Dealing with dodgy drivers in Windows 11 can be a real pain. Sometimes, a driver just decides to go walkabout — no idea why, but it causes stuff like internet drops, audio cutting out, or just plain weird behaviour. Restarting that driver often does the trick like hitting refresh on the hardware, fixing minor issues without having to reboot the whole rig. It’s a handy tip, but, of course, not always foolproof. Still, it’s worth a go before diving into more complicated fix-its.
How to Restart Drivers in Windows 11
The gist is to disable the driver, then turn it back on. This resets its connection and can clear up small glitches. Here’s where most blokes and sheilas go wrong: they forget to check for driver updates or don’t quite know which device they’re tinkering with. So, follow these steps — and remember, sometimes you need to run as admin or restart after as a final step.
Step 1: Open Device Manager
Hit Windows key + X and choose Device Manager. Fair dinkum, it’s a Windows classic, tucked away somewhere under system tools. If you’re having a bother finding it, just search “Device Manager” in the Start menu. But yeah, that shortcut is a quicker poke if you remember it. Because Windows tends to hide stuff until you give it a nudge.
Step 2: Find the Driver
Scroll through the list for the device type you need — maybe network adapters, sound, or graphics. Click the little arrow to expand the section. Sometimes, the hardware name isn’t super obvious; in that case, right-click and choose Properties for more info. On some setups, finding the right driver can feel like a treasure hunt — be patient and double-check if you’re not sure which device is acting up.
Step 3: Disable the Driver
Right-click the device and pick Disable device. You’ll get a warning — because naturally, Windows has to make it tricky. Confirm you want to turn it off. Don’t stress, this won’t delete anything, just temporarily stop the driver from talking to the hardware.
Step 4: Confirm the Action
A pop-up will ask if you’re sure. Hit Yes. Sometimes, it’s like Windows is checking if you’re serious, but that’s all part of the fun. If the device disappears from the list, you’re onto the right track.
Step 5: Enable the Driver
Right-click the same device again and select Enable device. This resets the driver — kinda like giving it a quick kick up the backside. Sometimes, this does the trick straight away; other times, you might need to reboot or update later. Not always perfect, but usually worth a shot.
Bonus: Reboot if Needed
If restarting the driver doesn’t sort it out after a couple of goes, sometimes just rebooting the PC will do the trick. Because, let’s face it, Windows loves to make things complicated. But normally, giving the driver a quick restart fixes most small dramas.
Tips for Restarting Drivers in Windows 11
- Check for driver updates after restarting — sometimes a fresh version sorts out the stubborn problems.
- If it’s still dogging you, try rebooting the whole machine. Strangely enough, sometimes Windows just needs a clean start to get things back in order.
- Look up or google your specific device if you’re stuck. Better safe than sorry, especially with crucial drivers.
- Make a note of what you change — sometimes rolling back drivers or uninstalling them helps if restarting doesn’t cut it.
- Windows Troubleshooter isn’t a bad shout either. It can guide you through more tricky steps that might be better suited for gnarly cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to restart drivers?
Mostly because it clears out temporary conflicts or glitches that fix themselves if you give the driver a quick reset. It’s quicker than reinstalling everything in most cases.
Can I restart all drivers at once?
Nah — you’ve gotta do it device by device. Windows doesn’t let you restart multiple drivers at the same time. It’s a manual job, which is a bit of a grind, but that’s the way it is.
Will restarting a driver delete it?
Nope, just toggling it off and on again. This isn’t uninstalling. It’s more like unplugging and plugging it back in — inside your system.
What if a driver won’t restart properly?
If it throws a tanty, try updating the driver first — maybe it’s out of date or corrupted. Or, uninstall it and then set it up again from scratch. Sometimes, repeating the restart helps it click into gear.
Is it safe to restart drivers?
Generally, yeah, especially for small issues. If you’re fiddling with important system drivers like your disk or bootloader, maybe ask someone more clued-up. But for run-of-the-mill hardware problems, it’s pretty safe.
Summary
- Open Device Manager.
- Find the dodgy device.
- Right-click and choose Disable device.
- Confirm, then right-click again to Enable device.
- Reboot or check for updates if needed.
Hopefully, this saves someone a few hours. Sometimes, a quick driver restart is all you need before going full-blown reinstall or driver clean-up mode. Fingers crossed this helps out.