DriverMax 18.0.291 for Windows

DriverMax 18.0.291 is a driver update tool for Windows from Innovative Solutions. It scans your PC, lists hardware whose drivers are outdated or missing, downloads newer versions and makes backups so you can roll back. You can download DriverMax from the developer's site and use the free edition with some limits.

Specifications

What it does

Drivers are the small programs that let Windows talk to graphics cards, network adapters, audio chips, printers and other hardware. Windows Update installs many of them automatically, but not always the newest ones, and after a clean install some devices may be left without a proper driver. DriverMax compares the drivers on your PC with its online database and shows which ones have newer versions, with dates and version numbers side by side. Before installing, it creates a system restore point and backs up the current driver, so if a new version causes crashes, no sound or a black screen, you can go back in a few clicks. The program can also export all your drivers to a folder or archive, which is handy before reinstalling Windows. Scheduled scans remind you when updates appear. Graphics drivers in particular change often, and gamers use such tools to keep them current without visiting the vendor site each time.

How to use it safely

1. Download the installer from the official downloads page and decline any partner offers.
2. Run a scan and read the list instead of updating everything at once.
3. Update one or two drivers at a time and restart to check that the device works.
4. For graphics cards and chipsets, compare with the drivers on the hardware maker's site.
5. Keep the backups DriverMax creates until you are sure the new drivers are stable.

Requirements

DriverMax runs on Windows and needs administrator rights and an internet connection to check and download drivers.

Is it safe?

Driver updaters work at a sensitive level: a wrong driver can make a device stop working. DriverMax reduces the risk with restore points and backups, but the principle is simple: do not update a driver that works fine without a reason. Download the program only from innovative-sol.com.

Price

The free edition scans without limits but restricts how many drivers you can download, and downloads are slower. DriverMax Pro is a paid licence with unlimited, faster downloads and automatic updates.

Pros and cons

• Pro: clear list of outdated drivers.
• Pro: backups and restore points before changes.
• Pro: driver export before reinstalling Windows.
• Con: free edition limits downloads.
• Con: upgrade prompts.
• Con: updating working drivers can create problems.

Alternatives

Other driver tools on our site include Driver Easy, Advanced Driver Updater and DriverPack Solution. For NVIDIA graphics settings, NVIDIA Control Panel is the official tool, and Bluetooth Driver Installer targets wireless adapters.