Fix Printer Driver is unavailable on Windows 10: If you’re not able to use your Printer and you face the error message that says “Driver is unavailable” then this means that the driver installed for your Printer is not compatible, outdated or corrupted. In any case, until you resolve this error you won’t be able to access your Printer. To view this message you need to head over to Devices and Printers then select your Printer and under Status, you will see “Driver is unavailable”.
This error message can be annoying, especially is you need to use the printer urgently. But don’t worry there are few easy fixes which can resolve this error and in no time you will be able to use your printer. So without wasting any time let’s see How to Fix Printer Driver is unavailable on Windows 10 with the help of the below-listed troubleshooting guide.
Fix Printer Driver is unavailable on Windows 10
Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.
Method 1: Uninstall the Printer Drivers
1.Type control in Windows Search then click on the search result which says Control Panel.
2.From the Control Panel click on Hardware and Sound.
3.Next, click on Device and Printers.
4.Right-click on the printer device which shows the error “Driver is unavailable” and select Remove device.
5.Press Windows Key + R then type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open Device Manager.
6.Expand Print queues then right-click on your Printer device and select Uninstall.
Note: If you don’t have your device listed then don’t worry as it may already be removed when you remove the printer device from Devices and Printers.
7.Again click on Uninstall to confirm your actions and this will successfully remove the printer drivers from your PC.
8.Now press Windows Key + R then type appwiz.cpl and hit Enter.
9.From the Programs and Features window, uninstall any application related to your printer.
10.Disconnect your Printer from the PC, shut down your PC and router, power off your printer.
11.Wait for a few minutes then plug everything the back as it was earlier, make sure to connect your Printer to the PC using a USB cable and see if you’re able to Fix Printer Driver is unavailable on Windows 10.
Method 2: Make sure Windows is up to date
1.Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & Security.
2.From the left-hand side, menu click on Windows Update.
3.Now click on the “Check for updates” button to check for any available updates.
4.If any updates are pending then click on Download & Install updates.
Once the updates are downloaded, install them and your Windows will become up-to-date.
Method 3: Verify the Admin Account
1.Press Windows Key + R then type control and hit Enter to open Control Panel.
2.Click on User Accounts then again click on User Accounts.
3.Now click on the “Make changes to my account in PC settings” link.
4.Click on the verify link and follow the on-screen instructions to verify your admin account.
5.Once finished, reboot your PC and again install the printer without any issues.
Method 4: Install the Printer Drivers in Compatibility mode
1.Press Windows Key + R then type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open Device Manager.
2.Expand Print queues then right-click on your Printer device and select Uninstall.
3.If you’re prompted to confirm then again click on the Uninstall button.
4.Now go to your printers manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your printer.
5.Right-click on the setup file and select Properties.
Note: If the drivers are in a zip file make sure to unzip it then right-click on the .exe file.
6.Switch to the Compatibility Tab and checkmark “Run this program in Compatibility mode“.
7.From the drop-down select Windows 7 or 8 and then checkmark “Run this program as an administrator“.
8.Finally, double-click on the setup file and let the drivers install.
9.Once finished, reboot your PC and see if you’re able to fix the issue.
Method 5: Reinstall your Printer Drivers
1.Press Windows Key + R then type control printers and hit Enter to open Devices and Printers.
2.Right-click on your printer and select “Remove device” from the context menu.
3.When the confirm dialog box appears, click Yes.
4.After the device is successfully removed, download the latest drivers from your printer manufacturer website.
5.Then reboot your PC and once the system restarts, press Windows Key + R then type control printers and hit Enter.
Note: Make sure your printer is connected to the PC via USB, Ethernet or wirelessly.
6.Click on the “Add a printer” button under Device and Printers window.
7.Windows will automatically detect the printer, select your printer and click Next.
8.Set your printer as default and click Finish.
Method 6: Reset your PC
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That’s if you have successfully Fix Printer Driver is unavailable on Windows 10 but if you still have any questions regarding this article then please feel free to ask them in the comment section.