How to Install and Update a Printer Driver: Windows, Mac, Chromebook

Quick answer: Installing a printer driver is usually automatic: connect the printer, then add it in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device on Windows or System Settings > Printers & Scanners on a Mac, and the built-in driver loads. For scanning and ink-level tools, download the full software for your exact model from the manufacturer's support site and run the installer. Chromebooks need no driver.

Updated October 16, 2026 · By Lauren Elward, Castle Ink

Key Takeaways

• Try the built-in route first. Adding the printer in Windows or macOS settings installs a working driver for most printers made in the last decade, with nothing to download.
• Download only from the manufacturer. HP, Canon, Epson and Brother drivers are free on their own support sites. Skip CDs (often outdated) and "driver updater" utilities.
• Match model, operating system and processor. A driver for Windows on Intel/AMD (x64) won't install on a Snapdragon (ARM64) laptop.
• Reinstall cleanly. If a driver misbehaves, remove the printer and its driver package, restart, then install fresh.
• Driver updates are safe; firmware updates are different. Updating the driver on your computer never changes which cartridges your printer accepts, but a firmware update installed on the printer can.

How Do I Install a Printer Driver?

You install a printer driver in one of three ways: let your operating system add it automatically when you add the printer, run the manufacturer's installer downloaded from its support site, or point Windows at the driver's .inf file manually. Start with the automatic way; the other two are for when you need more features or the automatic way fails.

New to drivers? Our explainer on what a printer driver is and whether you still need one covers the background. If the printer is brand new and still in the box, start with how to set up a new printer, then come back here if the driver gives you trouble.

Which Printer Driver Should I Use?

Use the built-in driver if all you need is printing, and the manufacturer's full software package if you also want scanning, ink levels, fax or maintenance tools. A basic driver (driver only, no apps) is the middle option for offices, older PCs and anyone who wants a lean install.

Here is what each type actually gives you:

The built-in option keeps getting stronger. Microsoft calls its driverless stack Windows Ready Print; it talks to printers over the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) and works with Mopria-certified printers without any third-party driver. Microsoft's end-of-servicing plan changed Windows driver ranking on July 1, 2026 to always prefer the Windows IPP inbox class driver, so on a current Windows 11 PC a network printer may land on the Microsoft driver even when a manufacturer driver exists. That is normal, not a failure. If you want the maker's features, install its package.

How Do I Install a Printer Driver on Windows 11 and 10?

On Windows 11, connect the printer by USB or to the same Wi-Fi network, then go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select Add device and pick your printer from the list. Windows installs a driver automatically. Use the methods below when you need the full manufacturer software or Windows can't find a driver.

Method 1: Let Windows install it (easiest)

1. Turn the printer on and connect it by USB or to your Wi-Fi network. Help for both is in our Wi-Fi setup guide for HP, Canon, Epson and Brother and printer USB cable guide.
2. Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners).
3. Select Add device (Windows 10: Add a printer or scanner).
4. Wait for your printer to appear, then select Add device next to it. Windows downloads or loads the driver.
5. Print a test page: click the printer and select Print test page.

The full walkthrough, including printers that don't show up, is in how to add a printer in Windows 11 and 10.

Method 2: Run the manufacturer's installer

1. Find your exact model number. It's on the front or top of the printer, on the label inside the cartridge door, or on your receipt.
2. Go to the manufacturer's support site (links in the brand section below), open Software & Drivers or Downloads, and search for your model.
3. Check that the site picked the right operating system. Change it manually if needed.
4. Download the recommended package. Choose the full package if you scan; choose the driver-only package if you just print.
5. Open the downloaded file from your Downloads folder and follow the prompts. Only connect the USB cable when the installer asks, if it asks.
6. Restart if prompted, then print a test page.

This is what Microsoft recommends when Windows Update has nothing for your printer. Its support page also notes that a driver disc that came in the box may be out of date, so download the current version instead.

Method 3: Install a driver manually from an .inf file ("Have Disk")

Some manufacturers offer a driver as a .zip or self-extracting archive with no installer, typically labeled a basic, PCL or PostScript driver. Windows needs to be told where it is.

