If you’re seeing a message like “Printer driver is unavailable” under your printer’s status in Settings, it means Windows cannot properly communicate with your printer because the necessary driver is missing, corrupted, incompatible, or deactivated. This is a common issue especially after system updates, OS upgrades, or driver mismatches.
In this article, I’ll walk you through every possible fix you can try — from running built-in troubleshooters to reinstalling drivers manually. We’ll also include FAQs and extra tips to ensure you regain printing functionality.
Disclaimer: Before proceeding, please note that manipulating device drivers and system settings can affect system stability. Always create a system restore point (or backup important data) before making major changes. If you’re on a corporate machine or machine with restricted policies, contact your IT administrator before proceeding.
What Does “Printer Driver Is Unavailable” Mean?
Let’s pause for a moment and understand what this error actually means, so you’re not just blindly following steps but have some clarity.
A printer driver is software installed on your PC that lets your operating system communicate with the printer. When you “print,” Windows sends data to the driver, which translates it into commands the printer hardware can follow.
If that software is missing, corrupted, incompatible with your OS version, or blocked by security settings, Windows can’t send print jobs properly — and thus shows “driver is unavailable.”
Sometimes, the driver might be present but disabled, outdated, or conflicting with other software (especially after Windows updates or upgrades).
In some cases, security features like Memory Integrity / Core Isolation in Windows may prevent certain drivers from loading.
Also, in newer Windows versions you may encounter Windows Protected Print Mode (a more secure printing architecture) which can cause compatibility issues with older or third-party drivers.
Microsoft itself recommends always using the latest official drivers for your printer to avoid such issues.
So with that foundation, let’s dive into the fixes — going from least invasive to more involved ones.
Before You Begin: Quick Checks
Before you jump into driver reinstallation, try these simple checks. These sometimes resolve the issue immediately and save time.
Restart both printer and PC: Turn off the printer, unplug its power for 10–15 seconds, then plug in and power it on. Restart your PC as well. This clears temporary glitches.
Check cables or connectivity:
If it’s a USB printer, ensure the cable is firmly connected, try a different USB port (direct to the PC, not via hub).
If it’s network or WiFi printer, ensure your PC and printer are on the same network.
Ensure Windows is up to date: Sometimes, missing OS patches can block proper driver behavior. Go to Settings → Update & Security (Windows 10) or Settings → Windows Update (Windows 11) and install all pending updates.
Run the built-in printer troubleshooter:
Open Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters (in Windows 10) or Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters (in Windows 11).
Select Printer → Run the troubleshooter.
Follow on-screen prompts to detect and fix issues.
If after these basics the driver is still unavailable, proceed to the deeper fixes below.
Step-by-Step Fixes for “Driver Is Unavailable”
I’ll present several methods. You should try them in sequence, and often the earlier ones resolve the issue without needing further work.
1. Use Windows Troubleshooter (again, more thorough)
If the basic troubleshooter didn’t fix it, try a more focused one:
Go to Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters
Choose Printer → Run troubleshooter
It may scan your printer queue, printer spooler, driver issues, or network connectivity and apply fixes automatically.
Navigate to the folder where you downloaded/unzipped the official driver
Click Next to install driver manually
If Windows warns about compatibility or unverified drivers, accept/continue (only if it’s from an official source)
Once installed, reboot and re-check.
Also, if a newer driver recently caused the error, you may try rolling back driver (if that option is available) which restores the previous stable version. (This option is visible under Driver tab in device properties if applicable.)
6. Use Generic Windows Printer Driver (Fallback)
Sometimes official drivers fail or cause conflicts. In such cases, using a Windows built-in generic driver can help you print (though advanced features may not work).
Open Settings → Printers & Scanners
Click Add a printer or scanner
If your printer is listed, click The printer I want isn’t listed
Choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings
Select Use an existing port (e.g. USB001 or IP port)
In the driver list, instead of using manufacturer drivers, choose (Windows Update) or Generic drivers (e.g. “HP Universal Print Driver” or “Generic / Text only”)
Click Next, give printer a name, and finish
This may get you basic printing working even if advanced features are unavailable.
For Windows network or print-server setups, Microsoft recommends using identical driver versions on client and server if possible. Mismatched driver filenames can trigger “driver unavailable” errors.
