Driver unavailable on printer

Question

All of a sudden, my printer will not print from my computer. I get the message Driver unavailable. How do I fix this?

* Changed to a question.

Answer 1

Go to the manufacturers website for the printer and download their drivers/software for your printer. Install them and see if that fixes the fault.

Answer 2

Dear Margaret Adams,

Welcome to the Microsoft Community

I understand the frustration of encountering a "Driver unavailable" message when trying to print from your printer on Windows 11. Let's work together to resolve this issue promptly.

To fix the "Driver unavailable" problem, please follow these steps:

1. Update or Reinstall Printer Driver: Outdated or corrupted printer drivers can cause the "Driver unavailable" error. To update or reinstall the driver:
   • Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
   • Locate your printer under Print queues or Other devices.
   • Right-click on the printer and choose Update driver. Follow the on-screen instructions to update the driver.
   • If updating doesn’t work, right-click on the printer again and select Uninstall device. After uninstallation, restart your computer. Windows should automatically reinstall the driver upon restart.
2. Install Manufacturer's Drivers (if applicable): Visit the printer manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers specifically designed for your printer model and Windows 11. If you're not sure how to do this, you can let me know the exact model of the printer and I can help you find a compatible driver.
3. Run Printer Troubleshooter: Windows has built-in troubleshooters that can help diagnose and automatically fix printer problems:
   • Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot.
   • Click on Other troubleshooters and find Printer. Run the troubleshooter and follow the prompts.
4. Check Printer Spooler Service: Ensure that the Printer Spooler service is running properly:
   • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
   • Scroll down and locate Print Spooler in the Services window.
   • Right-click on Print Spooler and select Start if it's not already running. You can also try restarting the service.

After trying these steps, please attempt to print again and see if the issue persists. If you continue to encounter problems, provide details such as the exact error message or any recent changes made to your system for further assistance.

I’m here to help you get back to printing smoothly.

Best Regards,

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist