How to Resolve the “Printer Driver Is Unavailable” Error on Windows 10

How to Resolve the “Printer Driver Is Unavailable” Error on Windows 10

Seeing a “Printer Driver is Unavailable” message on your Windows 10 system can be extremely frustrating—especially when you urgently need to print something. This error typically indicates that your PC cannot recognize the printer driver or that the driver is missing, outdated, or incompatible.

The good news? You don’t need to be a tech expert to fix this. In this guide, you’ll find all the possible solutions, explained step by step.

What Does “Printer Driver Is Unavailable” Mean?

When you see this error, it usually means:

• Windows cannot locate the correct printer driver.

• The installed driver is incompatible or outdated.

• The driver has become corrupted.

• Windows updates removed or altered printer drivers.

• There’s a conflict between the printer and the Windows operating system.

Understanding the cause can help you decide which solution to try first.

Method 1: Restart Your Printer and PC

Sometimes, a simple restart is enough to resolve temporary glitches.

Steps:

1. Turn off your printer and unplug it from the power source.

2. Restart your PC.

3. Plug your printer back in and power it on.

4. Try printing again.

If the error persists, continue with the methods below.

Method 2: Uninstall and Reinstall the Printer Driver

This is the most common and effective fix.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.

2. Right-click your printer and select Remove device.

3. Confirm the removal.

4. Next, press Windows + X and select Device Manager.

5. Expand Printers, right-click your printer, and choose Uninstall device.

6. Restart your PC.

Reinstall the Printer:

1. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.

2. Click Add a printer or scanner.

3. Wait for Windows to detect the printer and follow the instructions.

If Windows doesn’t detect it, visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver manually.

Method 3: Manually Install the Latest Printer Driver

If Windows fails to automatically find the correct driver, download it yourself.

How to Do It:

1. Go to the official website of your printer manufacturer (HP, Canon, Epson, etc.).

2. Locate the Support or Downloads section.

3. Enter your printer model and download the latest Windows 10 driver.

4. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

After installation, restart your computer and check if the printer works.

Method 4: Update Drivers Using Device Manager

Sometimes, updating through Device Manager can resolve compatibility issues.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + X, then choose Device Manager.

2. Expand the Printers section.

3. Right-click your printer and select Update driver.

4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

If an update is found, it will be installed. Reboot your PC afterward.

Method 5: Use Windows Update

Windows updates often include newer drivers for hardware devices.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

2. Click Check for updates.

3. Install any pending updates, including optional updates (you may need to click View optional updates).

4. Restart your PC after updates are installed.

Then try printing again.

Method 6: Use Compatibility Mode (For Older Printers)

If your printer is older, the latest driver may not be compatible with Windows 10. Running the installer in compatibility mode might help.

Steps:

1. Right-click the printer driver installer file you downloaded.

2. Select Properties > Compatibility tab.

3. Check Run this program in compatibility mode for and choose Windows 7 or Windows 8.

4. Click Apply and then OK.

5. Run the installer again.

Method 7: Check for Print Spooler Service Issues

The Print Spooler service handles all print jobs in Windows. If it’s not running properly, you may see driver-related errors.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

2. Scroll down to Print Spooler.

3. Right-click and select Restart.

4. If it’s not running, click Start.

5. Set the Startup type to Automatic.

Try printing again to see if the issue is resolved.

Method 8: Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Windows includes built-in troubleshooters that can automatically detect and fix many common printer issues.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

2. Click Additional troubleshooters.

3. Select Printer, then click Run the troubleshooter.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Let the troubleshooter finish and implement any suggested fixes.

Method 9: Reinstall Printer Using Manufacturer’s Software

Some printers come with proprietary software that can handle driver installation and printer setup more efficiently than Windows.

Steps:

1. Uninstall any existing printer drivers as shown in Method 2.

2. Visit the manufacturer’s support page.

3. Download the full printer software package, not just the driver.

4. Run the software and follow the guided steps to install the printer and drivers.

Still Not Working? Try a Different USB Port or Cable

If you’re using a USB-connected printer:

• Try connecting it to a different USB port.

• Switch to a different USB cable.

• Try connecting the printer to another computer to rule out hardware faults.

Final Thoughts

The “Printer Driver Is Unavailable” error on Windows 10 is annoying, but it’s usually solvable with a little patience. Whether you need to reinstall the driver, use compatibility mode, or just restart the Print Spooler service, one of these methods is likely to help.

If none of these fixes work, it might be worth contacting the printer manufacturer’s support or considering a firmware update (if available). In rare cases, the issue could be due to deeper system-level corruption, and a Windows system repair or reset might be needed.