC after installing or removing drivers.

4. Listing Drivers with Driverquery

When to Use: Audit installed drivers to check versions, types, and dates, useful for identifying outdated or problematic drivers.

driverquery

Steps:

1. Open CMD as administrator.
2. Enter the command and press Enter.

Export List:

driverquery > C:\Drivers\driver_list.txt

Result: Displays a table with driver names, descriptions, types, and dates. The text file aids in IT inventory.

Note: In Windows 11, combine with Device Manager (right-click Start menu) to spot drivers with warning icons.

5. Fixing System Files with sfc

When to Use: Repair corrupted system files that may cause driver failures or installation issues.

sfc /scannow

Steps:

1. Open CMD as administrator.
2. Enter the command and press Enter.
3. Wait for the scan and repair, which may take a few minutes.

Result: A message like “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and repaired them” indicates success.

If It Fails:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Note: In Windows 11, run sfc /scannow before manual driver installations, especially if DISM or PnPUtil encounter errors.

Important Tips

• Trusted Sources: Download drivers only from official websites (e.g., NVIDIA, Intel, Dell) or use Settings > Windows Update > Optional updates.
• 64-bit Compatibility: Verify driver compatibility with Windows 11 (64-bit) in Settings > System > About.
• System Restore Point: Before manual installations, create a restore point in Settings > System > Recovery > Create a restore point.
• Graphical Alternative: Use Device Manager (right-click Start menu) or Settings > Windows Update for automatic updates.
• Performance Monitoring: After updating drivers, check performance in Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) or Resource Monitor.
• PowerShell Alternative: In Windows 11, try PowerShell commands like Get-WindowsDriver or Install-WindowsUpdate (via PSWindowsUpdate module) for advanced automation.

Conclusion

Updating and managing drivers via CMD in Windows 11 is a powerful and flexible way to keep your system stable and optimized. With commands like wuauclt.exe, DISM, PnPUtil, driverquery, and sfc, you can ensure compatibility, performance, and system integrity. Test these methods, keep your drivers up to date, and explore modern Windows 11 tools like PowerShell or Settings > Windows Update for even more control. Share your experience and maintain a smooth-running PC!