Printer driver is unavailable is a pretty common error in Windows 10. We have set out some solutions below.

Why does this error occur?

Some error messages can be quite misleading. The error message Printer driver is unavailable, while not completely misleading, doesn’t always mean that the problem is with the printer driver.

Usually this error occurs when your printer driver is corrupt. When this happens, the computer is unable to identify it. Sometimes this error also occurs when the installed printer driver is incompatible or outdated.

However, users have also reported that this error occurs because of reasons completely unrelated to the printer driver.

In this post, we’ll look at different solutions to the Printer driver is unavailable problem. You obviously don’t need to try all of these solutions. Start with the first one and move on to the next one and so on, till the issue is resolved.

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Solutions to Printer Driver Is Unavailable Issue

Here are all known solutions to this printer driver error in Windows 10.

First Solution – Uninstall the Printer

There are 2 main solutions to Printer driver is unavailable issue. You can start with uninstalling the printer, as well as its related software. Once you’ve done that, reinstall it. Another method is to update the printer driver.

Let’s see the first method. When you uninstall your printer along with all its associated software, and then connect it, Windows will automatically install the default printer drivers.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Press Windows key + R to launch the run box
• Type control and click the OK button
• In the control panel window, use the drop-down menu next to View by to select Large icons
• Next click Devices and Printers
• Now all installed printers will appear on your screen. Right-click the problematic printer and then click Remove device
• Press Windows key + R to launch the run box again
• Type devmgmt.msc and click the OK button. This will open the device manager window
• Here browse to the Print queues category
• Right-click the appropriate printer. Next, click Uninstall device
• Again press Windows key + R to launch the run box
• Here type  appwiz.cpl and then press Enter
• All installed applications will appear. Locate the printer application, right-click it and click Uninstall
• After you’ve performed these steps, you need to disconnect the printer from the computer in case it is connected through a USB connection. In case the printer uses wireless, disconnect it from your router.
• Once you’ve done that, power off your computer, router, and printer. You should also plug out power supply of each of these devices
• Wait for about 10 mins. Now plug the power supply of each of these devices. Connect your printer with the PC via USB cable. Let system detect the printer and install appropriate printer drivers
• Now open control panel again. Right-click the device. Next choose “Set as default printer”

Once you’ve completed all these steps, check if you’re able to print.

Second Solution – Reinstall newest drivers manually

In case the aforementioned solution didn’t work, you can try to update printer drivers through the manual method.

In some cases, the printer is in perfect order and the error occurs because of a Windows update. It can happen that updated drivers may not work for certain systems. Many users with HP printers have particularly reported this problem.

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You can counter this problem by using the manual method to update printer drivers. Once you’ve done that, hide the update relevant to your printer.

Before you use Device Manager to update the printer driver, go to the official website of your printer manufacturer. Now search for the newest driver for your printer. Once you’ve found it, download the file to a suitable location on your PC.

Here are the steps to follow.

• Press Windows key + R to launch the run box
• Now type devmgmt.msc and click the OK button. This will open the device manager window
• You will see all installed hardware in the list. Browse through it until you see Print queues. Right-click the printer hardware. Now click Update driver
• You’ll see two options for updating the driver. Choose the 2^nd option: Browse my computer for driver software
• Go to the location where you’ve saved the driver file and update the printer driver

Note: It is possible that you may not see the printer in your device manager window. This problem has been reported by other users and is not a serious one. If that happens, simply run the installer. When you do that, printer driver is installed automatically.

• See if your printer is now working properly. If that’s the case, you should go to Microsoft website (official) and download  “ “wushowhide.diagcab”” package
• Now run this package. Then click Next
• Choose the Hide updates option
• If you see a printer update, select it. Follow onscreen prompts now. Through this action you can prevent Windows Update from automatically updating printer drivers

In case you don’t want to download printer drivers manually from the manufacturer’s website or in case, for some inexplicable reasons, you’re not able to locate the required drivers on the manufacturer’s website, you can use a driver update tool to update your printer drivers automatically.

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

• You can update device drivers automatically
• The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
• The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
• Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

 

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Other Workarounds

A few users have said that in their case the Printer Driver is unavailable issue occurred not because of any driver-related issue.

According to one user, the error happened because Windows 10 added a verification step to admin account of his PC. The user was able to resolve the issue by going through this verification step.

If the above-listed solutions failed to resolve the issue, we recommend you give this method a try, since it’s very simple. Here are the steps to follow.

• Open Control Panel
• Select User Accounts. Click User Accounts once more
• Select Make changes to my account in PC settings
• There will be a link to complete the verification process. Click this link and then follow verifications steps which you’d defined previously

Some users said that in their case installing the windows update fixed the issue. This may work if you have not installed Windows updates in a long time. As this also is a simple step, it is definitely worth a try.

Here are the steps to follow.

• Open the start search box, type update in it and then select Check for updates
• Click Check for updates
• Now Windows will automatically install new updates
• Wait for this process to complete. When that happens, restart Windows and check if the printer is working fine