Windows Update installs recommended drivers automatically and can list other drivers as optional updates. The presence of an optional entry does not, by itself, explain why your computer is having a problem. Match a proposed change to the hardware and symptom you are investigating.

Start with the device model and a precise description of the issue. If a printer stopped working, changing unrelated audio, graphics and network drivers at the same time makes the result difficult to interpret. Record the current working state and protect important files before making driver changes.

Use a trusted, relevant source

In Windows 11, optional drivers are listed through Settings, Windows Update, Advanced options, Optional updates when available. Read the device/provider information and select only the update relevant to your plan. Microsoft's guidance also directs users to the hardware manufacturer's website when Windows Update cannot supply a suitable driver.

At a manufacturer's site, match the exact computer or component and supported Windows version. Branded laptops can have model-specific requirements. Avoid utilities that promise to fix every driver after an alarming scan; an impressive list of alleged problems is not evidence that those changes are needed.

For a business PC, check whether IT controls driver deployment. A locally available option may not fit the organisation's supported configuration.

Verify one change at a time

Finish the selected installation and restart as instructed. Then repeat the original failing task under the same conditions. For a network problem, that might include reconnecting after sleep; for a printer, a simple test page and the actual business document.

Note the driver version installed, the time and the result. If the change makes behaviour worse, stop and use a supported recovery or rollback route rather than layering additional driver packages over it. If it helps, keep the evidence. A focused, traceable change is easier to maintain than a bulk update whose individual effects are unknown.

Reference: Microsoft Support.