How to Update a Dell Laptop (Windows, Drivers and BIOS)

To update a Dell laptop, you run two updates. Windows Update patches Windows itself. Then a Dell tool, usually SupportAssist, updates the drivers, firmware and BIOS that only Dell makes. Dell's own help pages split the job the same way.

Most guides stop at one of the two. That is how people end up with a fully patched Windows and a two year old Wi-Fi driver, or the other way around. Do both, in the order below, and plug in the charger before you start.

The Short Answer

Step one. Open Settings, then Windows Update, and pick Check for Windows updates. Install and restart.
Step two. Open SupportAssist, pick Update software, then Start. Install what it finds and restart.
Step three. In Windows Update, open Advanced options, then Optional updates, and look for driver updates.
For a BIOS update. Charger in the whole time, BitLocker suspended, lid open, hands off.
If something breaks. Roll the driver back in Device Manager, or follow Dell's fix page for stuck Windows updates.

Before You Start

Five minutes of setup saves an hour of trouble later.

Plug in the charger. Updates can restart the laptop more than once. Dell's BIOS guide says to keep AC power connected for the whole update.
Back up anything you would hate to lose. Updates rarely go wrong, but a backup turns a bad day into a small one. Our guide to backing up your photos and files shows the easy way.
Sign in as an administrator. Dell's driver help page says every update method needs admin rights. On a work laptop, ask your IT team first. They may push updates for you.
Find your Service Tag. Dell says it is on a sticker under the laptop. You only need it if you download updates from Dell's website by hand.

Step One. Update Windows

Windows Update handles Windows itself, Microsoft's security fixes and many of the drivers on a Dell.

On Windows 11

Microsoft's steps are short. Select Start, then Settings, then Windows Update. Pick Check for Windows updates. If updates show up, pick Download and install, then restart when Windows asks.

Run it a second time after the restart. Some updates only show up once the first batch is in.

Find the Optional Driver Updates

This is the step most people miss. Microsoft says Windows 11 installs recommended drivers on its own, but optional drivers are not installed automatically. To find them, go to Settings, then Windows Update, then Advanced options. Under Additional options, pick Optional updates. If driver updates are listed, pick the ones you want and choose Download and install. Microsoft says to restart afterward, even if nothing asked you to.

Optional does not mean you need them all. Install a driver here when it names a part that is giving you trouble, like the camera, the touchpad or the Wi-Fi card.

Still on Windows 10?

On Windows 10, the button is under Settings, then Update and Security, then Windows Update. But read this part first. Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. The laptop still works, but it no longer gets free security fixes.

You have three ways forward, per Microsoft. Upgrade to Windows 11 if the laptop meets the requirements. Windows Update will tell you if it qualifies. Buy a new Windows 11 PC if it does not. Or join the consumer Extended Security Updates program, which keeps security fixes coming until October 12, 2027.

Step Two. Update Dell Drivers, Firmware and Apps

Now the Dell half. Which tool you use depends on the kind of Dell you own. Use one updater, not two. Running two can give you two different lists and a lot of confusion.

SupportAssist, for Most Home Laptops

Dell says SupportAssist comes preinstalled on its Windows computers. For most home Dell laptops, it is the easy path.

Open the Start menu and search for SupportAssist.
On the Home tab, pick Update software.
Pick Start to scan for updates.
Follow the prompts to install, then restart if it asks.

Dell's Windows guide shows a second route in some versions of the app. Pick the down arrow, then Run under the Drivers and Downloads tile, then Update. Same result.

Dell Command Update, for Business Laptops

Latitude, OptiPlex and Precision machines usually use Dell Command Update instead. Open it from the Start menu, pick Check, choose the updates you want, pick Install, then restart. If your laptop came from work, this is likely what your IT team set up.

Dell Update and Alienware Update

Older Inspiron, XPS, G series and Alienware laptops may still have Dell Update or Alienware Update. Dell's driver help page says support for both ended at the end of 2024, and it points people to SupportAssist or the automatic scan on Dell's website. If you see two Dell updaters on one laptop, SupportAssist is the one to keep using.

No App at All? Use Dell's Website

You can skip the apps entirely. Go to Dell's Drivers and Downloads page. Pick Check for updates to let the site scan the laptop. Or pick Detect This PC, or type in your Service Tag or model number. Open a category, pick Download, then run the file and restart when it says to.

One rule matters more than any other here. Dell's driver guide says to get drivers only from trusted places, like Dell's own support site. It warns that unknown websites and third party driver tools can cause crashes and boot problems, and in rare cases malware.

Step Three. Update the BIOS Safely

The BIOS is the firmware that starts the laptop before Windows loads. Dell's BIOS guide lists SupportAssist and Windows Update among the ways to get a new one, and it installs much like any other update. The difference is what happens if one gets cut off halfway.

