The “printer driver is unavailable” error seems annoying especially when you have got some important documents to print. The main cause of this problem is outdated, worn out, or corrupt printer drivers. Luckily, fixing this issue is not as difficult as it seems in the first instance.

If you are also troubled because Windows 10 printer driver is unavailable on your device, then we have got you covered. Through this blog-post, we are sharing a few simple solutions to troubleshoot the errors such as the HP printer driver is unavailable.

Windows 10 Printer Driver is Unavailable -Fixed

As said in the earlier segment of this post, you can get rid of the printer errors effortlessly. Below are some easy solutions that you can try if your Windows 10 printer driver is unavailable.

Solution 1: Reinstall the Printer Driver

Sometimes when your system is constantly showing the printer driver is unavailable error, reinstalling the drivers is the quickest way to troubleshoot the issue. Here’re the most straightforward steps to do it.

Step 1: On your keyboard press Windows logo and R key simultaneously to open the run box

Step 2: Once the run box comes up on the screen, type devmgmt.msc and click on OK to open the Device Manager

Reinstall the printer driver

Step 3: After the Device Manager opens, locate and expand the Print queues section

Reinstall the printer driver-2

Step 4: Right-click on the problematic printer and select Uninstall Device from the menu that appears on the screen. For example, if your HP printer driver is unavailable, then uninstall the HP printer

Reinstall the printer driver-3

Step 5: After clicking on Uninstall Device, restart your computer and open the Device Manager again

Step 6: Once the Device Manager Screen pops up, choose “Scan for hardware changes” from the Action menu.

Reinstall the printer driver-4

After you click on “Scan for hardware changes”, Windows automatically looks for and installs the compatible printer driver.

Also Know: How to Download and Install the HP Printer Driver Easily

Solution 2: Install the Printer Drivers Manually

If the above solution does not work in your case for some reason, then you can fix the Windows 10 printer driver is unavailable error by installing the latest and compatible drivers manually. This method is particularly helpful for the users who have migrated to Windows 10 from an earlier version of Windows. Below are the simple steps to do it.

Step 1: Visit the printer manufactures official website and look for the latest driver version. For example, if your HP printer driver is unavailable, then go to HP’s official website and find the latest driver

Step 2: Download the latest printer driver from the website and store it on your PC’s local storage

Step 3: Temporarily disable the Internet connection and open Device Manager

Step 4: Expand the Printer queues segment and uninstall the problematic device

Step 5: After uninstalling the device, right-click on the driver setup that you have downloaded from the hardware manufacturer’s website.

Step 6: Choose Properties from the menu that comes up on the screen

Install the printer drivers manually-1Install the printer drivers manually

Step 7: On the Properties screen, choose the Compatibility tab

Step 8: Choose “Run this program in compatibility mode” from the drop-down menu and select a previous version of Windows

Install the printer drivers manually-1

Once you have specified the previous Windows version, confirm the changes and run the installer to resolve the printer driver is unavailable error. After the installation gets completed, restart your PC.

After trying this solution, you’ll no longer get the printer driver error is unavailable error especially if you have migrated on Windows 10 from the previous Windows version.

Solution 3: Update the Windows

Many times,  you get printer driver is unavailable error because of the reason that your system has become outdated. The simplest solution to this problem is installing all the available Windows updates. Here’s how to install updates on Windows 10.

Step 1: Click on the Start icon and type Update in the search box and then choose “Check for updates”

Update the Windows
Image Source: Ask Dave Taylor

Step 2: Select “Check for updates”

Update the Windows-1

Step 3: Once you have clicked on “check for updates”, Windows automatically checks for and installs the available updates.

Solution 4: Update the Printer Driver

This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to get rid of the Windows 10 printer driver is unavailable error. Although you can update the printer drivers using the Device Manager on your PC. But, that process is a bit complicated and time-consuming. Hence, we would suggest updating the drivers using Bit Driver Updater without any hassles. Download it and leave the rest to it. Apart from resolving the printer driver is unavailable error, here’s what else it does for you.

download now button

  • Automatically search for and install the driver updates to optimize the PC performance
  • Save your time as you won’t be required to search for drivers on the hardware manufacturer’s website
  • Lets you update all the outdated, worn out, and faulty drivers in a single click.

Bit Driver Updater

Thus, get Bit Driver Updater and resolve all the printing as well as other PC performance issues.

These were the Sureshot solutions for the printer driver is unavailable error.  Do let us know in the comment box below that they worked for you or you’re still troubled by the Windows 10 printer driver is unavailable bug. Lastly, before leaving, do not forget to subscribe to our updates and stay informed about all the latest happening in the tech world.

One Reply to “How to Fix Windows 10 Printer Driver is Unavailable”

  • Tom
    Tom
    Reply

    Thank you for providing this valuable information.

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