No Printer Install

Question

I can't find the printer. When I open a Word, Excel, or PDF file and select print, the message "No printer install" appears.

When I select "Add printer," the printer appears. However, when I select the printer and choose "Printer Properties," the message "You do not have access to this printer. Some of the tabs will be missing" appears, along with "security" windows. In short, I cannot select or install the printer.

Answer 1

Hi Lưu Thanh,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand how frustrating it is when printing suddenly stops working, especially when Windows shows “No printer installed” even though the printer appears during setup.

Let’s go through the steps below together:

Step 1: Restart the Windows Print Spooler

Windows sometimes detects the printer but gets stuck during the final setup. Restarting the Print Spooler refreshes the printing system.

1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. In the list, find Print Spooler
4. Right‑click Print Spooler then select Restart
5. Close the window and try printing again

This clears incomplete printer installations and resets Windows’ internal print queue.

Step 2: Remove any incomplete printer entries

Windows 11 may leave a “ghost” printer that prevents proper installation.

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
3. If you see the printer listed:
   • Click the printer name
   • Select Remove device
4. Restart your computer
5. Return to Printers & scanners and click Add device

This removes partially installed drivers that can cause the “Access denied” or “No printer installed” message.

Step 3: Check Windows Protected Print Mode

Windows 11 may block printers that require traditional drivers.

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
2. Scroll down to Printer preferences
3. Look for Windows Protected Print Mode
   • If it shows Turn Off, click it and confirm
   • If this option is locked, the device is managed by an administrator

Additionally, if your computer is managed by your company (work email, device policies, admin restrictions), Windows 11 may require administrator approval to install printers.

In this situation, Windows is blocking the printer driver for security reasons. To move forward, your IT team will need to approve or install the printer driver and allow printer installation through their security policies. Once that’s done, the printer should install normally.

To help me guide this the right way, could you share a bit more detail?

• Is this a personal computer or a work‑managed device?
• How is the printer connected - USB or network/Wi‑Fi?
• What’s the printer brand and model?

With that information, I can point you to the quickest next step.

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Answer 2

It seems you are experiencing issues with printer access and installation. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

1. Check Printer Installation: Ensure that the printer is properly installed from the Windows Control Panel. You can do this by going to Control Panel > Devices and Printers and checking if your printer is listed.
2. Verify Printer Online Status: Make sure that the printer is powered on and connected to the network. If it’s a network printer, ensure that it is online and accessible from your device.
3. Access Permissions: The message "You do not have access to this printer" indicates that there may be permission issues. Ensure that your user account has the necessary permissions to access the printer. You may need to contact your network administrator to grant you access.
4. Reinstall the Printer: If the printer appears but you cannot access its properties, try removing the printer and then reinstalling it. Go to Devices and Printers, right-click on the printer, and select Remove device. After that, add the printer again.
5. Check for Driver Issues: Ensure that you have the latest printer drivers installed. You can check for updates via the printer manufacturer's website or through Windows Update.
6. Network Configuration: If you are using a network printer, ensure that your device is connected to the same network as the printer. Additionally, check if there are any firewall settings that might be blocking access to the printer.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consult with your IT support for further assistance.

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References:

• Problem getting printer information from the system; make sure the printer is set up correctly. (Error 484)
• Universal Print troubleshooting guide