Your webcam stopped working, or your network card is acting up, and you have no idea which driver is the culprit or where to find the right one. Driver Identifier is a Windows tool that scans your machine, works out which hardware is inside, and points you to matching drivers.
Quick facts
- Platform: Windows, 32-bit and 64-bit
- Supported Windows versions: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP
- Price: described by the vendor as free software
- Driver database: access to 27+ million device-associated drivers
Key features
Find out what hardware is in your PC without opening the case
The program scans your hardware and reports the manufacturer name and version of your devices. You get the details from software instead of a screwdriver.
Get a list of outdated drivers after one scan
You click Scan Drivers in the application to start. It then shows you where the drivers on your computer are out of date.
Look up drivers for webcams, network cards and video
The vendor says you can find a driver for your webcam, network card or video device this way, on both laptops and desktops. Printers and scanners work too if you plug them in before you scan.
Match drivers by package contents, not file names
Driver file names are often misleading because one package can hold several driver versions. Driver Identifier finds drivers based on the contents of the driver package, not on the name.
Scan a PC that has no internet connection
The vendor's blog describes a way to use it on a computer without internet. You put the setup file on a USB drive and take it to that machine.
Who it's for
It suits you if you have a Windows PC with one or two unknown or outdated drivers and want to find them without searching manufacturer sites. It also helps if you are fixing an older machine, since the vendor lists support back to Windows XP.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Described as free by the vendor
- Covers 32-bit and 64-bit Windows
- Large driver database
- Scan is started with a single click
Cons
- Drivers are downloaded through your web browser to your default download folder, so you handle the install yourself
- It sometimes can't tell whether a driver is installed or what version you have. By default it then recommends the driver anyway. Installing a driver twice isn't dangerous, but it is unnecessary.
- Some devices need extra drivers first. For example, HDAUDIO drivers must be installed before an audio device is detected properly.
FAQs
Does Driver Identifier cost anything?
The vendor describes it as free software.
Will it work on 64-bit Windows?
Yes. The vendor says it supports 32-bit and 64-bit systems.
Can I choose a specific driver?
Plug in any external device, such as a printer or scanner, before you scan. The program should then see it and find the correct driver.
Is it risky to install a driver it recommends twice?
The support page says installing a driver twice isn't dangerous, only unnecessary.
Can I use it without internet on the target PC?
The vendor's blog describes putting the setup file on a USB drive and installing it on that computer.
System requirements
The vendor lists support for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP, in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.