Introduction¶

Updating graphics card drivers on Ubuntu can be done via the command line. The following are common methods; the author recommends Method 3, which is also the author’s frequently used installation approach.

Method 1: Update via Ubuntu Official Repository¶

# Update package list

sudo apt update

# Upgrade all updatable packages (including graphics drivers)

sudo apt upgrade -y

Method 2: Dedicated Method for NVIDIA Graphics Cards¶

If using an NVIDIA graphics card, you can use a dedicated tool:

# Install NVIDIA driver management tool

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-utils-\<version>  # Replace <version> with the specific version number

# Or use the graphical tool (start from command line)

sudo nvidia-settings

Method 3: Add Graphics Driver PPA Repository (Get Latest Drivers)¶

# Add Graphics Drivers PPA (suitable for NVIDIA/AMD/other graphics cards)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa

sudo apt update

# View available driver versions

ubuntu-drivers devices

# Install the recommended driver version

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

Notes:¶

1. After installation, you need to restart the system for changes to take effect: sudo reboot

2. AMD graphics card users can try mesa-utils related packages: sudo apt install mesa-utils

3. For Intel integrated graphics cards, the driver is usually included in the Linux kernel. Updating the kernel will provide driver updates.

Choose the appropriate method based on your graphics card type. NVIDIA graphics cards are recommended to use Method 2 or 3, while AMD and Intel graphics cards are recommended to use Method 1.