New Intel drivers almost weekly ?!

Dell XPS 15 9560
Windows Version 21H1 (OS Build 19043.1706)

For many months I've been getting frequent system tray notifications of new Intel drivers available, graphics and/or wifi - it suddenly started happening many months ago and it's only on "this" laptop, not on 2 others (Asus and Acer) I have running 24/7.

The graphics driver is especially bothersome because it can involve a reboot and sometimes causes black screen, I've started dismissing the popups.

I've seen it said that there's no need to install the graphics driver if one doesn't have a problem, but how would I recognise a problem? What happens to a display if a new driver is required?

Plus - does anyone know why this has started happening after years of peace?

clemenzina said:

Dell XPS 15 9560
Windows Version 21H1 (OS Build 19043.1706)

For many months I've been getting frequent system tray notifications of new Intel drivers available, graphics and/or wifi - it suddenly started happening many months ago and it's only on "this" laptop, not on 2 others (Asus and Acer) I have running 24/7.

The graphics driver is especially bothersome because it can involve a reboot and sometimes causes black screen, I've started dismissing the popups.

I've seen it said that there's no need to install the graphics driver if one doesn't have a problem, but how would I recognise a problem? What happens to a display if a new driver is required?

Plus - does anyone know why this has started happening after years of peace?

I built two new desktops, one in 2017, and one in 2018. Both have Intel mother boards with built in graphics. Both constantly nag me about driver updates. I assume the nags are because of a support program installed "INTEL DRIVER & SUPPORT ASSISTANT", that I installed on the new systems.

I used to install the graphics drivers when offered, but now I just ignore them most of the time. If you have "Intel Driver & Support Assistant" installed, you can change or disable it's notifications via Start>Notifications & Actions. I suspect deleting the program would also disable the update nags. If you don't have this program installed, then I don't have any suggestions. Sorry.

"does anyone know why this has started happening after years of peace?"

You may have accidently installed a Driver updater of some kind. Often such things come via free applications during the install. Just miss a tick box and it can happen.
Never accept the default install, always take the custom route if there is one, and read each screen carefully.

Now you have such an application just uninstall it.

Nvidia GeForce Experience or the Intel driver assistant also have such an driver updater/notifier, uninstall those as well, for most people they are just bloatware.

"but how would I recognise a problem?"
The problem/bug is most likely something very obscure that you will never come across. Even doing extensive graphics tests will not reveal the problem.

"What happens to a display if a new driver is required?"
Nothing, you just carry on with your current driver.

Thank you, Gary & Helmut - you've both been very helpful.

If you have "Intel Driver & Support Assistant" installed, you can change or disable it's notifications via Start>Notifications & Actions.
Now disabled.

You may have accidently installed a Driver updater of some kind. Often such things come via free applications during the install. Just miss a tick box and it can happen.
No - apart from being very careful to vet the check-boxes, I've got a little prog that blocks "bonuses".

NVIDIA game-ready driver is also not req'd but that I can ignore and it doesn't keep returning.

I'm assuming that Dell Support Assist won't let me miss important update - for graphics and wifi especially.


Thanks again!