1. Download the driver and extract it to a folder you can find, such as Downloads\PrinterDriver.
2. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select Add device.
3. Next to The printer that I want isn't listed, select Add manually.
4. Choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings and select Next. (For a network printer you can instead choose Add a printer using an IP address or hostname; see how to find your printer's IP address.)
5. Pick the port: the existing USB port (such as USB001) for a cabled printer, or create a Standard TCP/IP Port with the printer's IP address.
6. On the Install the printer driver screen, select Have Disk..., then Browse to the extracted folder and choose the .inf file. Select OK.
7. Pick your model from the list, select Next, name the printer and select Finish.

Method 4: Add Printer Driver Wizard (last resort for older printers)

Microsoft keeps a legacy wizard that adds a driver without adding a printer. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select Print server properties under Related settings, open the Drivers tab and select Add.... Choose your processor type, then on the driver selection page click Windows Update to load the full list (it can take a few minutes), pick the manufacturer and model, and finish. Then add the printer normally and select that driver.

How Do I Update a Printer Driver on Windows 11 or 10?

Update a printer driver on Windows by checking Windows Update's optional driver updates, by using Update driver in Device Manager, or by installing the latest package from the manufacturer's website over the old one. The manufacturer's site always has the newest version.

Through Windows Update

1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
2. Under Additional options, select Optional updates.
3. Expand Driver updates, tick any printer driver listed and choose Download and install.

Optional drivers are not installed automatically, which is why a printer update can sit there for months. On Windows 10 the equivalent is Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates. Keep in mind that since January 15, 2026, Microsoft no longer publishes new printer drivers to Windows Update for Windows 11, so for printers released after that date the maker's site (or the built-in IPP driver) is the source.

Through Device Manager

1. Right-click Start and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand Print queues and right-click your printer.
3. Choose Update driver.
4. Select Search automatically for drivers, or, if you've downloaded a driver, Browse my computer for drivers and point it at the folder.
5. Select Close and restart if asked.

If Windows says "The best drivers for your device are already installed," that only means it found nothing newer in its own catalog. Check the manufacturer's site before you believe it.

Through the manufacturer

Download the current package for your model and run it. Most installers detect the existing driver and upgrade it in place. If the printer behaves oddly afterward, do a clean reinstall (next section).

How Do I Reinstall a Printer Driver?

To reinstall a printer driver, remove the printer, delete its old driver package, restart the computer, and then add the printer again or run the manufacturer's installer. Skipping the "delete the driver package" step is the most common reason a reinstall doesn't fix anything, because Windows simply reuses the old files.

1. Remove the printer in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (select it, then Remove).
2. Delete the driver: in Print server properties > Drivers, select the driver, choose Remove... and pick Remove driver and driver package. Full steps, including the command-line fallback, are in how to uninstall a printer driver completely.
3. If Windows says the driver is in use, restart the Print Spooler and try again.
4. Restart the PC.
5. Add the printer again (Method 1) or run the manufacturer's installer (Method 2).

Microsoft suggests the same order in its own driver guidance: if updating doesn't help, remove the printer, add it back, and let Windows fetch the driver again. If the printer shows Driver is unavailable, our driver is unavailable fix goes deeper on that specific error.

How Do I Install or Update a Printer Driver on a Mac?

Most Macs need no printer driver download. When you add a printer in System Settings > Printers & Scanners, macOS uses AirPrint, which Apple says works "without the need to download or install drivers." You only install a manufacturer driver for a printer that doesn't support AirPrint or for extra features such as the maker's scan and utility apps. Here's what AirPrint is and how to tell if your printer has it.

Add a printer driver to a Mac

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then Printers & Scanners in the sidebar.
2. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax.
3. Select your printer and look at the Use menu. "AirPrint" means no driver is needed. Click Add.
4. If Use shows nothing suitable, choose Select Software and pick your model from the list.
5. Not listed? Download the macOS driver from the manufacturer's site, install it, then repeat these steps. As a fallback, Apple suggests a Generic PostScript or Generic PCL printer, depending on what your printer supports.
6. If macOS offers to download new software for the printer, accept.

More detail, including adding a printer by IP address, is in how to add a printer to a Mac. If AirPrint itself is the problem, see AirPrint not working.

Update a printer driver on a Mac

AirPrint printing improves with macOS itself, so keep the Mac current in System Settings > General > Software Update. For a manufacturer driver, download the newest macOS version from the maker's site and install it over the old one. Brother, for example, posts updated "Full Software Package" downloads for new macOS releases and notes that it stops updating software for Mac versions older than the last three. To reinstall cleanly, remove the printer, delete the brand's folder in /Library/Printers/, restart and add it again; our uninstall guide covers the Mac steps and the Reset printing system option.

