What this means

That "Driver Unavailable" message does not mean your printer is ready for the trash. Your hardware is fine. Windows has just lost its connection to the machine because the driver is corrupted, outdated, missing, or incompatible with your operating system.

This usually happens because Windows Update replaced your manufacturer's driver with a generic one that does not work. Or perhaps you plugged in the USB cable before running the installer, which forces Windows to assign the wrong generic driver. If you have a network printer, a changed IP address will also trigger the error.

Sometimes the block is temporary. Your antivirus might be blocking the driver installer from modifying registry keys, or corrupted system files are preventing the Print Spooler service from starting. If your printer is older, it might lack a Windows 11 driver, requiring you to run a Windows 10 driver in compatibility mode. Even plugging an older USB 2.0 printer into a newer USB 3.0 port will trigger this communication failure.

Common causes

  • A recent Windows Update corrupted the existing printer driver files.
  • The printer driver is outdated and incompatible with the current Windows version.
  • The printer was connected to a USB port before the driver software was installed.
  • Windows Print Spooler service is glitched or stopped.
  • Generic Windows drivers were assigned instead of the manufacturer-specific driver.

What to check first

  1. 1Verify the printer is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network or USB port.
  2. 2Restart both your computer and the printer.
  3. 3Unplug the USB cable from the computer and plug it into a different USB port.

Step-by-step fix

  1. 1

    Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter

    Go to Settings, select Update & Security or System, click Troubleshoot, and choose Other Troubleshooters. Select Printer and run the troubleshooter to let Windows attempt automatic repairs.

  2. 2

    Remove the Printer from Windows

    Open Settings and go to Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners. Select your printer and click Remove. This clears the broken association in Windows.

  3. 3

    Uninstall Printer Software from Control Panel

    Open the Control Panel and go to Programs and Features. Find any software related to your printer brand, select it, and click Uninstall. Restart your computer after this step.

  4. 4

    Clear the Print Server Properties

    Press Windows Key + R, type 'printui /s /t2' and press Enter. Select your printer driver from the list and click Remove. Choose 'Remove driver and driver package' and click OK.

    Be careful not to delete drivers for other working printers installed on your computer.

  5. 5

    Download and Install the Latest Manufacturer Driver

    Go to the official website of your printer manufacturer. Search for your exact printer model. Download the full software and driver package. Run the installer and only connect the printer when the installer prompts you to do so.

  6. 6

    Restart the Print Spooler Service

    Press Windows Key + R, type 'services.msc' and press Enter. Scroll down to 'Print Spooler'. Right-click it and select Restart. Ensure its Startup Type is set to Automatic.

When to contact a professional

Stop troubleshooting and call a professional if you have completely reinstalled the driver, verified the USB or network connection on another computer, and Windows still fails to recognize the printer. When you uninstalled the driver, you must have kept the printer disconnected to stop Windows from automatically reinstalling the bad driver. If you did that and the computer still does not see the printer, stop. Attempting further fixes will void your warranty.