Printer Driver Is Unavailable? Here's What's Actually Going On and How to Fix It

"Driver is unavailable" is the modern, polite version of an old Windows error that used to say something more useful, like "the driver for this printer is not installed." Same problem, less helpful wording. It usually shows up next to a printer in Settings, or pops up when you try to print, and it almost always means Windows lost track of the right driver for your printer — either because of an update, a driver mismatch, or because Windows defaulted to a generic driver that doesn't actually work with your model.

Here's how to fix it for real, in the order I'd try things. This works for HP, Brother, Canon, Epson, and pretty much anything else.

1. Don't Trust the Windows Auto-Install

This is the single biggest source of "driver is unavailable" complaints I see. When you plug a printer in, Windows often installs a generic basic driver instead of the manufacturer's real one. The basic driver mostly works, except when it doesn't — and that's when you get the error.

The fix is to install the manufacturer's driver directly. Go to HP's driver page, Brother's, Canon's, or Epson's, and search for your exact model number. Download their full driver package, not the basic one labeled "PCL" or "PS" unless you specifically need it. Run the installer. Restart. Almost always fixes it.

2. Remove the Printer Cleanly Before Reinstalling

If you've already tried installing a driver and it didn't take, Windows is probably still pointing at the old broken one. You need to fully remove the printer before reinstalling.

Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Click your printer, then Remove. Then — and this is the part most guides skip — open Device Manager, expand Print queues and Printers, and uninstall any leftover entries for your model. Right-click each one and choose Uninstall device. Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" if it appears.

Now restart your computer. Then install the manufacturer's driver as in step 1.

3. Check Windows Update Isn't the Culprit

Microsoft occasionally pushes printer driver updates through Windows Update that break things. If "driver is unavailable" started right after a Windows update, this is probably why.

Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. Look for any recent printer-related drivers or Windows updates installed near the date your printer broke. Uninstalling the most recent one and rebooting often fixes it. Microsoft has an official troubleshooter page too, which is worth running.

4. Try the Built-In Printer Troubleshooter

I usually skip this one because it rarely catches anything, but it takes 60 seconds and does occasionally surface the right answer. Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Printer, then click Run.

5. Mac Version (Less Common, Same Idea)

If you're seeing something similar on a Mac — "printer is not connected" with the right driver missing — open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, remove the printer, and reinstall it. If that doesn't take, two-finger click in the printer list and choose Reset printing system. That wipes all printers and lets you re-add yours cleanly with the official driver from the manufacturer's site.

What If It Still Won't Work?

If you've reinstalled the manufacturer's driver and the error is still there, one of three things is probably going on:

• USB cable or port is dead. Swap the cable and try a different USB port. Sounds dumb. Fixes about 5% of these.
• The printer is on a different network than the PC. Common with Wi-Fi printers. Print a network configuration page from the printer's menu and check it matches your computer's network.
• The printer is actually dying. If it's more than 6-7 years old and you've replaced cartridges multiple times, the formatter board sometimes fails in a way that looks like a driver problem.

Related Reading

If you're already digging into the printer and find yourself low on supplies, our compatible HP ink, Epson ink, Brother toner, and Canon ink collections will save you a lot versus the manufacturer-brand versions, and our FAQ covers warranty questions if you're worried about that.

If the driver fix worked but you're still seeing weird print quality, that's a separate issue — take a look at our faded and streaky prints guide.

The Bottom Line

"Driver is unavailable" almost always means Windows is using a generic or stale driver. Go to the manufacturer's website, get the real driver for your exact model, fully remove the printer first, and reinstall. That's the fix. Everything else is a distraction.