How To Fix 'Printer Driver is Unavailable' Error

Printers are notorious for refusing to do their job whenever the user needs it the most. Luckily, if your printer is displaying the Printer Driver is Unavailable' error, then there are a couple of easy solutions that could fix the problem. This particular error is likely caused by a corrupted driver file, outdated drivers, or driver incompatibility. While it is possible to circumvent the problem using Microsoft's generic drivers, we would like to introduce you to other solutions.

Update the Drivers for Your Printer

There are two methods to update the drivers for your specific printer model. The first one involves the user going to the official printer manufacturer's website, finding the latest correct driver package for their model, downloading, and installing it. While it is almost certain that users would get the latest compatible printer driver from the official website, this method is a bit more time-consuming. Many users might prefer to let Windows 10 do all the work and get their printer driver updates.

1. Type device manager into the search field on the Taskbar.
2. Open the top result.
3. Locate the malfunctioning printer on the Devices list in the Device Manager window (problematic devices usually have a yellow exclamation mark next to their name).
4. Right-click the printer.
5. Select Update Driver Software from the drop-down list.
6. You will be presented with a new window offering you two choices:
   
   • Pick Search automatically for updated driver software to let the OS find newer drivers, or
   • Browse my computer for driver software if you have already downloaded a driver package from the manufacturer's website.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions until the process is complete.
8. You may need to restart the PC.

Update the Windows OS

If updating the drivers for the printer failed to resolve the 'Printer Driver is Unavailable' error, then your next best option is to check for any new Windows updates. The new OS updates often include bug fixes, performance optimizations, security upgrades, and fixes for older issues. To check if any Windows updates are available, follow these steps:

1. Type settings into the search field on the Taskbar. Open the top result.
2. In the Settings window, open the Update & Security section.
3. Click Windows Update on the left pane.
4. Click the Check for updates button and install everything available.
5. Restart your computer if needed.