Drivers on Ubuntu — A Calm Beginner's Walkthrough
What drivers do behind the scenes on Ubuntu, where they live, and how the system keeps them up to date without your input.
How Ubuntu Manages Drivers in the Background
Ubuntu, like every Linux distribution, draws most of its device drivers from the Linux kernel itself. This means thousands of devices work the moment you install the OS, with no separate driver download required at all.
For a smaller set of devices — most notably proprietary GPU drivers for graphics chipset vendor, certain Wi-Fi cards, and some devices — Ubuntu surfaces an Additional Drivers tool that installs the appropriate vendor-supplied package via the standard apt repository.
- Most drivers come pre-bundled with the Linux kernel
- Additional Drivers tool surfaces vendor-supplied packages
- Updates arrive through apt and the kernel's release cycle
Where Driver Updates Come From on Ubuntu
Driver updates on Ubuntu arrive through ordinary system updates. Run apt update and apt upgrade, and the kernel and any installed proprietary drivers refresh as part of the same flow. Ubuntu's release cadence brings newer kernels with broader hardware support over time.
If you need cutting-edge kernel features, Ubuntu offers the HWE (Hardware Enablement) kernel and even newer mainline kernels through PPAs. Both are accessible through the Software & Updates app without any command line work.
When You Should Step In Manually
Most users on Ubuntu never need to install a driver manually. The exceptions are very new GPUs that need a fresher proprietary driver, exotic Wi-Fi adapters, and certain industrial USB devices.
For these cases, Ubuntu's documentation and community wikis are your best friend — both walk you through any required steps using the built-in apt or the Additional Drivers GUI.
Quick Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions readers send us most often on this topic.
Usually no — most drivers come with the kernel. The Additional Drivers tool handles the few proprietary graphics cases.
Open Software & Updates → Additional Drivers and select the recommended graphics chipset vendor driver. The system installs it via apt.
A small number of Wi-Fi chips have proprietary firmware blobs that cannot be bundled in the open kernel. Ubuntu installs these on demand.
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