Follow Dell's BIOS guide before you start one.

Keep the charger in. Dell says not to run a BIOS update on battery alone. Its general rule is at least 10 percent charge. Its troubleshooting section says 50 percent if an update fails. We would go with 50 percent every time.
Suspend BitLocker. Search for BitLocker, open Manage BitLocker and pick Suspend protection. If you skip this, Windows asks for the BitLocker recovery key at the next restart. Turn protection back on when the update is done.
Clear BIOS passwords first. Dell lists the drive password, the system password and the admin password. Set them again after the laptop boots normally.
Leave it alone. The laptop restarts, shows a progress bar and may go quiet for a while. Do not close the lid, unplug it or hold the power button.

Check Which BIOS You Have

Dell gives three ways. Press F2 at the Dell logo and look under System Information or Overview. Or run msinfo32 from the Start menu and look for BIOS Version/Date. Or type `wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion` in Command Prompt. Compare that number with the newest one on your model's Dell support page.

If an Update Goes Wrong

Most problems after an update come from one driver. You can usually undo it.

Roll back the driver. Open Device Manager, right click the device, pick Properties, open the Driver tab and pick Roll Back Driver. Dell notes the button is grayed out when there is no older driver.
Windows Update keeps failing. Restart and try again first. If it still fails, Dell's page on Windows updates that fail, last updated May 6, 2026, walks through resetting the update service with admin commands.
Blue screen after an update. A bad driver is a common cause. Our guide on why a computer keeps blue screening shows how to read the stop code and find the driver behind it.
Slow after an update. Give it a day. Windows often finishes work in the background after a big update. If it stays slow, our guide on why your computer is so slow covers the next checks.

Dell Chromebooks and Linux Laptops

Not every Dell runs Windows. Dell's help page says a Dell Chromebook updates through Settings, then About ChromeOS, then Check for updates. On a Dell running Linux, use Software and Updates, and the Additional drivers tab for hardware drivers.

What Most Guides Get Wrong

A lot of pages that rank for this question push a driver updater app, or a "PC optimizer" that promises to update everything in one click. Skip them. Dell's own guide warns against third party driver tools, and Windows plus one Dell tool already covers every driver your laptop needs.

The other miss is the order. Do Windows first, then Dell drivers, then the BIOS last, with the charger in. Windows may already install some of the same drivers, so the Dell scan after it is shorter and cleaner. We would also not chase every optional update. If the laptop works well, install the security updates and leave the rest until a part gives you trouble.

The Bottom Line

Updating a Dell laptop takes two passes. Run Windows Update and check Optional updates for drivers. Then run SupportAssist, or Dell Command Update on a business model, or use Dell's website. Treat the BIOS with care. Charger in, BitLocker suspended and hands off until it finishes. And if a laptop is still on Windows 10, plan the move to Windows 11 or sign up for extended security updates, because free fixes ended on October 14, 2025.

Keep Reading

Microsoft and Dell change their update tools often. Follow the latest in our software news, or browse more plain tech advice.

Questions Readers Ask

How do I find Dell updates on my computer?

Open the Start menu and type SupportAssist. On the Home tab, pick Update software, then Start. It scans the laptop and lists driver, firmware and Dell app updates. If SupportAssist is not there, go to Dell's Drivers and Downloads page and pick Check for updates, or type in the Service Tag from the sticker under the laptop.

How do I update Windows on my Dell laptop?

On Windows 11, open Start, then Settings, then Windows Update, and pick Check for Windows updates. Install what it finds and restart when it asks. On Windows 10 the same button is under Settings, Update and Security, Windows Update.

Is it safe to update the BIOS on a Dell laptop?

Yes, when you follow Dell's steps. Plug in the charger and keep it in for the whole update. Suspend BitLocker first so Windows does not ask for a recovery key after the restart. Then let the update finish without closing the lid or pressing the power button.

Do I need Dell Update for Windows Universal?

Most people do not. Dell's driver help page says support for Dell Update and Alienware Update ended at the end of 2024 and points people to SupportAssist or the automatic scan on Dell's website. Use one Dell updater, not two.

Can I update a Dell laptop without SupportAssist?

Yes. Use Windows Update for Windows and many drivers. For the rest, go to Dell's Drivers and Downloads page, pick Detect This PC or enter your Service Tag, then download and run each update you need.

My Dell laptop still has Windows 10. Will it keep getting updates?

Not for free. Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 PCs still work, but they no longer get free security fixes. You can upgrade to Windows 11 if the laptop qualifies, or join Microsoft's consumer Extended Security Updates program, which runs to October 12, 2027.

What if a Dell driver update makes things worse?

Roll it back. Open Device Manager, right click the device, pick Properties, open the Driver tab and pick Roll Back Driver. The button is grayed out if there is no older driver to go back to.