How to Update AMD Graphics Drivers on a Gaming Laptop

Why the Radeon driver matters

A gaming laptop's discrete graphics card depends on a driver, the software that lets Windows and game engines talk to the GPU. Without a current driver, the GPU cannot show its full feature set and Windows may fall back to a generic display adapter.

Windows 11 sets a baseline for graphics hardware: the system requires a graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver. Microsoft lists this among the minimum system requirements on its Windows 11 specification page. That requirement is one reason to keep the Radeon driver installed and current on a laptop that ships with an AMD GPU. If you are still choosing between GPU brands, see NVIDIA GeForce versus AMD Radeon.

What the Radeon driver updates

A Radeon driver package updates the software that controls the GPU's features, including its graphics memory management and display output. The driver does not change the hardware, so the GPU model and its memory stay the same after an update.

Driver updates can also add support for new operating system versions. When Windows 11 requires a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card with a WDDM 2.0 driver, a matching Radeon driver is what satisfies that requirement on an AMD-based laptop. See Windows 11 Home versus Pro on a gaming laptop for the edition difference.

Identify the Radeon GPU in your laptop

Start by finding the exact GPU model. The laptop's official specification sheet lists the graphics card, and the catalogue on this site records the GPU and its graphics memory for every model. Matching the driver to that exact GPU prevents installing a package built for a different Radeon model.

You can also check which GPU Windows sees: open Device Manager and expand Display adapters. The entry shows the Radeon model name. A laptop with both integrated and discrete graphics lists both GPUs here.

The integrated part takes its own driver, separate from the discrete Radeon driver. For example, Intel states that some Intel Core Ultra processors may include an Intel Arc GPU for graphics and AI acceleration. If your processor includes integrated graphics while the discrete GPU is a Radeon, the two drivers coexist. See integrated versus discrete GPUs for how the two graphics paths work.

Download the driver from the AMD support site

Go to the AMD support page for Radeon drivers, select the product family, then the exact GPU model, then the operating system. Choose Windows 11 for most current gaming laptops. Download the recommended driver package for that combination.

Windows 11 requires internet access to perform updates, so keep the laptop connected while you download the installer. After the download finishes, open the installer and follow the on-screen prompts. Most Radeon installers offer an express option that handles the rest, and the package includes AMD's driver software, which can check for newer drivers on later launches.

Use Windows Update as an alternative

Windows Update can also carry graphics driver updates. Microsoft describes Windows Update under Settings > Update & Security on the Windows 11 specification page, and the same channel delivers system and driver updates. A driver that arrives this way has passed Microsoft's validation flow, so it is a safe option for a laptop you do not want to manage manually.

GPU vendors publish drivers on their own schedules as well. NVIDIA, for example, offers Game Ready and Studio Drivers for its GeForce RTX laptop GPUs, a separate channel from AMD's Radeon drivers. You can still visit the AMD support page when you want the newest Radeon package. For the whole system, see how to update BIOS and drivers on a gaming laptop.

Install and restart

Run the downloaded installer with the laptop plugged into its charger, because a restart is part of the process and the battery should not run out mid-install. Follow the prompts; the installer may offer a clean installation option that fully replaces the previous driver.

Restart the laptop when the installer asks. After the restart, the new driver is active. You can confirm the driver version in Device Manager under Display adapters or in the AMD software.

Roll back when a new driver causes issues

A newer driver is not always better on every laptop configuration. If a graphics problem appears after an update, open Device Manager, find the Radeon GPU under Display adapters, open its properties, and use the Roll Back Driver option to return to the previous driver. That option works when Windows keeps the previous driver package on the system.

If the problem persists, download an earlier driver package from the AMD support page. For a laptop whose graphics driver keeps crashing, see troubleshooting a crashing graphics driver.

Keep the Radeon driver current

Make a habit of checking the AMD support page or the AMD software after major Windows feature updates. A Windows upgrade can change driver requirements, and Microsoft's Windows 11 page lists the graphics card requirement in the system requirements, so a major update may prompt a driver refresh.

A current driver keeps the GPU's feature set available to the system, including its graphics memory and display output capabilities. If you are choosing a laptop and wondering how much graphics memory matters, see what VRAM is.

What to pick for your play

Questions

How do I find the AMD Radeon GPU model in my laptop?

Look at the laptop's official specification sheet, which lists the graphics card. On Windows, open Device Manager and expand Display adapters to see the Radeon model name. The catalogue on this site records the GPU and graphics memory for each model.

Can Windows Update install AMD Radeon drivers?

Yes. Windows Update can deliver graphics driver updates through Settings > Update & Security. Microsoft's Windows 11 specification page also requires a graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 with a WDDM 2.0 driver, so a compatible driver is part of the system baseline.

Do I need to restart after installing a Radeon driver?

Yes. Most Radeon installers ask for a restart to activate the new driver. Keep the laptop plugged in while the installer runs and restart when prompted.

What should I do if a new Radeon driver causes a problem?

Open Device Manager, find the Radeon GPU under Display adapters, open its properties, and choose Roll Back Driver to return to the previous driver. You can also download an earlier driver package from the AMD support page.

Which is better for driver updates, the AMD support page or Windows Update?

The AMD support page offers the newest Radeon driver packages on AMD's own schedule. Windows Update delivers drivers through Microsoft's validation flow. Either works; many owners check the AMD support page first.

Do integrated graphics take a separate driver from the discrete Radeon GPU?

Yes. If the processor includes integrated graphics, for example an Intel Core Ultra processor with an Intel Arc GPU, that part uses its own driver. The discrete AMD Radeon GPU takes the Radeon driver. See the integrated versus discrete GPU guide for the difference.