Printers are extremely helpful machines for a variety of purposes, including general use, personal use, and corporate use. However, the majority of people are experiencing the Printer Driver is Unavailable problem and are looking for a solution.
Are you one of the users that has no idea how to fix the problem? If that’s the case, you’ve come to the perfect place since we’ll give you every possible and relevant solution to fix the problem.
It’s even more aggravating when you need to print something quickly but the mistake displays.
Many customers are experiencing the same issue, but there is no need to be concerned because the problem is easier to repair than you might believe.
So, let’s have a good understanding of the issue and its causes so that we can eliminate it from the source with a few simple steps.
What is the Meaning of the Printer Driver Unavailable Error?
Everything looks to go fine at first, but then the printer becomes unresponsive, with the message “Driver is unavailable.”
A printer driver is a piece of software that allows you to The unavailability problem is caused by a corrupt, incompatible, or out-of-date printer driver, which is the result of our system’s incomplete driver installation.
These printer drivers establish a connection between the computer and the printer, converting the data to be printed into a format that a printer can read and granting print access.
You may now be considering what options you have for reviving your non-functioning printer. So, let’s start with the most effective and appropriate methods for resolving the problem.
1. Unplug and Restart
This is the most basic solution to the problem, and it has worked for many users. To begin, switch off your printer fully and unplug it.
Now wait a minute or two before plugging in and restarting your printer. Check to see if the error is still there or if it has been addressed.
2. Double-check
If restarting the printer does not resolve the problem, inspect all of the printer’s connections.
Ensure that one end of the USB cable is plugged into the printer’s USB port and the other end is plugged into any USB port on the computer. If the connections are created incorrectly, the problem will be obvious.
3. Look for Wireless Alternatives
Users who have a wireless printer can use this strategy. If you want to verify whether your wireless printer is connected, go to the wireless option on your printer, which is represented by a blue icon, and see if it is switched on.
If it’s turned on, everything is OK. If it isn’t already on, turn it on. Furthermore, the technique for altering the wifi options varies every printer.
In this instance, you should refer to the instructions outlined in the printer’s instruction guide, or you can contact the relevant firm for assistance.
4. Disconnect
The issue can be caused by a corrupted or broken driver, as previously stated. In this case, you’ll need to uninstall the printer driver to fix the problem. To do so, follow the steps outlined below:
Step 1: To open the Run dialogue box, press Windows key + R. Press Enter after typing control printers.
Step 2: The Devices and Printers window should now appear. Find your printer’s name in the list of printers and right-click on it. Choose the Remove device option.
Step 3: Select Yes to confirm that you want to remove the item.
Your printer’s driver will be deleted as a result, and you may now check to see if the problem has been resolved.
5. Reinstall the Printer Driver
To replace the driver, you must first uninstall the previous version of the driver before installing the most recent version available. Follow the steps below to accomplish this:
Step 1: To enter the Run dialogue box, press the Windows key + R shortcut. Type devmgmt.msc into the search box. To open the Device Manager, press enter.
Step 2: Double-click the Print Queue from the list of options. Right-click on the model of your printer to get more information. Select Uninstall from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Restart your computer after uninstalling the printer and reconnect it. Now go to the printer manufacturer’s website and download and install the most recent version of the printer driver for your system.
Now try printing something to see if you get the same issue or not.
6. Install the Most Recent Printer Deiver
If you do not use the same company’s driver and printer, the problem is almost certain to occur. So, to permanently cure the issue caused by drivers, try out some of the best and most recent printer drivers. Let’s have a look at a couple of them:
HP Printer Driver
HP Printer Drivers are the industry’s most dependable and efficient drivers. You will surely require this driver if you have an HP printer.
When printing documents, images, and web pages, these printer drivers will allow you to alter the colour, paper, and quality settings, among other things.
Canon Printer Driver
Aside from cameras and lenses, Canon is known for producing some of the best printer drivers in the industry.