Do Chromebooks Need Printer Drivers?

No. You can't install a printer driver on a Chromebook. ChromeOS prints over IPP (the same standard behind IPP Everywhere and AirPrint), and for printers that need it, it picks a built-in profile when you choose the manufacturer and model.

1. Click the time, then Settings > Device > Printers and scanners > Print.
2. Under Other available printers, click Save next to your printer.
3. If it asks, click Set up, choose the manufacturer and model from the printer's label, and save.
4. Printer missing? Click Add printer manually, enter its IP address, keep the protocol on IPP and the queue as ipp/print.

Google's help page says that if your model isn't listed you can choose a generic PostScript option or upload a PPD file, and it is clear that PPD files are not printer drivers; they only describe the printer's features. The rest of the Chromebook setup is in our Chromebook printing guide.

Linux users: most distributions use CUPS, which supports IPP Everywhere, so a recent network printer usually works with no driver. Brother, Canon and others also post .deb and .rpm packages on their download pages for older models.

Where Do I Download the Driver for My HP, Canon, Epson or Brother Printer?

Download printer drivers only from the manufacturer's official support site, where they are free. Search for your exact model, confirm the operating system the site detected, and pick the recommended package.

How to update an HP printer driver

Search your model on HP's Software and Drivers page and install the current package over the old one. HP's printer software is free, and HP's own guide warns that anyone asking you to pay for HP drivers isn't legitimate. HP has replaced the HP Smart app with the HP app (Windows, Mac, iOS and Android), which handles setup and scanning; the driver itself still comes from the support page or Windows. HP owners should read how to stop HP firmware updates from blocking your ink before accepting any update prompts during installation.

How to update a Canon printer driver

On Canon's Software & Drivers page, choose Printers, then your model. Canon asks you to "first select an operating system, then select a version," and lets you filter downloads by Drivers or Software & Utilities. Install the newer driver over the existing one.

How to download and update an Epson printer driver

Search your model on Epson's support site, open the Downloads section and set the operating system yourself; Epson's own page says your OS "may not be detected" and that it's important to select it manually. Download the drivers package and install.

How to install a Brother printer driver

Search the model on Brother's download site, choose the OS family (Windows, Mac, Linux or Mobile) and version, and download the full package (or the printer driver only for a lean install). Run it and follow the prompts; Brother's installers will ask you to choose USB or network connection.

How Do I Find Out Which Printer Driver Version I Have?

On Windows, open Device Manager > Print queues, right-click your printer, choose Properties and look at the Driver tab for the driver version and date. On a Mac, select the printer in Printers & Scanners, click Options & Supplies, and read the driver version on the General tab.

Two more checks on Windows:

• Which driver is a printer using? In Printers & scanners, click the printer, open Printer properties and look at the Advanced tab. "Microsoft IPP Class Driver" means Windows' built-in driver; a brand name means the manufacturer's driver.
• Every driver installed: Print server properties > Drivers lists them all, with processor type (x64 or ARM64). The Advanced tab's New Driver... button is also how you change which driver a printer uses.

Will My Printer Driver Work on a Snapdragon (Arm) PC or 32-Bit Windows?

Only if the manufacturer makes a version for that processor. Windows 11 PCs run either x64 (Intel or AMD) or ARM64 (such as Snapdragon-based Copilot+ PCs), and a driver built for one won't install on the other. Microsoft warns that printer installers may fail on some Arm PCs and suggests adding the printer through Add device instead, which uses the built-in driver.

• Check your PC: Settings > System > About, then System type under Device specifications. "ARM-based processor" means you need ARM64 drivers.
• On Arm: use the built-in IPP driver first. If you need scanning or utilities, look for an ARM64 package on the maker's site; many older models never got one.
• 32-bit vs 64-bit: Windows 11 has no 32-bit edition, so you always want the 64-bit driver. Only older Windows 10 PCs might be 32-bit; Brother, for example, still lists separate Windows 10 (32-bit) and (64-bit) downloads.

What Is Windows Protected Print Mode, and Should I Turn It On?

