FixPrinters and Scanners

Printer driver is unavailable: how to fix it

Windows says the printer driver is unavailable and the job will not print. Restart the spooler, reinstall the driver from the maker, and clear old driver leftovers.

  • Updated
  • 15 min
  • Intermediate
Applies to
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10

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Documents will not print, and your printer's status reads Driver is unavailable. Fix it in Windows 11 or Windows 10 by replacing the driver, the small piece of software that lets Windows talk to your printer.

Windows 10 no longer gets free updates

Free security updates for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. These steps still work, but keep banking and email off an unsupported PC where you can, and plan to move to Windows 11.

Before you start

A printer driver translates what you print into a form your printer understands. The message means Windows cannot load the driver it has on record for this printer. Typical causes are a driver that was damaged, an old driver left behind after you replaced the printer, a Windows update that changed things, or a printer that is shared from another PC with a mismatched driver.

You need about 15 minutes, an internet connection, and the exact model name of your printer. The model name is on the front or top of the printer. If you must download a driver, use only the printer maker's own website or Windows Update. Never use a "driver updater" program or a download portal. See safe downloads and fake driver sites.

Fixes to try, in orderA top-to-bottom flow chart with 9 boxes. Work through them in order and stop when the problem is fixed. The full text follows the picture.Fixes to try, in orderNoNoNo1Fix 1: Restart the printerand the Print Spooler2Does a test page print?Yes: You are done3Fix 2: Check WindowsUpdate for the driver4Works now?Yes: You are done5Fix 3: Remove the printerand add it again6Works now?Yes: You are done7Fix 4: Install the maker'scurrent driver8Fix 5: Remove the olddriver leftoversStill unavailable? Use themaker's support page foryour model.
Stop as soon as the printer prints.
Text version of this diagram
  1. Step 1: Fix 1: Restart the printer and the Print Spooler
  2. Question 2: Does a test page print? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  3. Step 3: Fix 2: Check Windows Update for the driver
  4. Question 4: Works now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  5. Step 5: Fix 3: Remove the printer and add it again
  6. Question 6: Works now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  7. Step 7: Fix 4: Install the maker's current driver
  8. Step 8: Fix 5: Remove the old driver leftovers
  9. If nothing worked: Still unavailable? Use the maker's support page for your model.

Try these fixes in order

Fix 1: Restart the printer and the Print Spooler

This takes about 3 minutes.

  1. Turn the printer off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it on again.
  2. Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
  3. Right-click Print Spooler and select Restart.
  4. Restart the PC, then print a test page.

If jobs are stuck in the queue, see printer won't print or the queue is stuck.

Fix 2: Check Windows Update

Microsoft lists Windows Update as a source of printer drivers, so a driver for your model may arrive this way. This takes about 5 minutes.

  1. On Windows 11, open Settings then Windows Update and select Check for updates. On Windows 10, open Settings then Update & Security then Windows Update and select Check for updates.
  2. Install what Windows offers, and restart if it asks.
  3. Print a test page.

If updates fail, see Windows Update stuck or failing.

Fix 3: Remove the printer and add it again

This takes about 5 minutes. Make sure the printer is on and connected first.

  1. On Windows 11, open Settings then Bluetooth & devices then Printers & scanners. On Windows 10, open Settings then Devices then Printers & scanners.
  2. Select the printer that shows the error. Select Remove (Windows 11) or Remove device (Windows 10), then confirm with Yes.
  3. Restart the PC.
  4. Add the printer again: on Windows 11 select Add device; on Windows 10 select Add a printer or scanner. Choose your printer when it appears.

The full process, including adding a printer by hand, is in how to add a printer in Windows.

Fix 4: Install the maker's current driver

This takes about 10 minutes.

  1. Open the printer maker's website by typing its address yourself or from a bookmark. Do not follow an advertisement or a pop-up.
  2. Open the maker's Support or Drivers section and search for your exact model name.
  3. Choose your version of Windows. Download the driver or the full software package.
  4. Run the file you downloaded and follow the prompts. When it asks you to connect the printer, do so.
  5. Print a test page.

Some printers need no maker driver

Many current network printers work with a driver built into Windows. If the maker offers no driver for your Windows version, the printer may be too old, and the maker's support page will say so.

Fix 5: Remove the old driver leftovers

Use this fix last, and only for your printer

Removing the wrong driver can stop another printer working. Remove only drivers that match the printer with the problem. If you are unsure, skip this fix and use the maker's support page instead. If this PC is managed by a school or employer, ask them first.

Old drivers can stay on the PC after you remove a printer, and Windows may keep picking the damaged one. This takes about 10 minutes.

  1. Remove the printer, as in Fix 3.
  2. Right-click Start, select Device Manager, and expand Print queues (or Printers). Right-click any entry for this printer, select Uninstall device and confirm.
  3. Open the printer list in Settings again. Scroll to Related settings and select Print server properties. This window needs administrator permission. If you cannot find it, skip to the last step and rely on the maker's driver.
  4. Open the Drivers tab. Select the driver for your printer and select Remove.
  5. When asked, choose to remove the driver and the driver package, then confirm. If Windows says the driver is in use, restart the PC and try again.
  6. Restart the PC, then repeat Fix 4 to install a clean driver.

If it still does not work

Frequently asked questions

What does "Driver is unavailable" mean?

Windows has a printer entry but cannot load the driver files for it. The files may be missing, damaged, or the wrong type for your version of Windows.

Can I use a driver from a different printer model?

It is better not to. A driver for another model can print wrongly or not at all. Use the driver listed for your exact model.

Do I need to pay for a driver?

No. Printer makers provide drivers free on their official support pages. A site that asks for payment to download a driver is very likely not the maker's site.

Why did this start after a Windows update?

An update can replace or change a driver, and the new one may not suit your model. Installing the maker's current driver is the usual remedy.

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