Windows audio drivers are the software that enables the operating system to communicate with your computer’s sound card. These drivers are often specific to a specific motherboard and processor. So, you must always select the exact driver that suits your PC’s firmware.
Generally, the audio driver installed with Windows 10 should be suitable for most users. But if you’re having problems with your sound card or audio output device, you may need to install more drivers to ensure everything works well and is compatible.
What Audio Driver Do I Need For Windows 10?
The most common audio driver for Windows 10 is the Realtek HD Audio Driver. The high-quality audio supports sample rates of up to 192 kHz, 24 bits or greater, enabling you to experience superior sound quality compared to standard 16-bit/48-kHz CD rates.
Although Windows 10 can download and install all related software and drivers. You can also update or add drivers manually. It is always recommended to add the latest drivers while you are adding them manually.
Furthermore, numerous third-party applications and sound enhancers can assist and support sound drivers. These applications support almost all the audio formats your Windows requires or run frequently.
Before jumping to the Realtek audio drivers, you must confirm your computer’s hardware. Using any external sound card or GPU with audio support, you might need drivers according to this hardware.
But the question is how to identify what driver you need for your hardware. Here is a simple technique to identify the model of your sound card or GPU without even opening the computer case. You just need to access the system information.
- Open the Windows start menu, type “System Information,” and open the program.
- Here, expand “Components” and then select “Sound Device.” On the right side column, you will find all the audio devices supporting or participating in the audio delivery (Input/output).
How To Install Realtek Sound Driver for Windows 10?
Most motherboards manufactured by Intel and AMD rely on Realtek for their audio support. But you need to download and install the driver from their official website. You need to know only one tip to determine which of these drivers you need to download on your computer. This tip is the Windows version and bit rate.
- Go to the official website of Realtek Audio. Here, scroll down to the Windows section.
- Now, from the file, match the specifications of your windows.
- You can download the “Zip file” to install on another device or the “Driver only” file for your PC.
- Extract and run the setup and install the drivers. Your system’s audio will not work if you have downloaded the wrong drivers.
Some Intel devices have Realtek built in, and the drivers are installed right after Windows 10. Confirm the previous driver type in the device manager to avoid reinstalling the driver. Follow the below steps to do that,
- Right-click the Windows start icon and open “Device Manager” from the list.
- Once you are in the device manager, expand “Audio input and outputs.”
- Here, you can see the previously installed driver.
Note: For the whole process, you need to have a high-speed internet connection with reliable speed, as you will need to download the drivers without any interruptions.
How To Automatically Install Audio Driver That Your Windows 10 Need
What could be perfect if Windows if your Windows 10 automatically detects and installs the audio driver that it needs? It will save you time and energy. There are two ways to do it. One uses the Windows device manager, and the second uses third-party applications.
Automatic Driver Installation Via Device Manager
Device Manager in Windows serves as a hub for drivers. It automatically searches for the drivers and downloads and installs them as soon as you connect any hardware to your system. To use this feature,
- Open Windows Start, type “Device Manager, “ and open the program.
- Once you are in, click on “Scan for new hardware changes. “
- It will start scanning and will automatically download and install the drivers.
Automatic Driver Installation Via Third Party App- Driver Easy
You could also use third-party applications that detect when drivers are missing and then install the appropriate driver for the audio device by retrieving information about the version and model number of the device.
Driver Easy is the most popular application for carrying out this task. This application will scan your computer for missing or outdated drivers and automatically install them.
- Download the Driver Easy app on your Windows.
- Now open it, go to the “Scan” section, and press “Scan Now.”
- It will start scanning the missing drivers and automatically install them in your system’s directory.
How To Manually Install Audio Drivers For Windows 10
Manual installation is the last option if none of the above methods works for installing the audio drivers on your Windows 10. This process requires you to know the exact version and manufacturer of the audio device. Follow these steps to manually install the audio driver,
- First, identify your laptop or PC model, including the processor model. For instance, if you use a Dell Vestro series laptop, you must visit the Dell official website.
- You can also google “Dell Vestro (Laptop model) Audio drivers.” It will redirect you to Dell’s official webpage with possible supported drivers.
- Once on the webpage, scroll down to download the driver from the available list.
- After downloading the drivers, install them on your PC/Laptop and confirm the installation by visiting the Device Manager.
Conclusion
It’s not as hard as you think to install audio drivers on Windows 10. Whether you prefer to do it manually or automatically, this guide can help you. Before installing any driver, ensure it is compatible with your system specifications. I hope now you know how to figure out the exact audio driver for your computer.
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Hey, I’m Hammad. I have been writing for several years now and have amassed a wealth of experience within my field. My focus is on technology and gaming, two areas that I am highly knowledgeable about. Also, I’m writer for iPhonEscape.com and CPUGPUnerds.com as well and where I have written over 350 articles.