Windows protected print mode is an optional Windows 11 security setting that allows only Windows' built-in driverless printing (Windows Ready Print). Turning it on uninstalls printers that use third-party drivers and deletes those drivers, so only enable it if your printers are Mopria-certified.

You'll find it under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Printer preferences > Windows protected print mode > Set up. Microsoft notes that compatible printers show a shield icon, that some scanners don't work in this mode, and that turning it off and reinstalling the printer restores the original driver. Our printer driver explainer covers what this and Microsoft's 2026-2027 driver changes mean for older printers.

Is Updating a Printer Driver the Same as Updating Printer Firmware?

No. A printer driver is software on your computer; firmware is software inside the printer. Updating the driver is safe and never changes which ink or toner cartridges your printer accepts, but a firmware update can, and some firmware updates have stopped printers from accepting non-OEM cartridges.

The catch is that the two often arrive together. Full software packages and printer apps may offer to "update your printer" during or after the driver install, and that prompt is a firmware update. Read every screen and decline printer updates if you use remanufactured ink or compatible toner. Our guide to printer firmware updates and third-party ink explains how to control automatic updates brand by brand.

What Should I Do If the Printer Driver Won't Install?

Most failed driver installs come from one of five things: the wrong driver for your Windows version or processor, an old driver still in the way, a stuck Print Spooler, a pending Windows update, or a connection problem the installer can't see past. Work through them in this order.

1. Check the download. Same exact model (an "e" or "w" suffix matters), same OS, same processor type (x64 vs ARM64).
2. Remove the old driver first, then restart. See uninstalling a printer driver.
3. Restart the Print Spooler: press Windows + R, type services.msc, right-click Print Spooler and choose Restart.
4. Run the installer as administrator: right-click it and choose Run as administrator. On a work PC, IT may block driver installs entirely.
5. Install pending Windows updates and restart.
6. Try the built-in driver with Add device, or the manual .inf method above.
7. Connect first. If the installer says it can't find the printer, fix the link: why won't my printer connect to my computer.

Error codes such as 0x00000709, 0x0000011b or 0x00000bc4 each have their own fix; see printer errors 0x0000011b, 0x00000709 and 0x00000bc4. If the driver installs but the printer still shows an error, try printer is in an error state or why is my printer not printing at all.

Are "Driver Updater" Programs Safe to Use?

Avoid them. Third-party "driver updater" or "driver booster" utilities are unnecessary for printers, since Windows Update, Device Manager and the manufacturer's site already provide every legitimate driver for free, and many of these tools bundle ads, upsells or unwanted software.

The same goes for driver download sites that aren't the manufacturer. A driver runs with deep system access, so a tampered one is a real security risk. Stick to the four sources this guide names: Windows itself, Apple, Google (ChromeOS) and the printer manufacturer.

Do I Need to Update My Printer Driver at All?

Not routinely. If your printer prints, scans and shows the right options, there's no benefit to chasing new driver versions. Update when something breaks, after a major Windows or macOS upgrade, when you move to a new PC, or when the manufacturer lists a fix for a problem you actually have.

Good reasons to update or reinstall:

• The printer stopped working after a Windows or macOS update.
• Printing is slow, garbled or missing options such as duplex or a paper tray. Also see printer not responding.
• Scanning stopped working. The scan side has its own steps in how to scan from your printer to your computer.
• You switched to a new computer or a Snapdragon laptop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep Your Printer Stocked

Once the driver is sorted, the next thing your printer will ask for is ink. Find the exact cartridges for your model on our Find Ink by Printer page, or browse remanufactured HP ink cartridges, Canon ink cartridges and Epson ink cartridges, plus compatible Brother toner cartridges. Still stuck on something else? The printer troubleshooting center has a fix for nearly every common printer problem.

Sources

• Microsoft Support: Download and install the latest printer drivers
• Microsoft Support: Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows
• Microsoft Support: Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers
• Microsoft Learn: End of servicing plan for third-party printer drivers on Windows
• Microsoft Learn: Windows protected print mode
• Microsoft Learn: Windows Ready Print
• Apple Support: Add and manage printers on Mac
• Apple Support: About AirPrint
• Google Chromebook Help: Set up your printer
• Printer Working Group: IPP Everywhere
• Mopria Alliance: Certified Products
• HP: Software and Drivers for HP Printers
• Canon U.S.A.: Software & Drivers
• Epson: Epson Official Support
• Brother: Downloads