7. Reactivate or Disable Security Settings (Memory Integrity, etc.)
If Windows security features block your driver from loading, you may need to adjust them (with care).
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security → Device Security
Under Core isolation, click Core isolation details
Turn Memory IntegrityOff temporarily
Reboot the PC
Try reinstalling the driver again
(If this fixes it, you can decide whether you leave it off or find a driver compatible with it)
Warning: Disabling memory integrity can affect security on devices with “Secured-core.” Only proceed if you understand the risk.
8. Reinstall, Scan for Hardware Changes
If after uninstalling your printer and driver it hasn’t reappeared:
In Device Manager, click the Action menu
Choose Scan for hardware changes
Windows should detect attached devices and attempt driver installation again
If the device still doesn’t show, re-connect the printer (USB / network) and scan again
You can also disable then re-enable the printer device: right-click → Disable device, then Enable device.
This often forces Windows to reinitialize the driver association.
9. Update Windows or Roll Back a Problematic Update
If none of the above works, the cause might be deeper — perhaps a Windows update broke printer support or a driver incompatibility. Try:
Checking for new Windows updates and installing them (sometimes patches fix driver issues).
If the error started right after a Windows update, roll back that update or uninstall it temporarily.
After rolling back, retrace earlier steps to reinstall or update the driver.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some likely questions users might have.
Q: I installed the correct driver but still see “driver unavailable.” What now? A: Double-check that you ran the installer as administrator, and that the version matches your Windows edition (32-bit vs 64-bit). Also check Device Manager → driver tab → if “Roll Back” is possible. If not, uninstall and reinstall anew.
Q: Can Windows default drivers fix the problem? A: Yes, for basic printing, using built-in generic drivers often works. But printer manufacturer drivers offer full feature support (scanning, duplex mode, special trays).
Q: Will network printers behave differently? A: Yes — sometimes the printer driver on the print server and on the client can conflict if they are not exact versions. Always try to match driver versions on both ends.
Q: What if none of these steps fixes it? A: Then the issue might be hardware (printer board failure, port failure), or deep OS corruption. You could try restoring Windows, or testing the printer on another PC. If it works on another PC, issue is likely your machine’s configuration.
Summary Checklist (All Steps in One Table)
Step
What to Do
Why It Helps
Restart devices
Reboot printer and PC
Clears temporary glitches
Check connections
Ensure cables or network work
Prevents simple connectivity issues
Run Windows troubleshooter
Auto-diagnose driver/print spooler problems
Quick first fix
View Device Manager
Check for missing or flagged device
Identifies driver status
Uninstall driver / printer
Clean slate approach
Removes corrupted or conflicting driver
Download official driver
Correct, compatible driver
Ensures proper communication
Manually point driver
Force Windows to use downloaded driver
Overcomes auto-detection issues
Use generic driver
Fallback for basic printing
Lets you print at least
Disable Memory Integrity
Bypass security block
Allows driver load (with caution)
Scan for hardware changes
Force device recognition
Helps Windows detect printer
Update / rollback Windows
Fix OS-side compatibility
Fix interactions between OS and driver
If you follow steps methodically, in most cases the “Printer driver is unavailable” error can be resolved.
Final Thoughts & Tips
Always download drivers from the official manufacturer’s website (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, etc.). Avoid random third-party driver sites to reduce risk of installing malware.
Before installing a driver, ensure it matches your exact printer model and Windows version (bitness).
Create a system restore point before making major changes.
Keep Windows and firmware up to date — sometimes printer firmware updates from manufacturer help with compatibility.
If your printer works on another machine, test that — it helps isolate whether the problem is with the printer hardware or your PC.
If there is any step in your particular case (your printer brand, Windows version, etc.) that is unclear or fails, feel free to share those details with me and I’ll help you tailor a solution.
I hope your printer starts working again smoothly!
Sneha is a hardware reviewer and technology journalist. She has reviewed laptops and desktops for over 6 years, focusing on performance, design, and user experience. Previously working with a consumer tech magazine, she now brings her expertise to in-depth product reviews and comparisons.
![💻 Must-Know Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts, Clipboard Tricks, Voice Typing & Productivity Hacks [2025 Edition]](https://dtptips.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-618-300x186.png)
