The most effective driver update software will keep your drivers updated. The best tools are those with a user-friendly interface that automates the process and requires minimal user interaction. They check for outdated drivers to download and install latest versions, and purge old drivers from your system so that they aren't reinstalled accidentally in the future. Some are free, while others are more robust and come with a range of options.

IObit Driver Booster is one of the best, as it updates drivers fast and without any bandwidth or time restrictions. DriverMax comes with a simple interface and can recognize various devices that aren't supported by most other driver update programs. It's also more flexible, with the ability to create an ignore list to skip updating drivers you've identified as problematic or run a scan on a schedule that is modified.

PC HelpSoft DriverUpdater is a great option. It compares your current drivers with those in its database prior to installing new ones. This can save you many hours of searching for and reinstalling lost or obsolete drivers. It can also back up the drivers that are installed on your computer. This is done by compressing them into one executable is easy to restore should you need to install Windows, or upgrade.

Some of the more popular driver update programs are quite annoying. They show the user with a pop-up each time they scan, which can be disruptive to productivity. Snappy Driver Installer Origin, one of the few applications that doesn't do this is available in the form of a no-cost version. However, it only updates two drivers each day.