Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA686/8231 Audio Controller Driver Download

How to Update Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA686/8231 Audio Controller Device Drivers

Step 1 - Download Your Driver

To get the Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA686/8231 Audio Controller driver, click the green download button above. After you complete your download, move on to Step 2.

If the driver listed is not the right version or operating system, search our driver archive for the correct version. Enter Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA686/8231 Audio Controller into the search box above and then submit. In the results, choose the best match for your PC and operating system.

Tech Tip: If you are having trouble deciding which is the right driver, try the RealTek Driver Update Utility. It is a software utility which automatically finds and downloads the right driver.

To find the newest driver, you may need to visit the RealTek website. Most major device manufacturers update their drivers regularly.

Step 2 - Install Your Driver

Installing your newly downloaded driver is a straightforward process. Windows provides a dedicated tool called Device Manager for this purpose. Follow these steps to update your driver:

1. Access the Quick Access menu by right-clicking the Start button.

2. From the menu options, choose "Device Manager".

3. Within Device Manager, identify the device requiring the driver update.

4. Open the context menu for the device by right-clicking its name.

5. Select "Update driver" and proceed through the guided installation.

To complete the process, reboot your computer. This ensures the new driver is fully integrated into your system.

Regular driver updates contribute to optimal system performance and hardware compatibility.

Tech Tip: Driver downloads and updates come in a variety of file formats with different file extensions. For example, you may have downloaded an EXE, INF, ZIP, or SYS file. Each file type has a slighty different installation procedure to follow.

For more help, visit our Driver Support Page for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.