This printer driver supports a variety of Canon devices, and you may use it with any printer type by simply adjusting the printing port and device information settings. This printer driver is unquestionably worthwhile for all Canon printer customers.
Epson Printer Driver
Epson offers a wide range of high-quality printers that feature advanced printing and ink technology to produce the highest-quality prints. If you have an Epson printer, you should use the Epson drivers. Epson’s website has all the information you need about the driver.
Brother Printer Driver
Brother printers deliver high-impact papers with crisp images and vibrant colours. The nicest thing about these printers is that they are simple to set up, inexpensive to use, compatible with a wide range of devices, and create high-quality prints. Every Brother printer user should purchase the Brother printer drivers.
Samsung Printer Driver
Samsung is without a doubt one of the top brands in the world. It also supplies the greatest printer drivers, which are created with new technologies, in addition to mobile phones and household appliances.
To utilise Samsung printers, you must have Samsung drivers installed in your Windows system.
7. Update Windows
An out-of-date system could be causing the Printer driver is unavailable problem because it can cause small faults in the printer driver, rendering it incompatible with your operating system.
In this situation, you’ll need to update Windows to fix the problem. Furthermore, the updating process varies by Windows version, therefore use the technique that corresponds to your Windows version:
1. Microsoft Windows 10
Step 1: To begin, go to the Settings menu and choose the Update & security option. Select Windows Update from the left panel now.
Step 2: Next, select Check for updates to have the PC scan for any available updates. The update will automatically download and install. Restart your computer now.
2. Windows 8
Step 1: Go to the Settings menu and choose “Change PC settings.”
Step 2: Now, from the left panel, pick “Windows Update” and then “Check for updates now.” The updates will be downloaded and installed automatically by Windows. Restart your computer to see the changes take effect.
Check to see whether the printer status still shows the driver is unavailable on the printer error or if it has been resolved.
8. Make Use of The Troubleshoot
So, if you’ve tried everything above and still can’t solve the problem, using a troubleshooter is the best alternative for you.
It will find and fix any hardware or software problems. So, in order to use the troubleshooter, follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Select Troubleshoot from the left side of the Settings window.
Step 2: Select Printer from the Get up and running section, then click the Run the Troubleshooter button.
After you’ve completed the process, restart your computer and print anything to see if the error is still present or if it has been resolved.
9. Reset the Print Spooler
Printers, as we all know, have limited memory and can sometimes print documents that are considerably smaller than the size of the single page you want to print.
Printer spooling allows you to send numerous documents to a printer at once, eliminating the need to wait for the printing process to finish before moving on to the next activity.
It’s worth noting that the Print Spooler could be the source of the problem, and you can fix it by resetting it using the techniques below:
Step 1: Open the Start menu, type Services in the Search box, or click Windows + Q, type msc, and press Enter.
A window for services will appear. Right-click on Printer Spooler and select Properties. Select Stop and then OK from the alternatives.
Step 3: Go to C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTER and delete all of the files in the PRINTERS folder. Remove the printer from your computer.
Step 4: Plug in the printer and start the Printer Spooler Service.
10. Change the Printer’s Status
If your printer is appearing as offline, it implies it is having problems talking with your PC.
There could be a variety of causes for this, ranging from connectivity issues to a printer fault.
So, to change your printer’s status from Offline to Online, follow the procedures below:
Step 1: First and foremost, ensure that the printer is turned on and that it is linked to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.
Step 2: Open the Start menu and type Settings into the search box. Select Devices from the drop-down menu in the Settings window. From the left panel, select Printers and Scanners.
Step 3: Select your printer and click Open Queue Now, then choose Printer Offline in the Print Queue window.
Step 4: You’ll get a notification that says, “This step will bring the printer online from offline.” When you click Confirm, your printer’s status will be updated online.
Conclusion
Finally, we went over every probable reason of the mistake as well as how to repair it. Hopefully, by following the steps outlined above, you will be able to address the problem.
Furthermore, avoid installing drivers from unknown sites because the driver may be corrupted or damaged, and maintain the driver and Windows up to date to avoid future problems.
