If it goes unresolved, you won’t be able to carry out any print jobs. In this article, we’ll break down the reasons for the error on HP, Epson, Canon, and Brother printers and share fixes that will get your printer working again in no time.<\/p>\n
How to Fix Your Printer’s “Driver Is Unavailable” Error on Windows 10 and 11<\/h2>\n
Drivers<\/a> are small pieces of software that help your hardware communicate with the operating system. Without them, Windows just won’t cooperate—no matter how hard you try.<\/p>\n If you keep getting the “Driver is unavailable” error when you try to print something, there are several solutions you can apply to fix it, so let’s get to it.<\/p>\n Restarting your printer can be an effective way to resolve a wide range of printer-related issues. Here are some reasons why restarting your printer is important:<\/p>\n Overall, restarting your printer can help troubleshoot and fix various printer-related errors. If you are experiencing issues with your printer, it is a good first step to try restarting it before exploring other solutions. To restart your printer, simply turn it off, unplug it from the power source, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.<\/p>\n A flaky connection can trigger the “Driver is unavailable” printer error even when your software is up to date<\/a>. Here’s what you should do to check if that’s the case:<\/p>\n Once everything’s snug and properly paired, send a test page. If the printer driver unavailable issue was down to a dodgy link, you’ll be back in business.<\/p>\n Also read: <\/b>Upgrade Your Bluetooth: How to Download, Install, and Update Bluetooth Driver on Your Windows PC <\/a><\/p>\n Windows’ built-in troubleshooter tool can help fix driver problems. Here’s how to run it:<\/p>\n In most cases, the troubleshooter clears out whatever was blocking your driver and lets you print without another hitch.<\/p>\n When Windows’ built-in troubleshooter comes up short, OEM utilities can help figure out why your printer driver is unavailable on an HP, Epson, Canon, or Brother device and fix it.<\/p>\n HP Print and Scan Doctor<\/b><\/p>\n Epson Software Updater<\/b><\/p>\n Canon My Printer\/IJ Network Device Setup Utility<\/b><\/p>\n Brother’s Full Driver & Software Package<\/b><\/p>\n This fix has proved successful for many users like this guy from Just Answer<\/a>—they got their Brother printer’s “Driver is unavailable” error resolved after downloading and running the software update. CTA to download driver updater<\/p>\n An outdated operating system is a possible reason for the printer driver becoming unavailable. That’s why you should try to apply the latest Windows updates<\/a> as soon as they become available. Not only can doing this solve your immediate problem, it can also fix underlying issues you aren’t aware of.<\/p>\n Removing and reinstalling the printer won’t help, as well as manually downloading the driver.<\/p>\n However, updating Windows and setting up a manual IP<\/a> did the trick for him. <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/p>\n Here’s how to <\/b>check for available Windows updates<\/b>:<\/b><\/p>\n Also interesting: <\/b>Windows Update Troubleshooter: Easily Fixing Windows Update Issues <\/a><\/p>\n If it’s been a while since you last updated your drivers, now’s the time—outdated drivers often cause the printer driver unavailable error. There’s a good chance your current printer driver is outdated, corrupted, or incompatible. Whatever the reason, updating it can solve this problem.<\/p>\n Usually, this is a smooth process, but performing it manually can get complicated, especially if you have little experience.<\/p>\n And trust me, you don’t want to make it worse by installing the wrong driver. Solution? Use special software for updating drivers<\/a>—like Auslogics Driver Updater—to save time and effort.<\/p>\n Simply download and install Driver Updater<\/a> to update all obsolete drivers, including printer, audio, graphics<\/a>, and other drivers, on your PC to their latest versions with one click or only desired drivers separately.<\/p>\n Also read: <\/b>[FIXED] “DirectX Failed to Initialize. Please Install the Correct Drivers for Your Video Card” <\/a><\/p>\n On top of that, the tool automatically backs up drivers so you can revert the changes if needed, scan drivers for threats, and even help prevent overheating. Alternatively, you can use Windows ’ built-in solution for driver updates—Device Manager—to update the printer driver automatically.<\/p>\n Should you proceed with Device Manager, follow these steps:<\/p>\n Windows will search online and download the drivers if it finds them. Whether you use Auslogics Driver Updater or Device Manager, reboot your PC<\/a> after the driver update. If the automatic method doesn’t work for you or you’re a DIY adept, you can install the printer driver manually. Why? For instance, Epson printer users, like this guy on Reddit<\/a>, can sometimes face the “Driver is unavailable ” error due to an incompatible driver (especially for older printers), which gets resolved by downloading the correct one directly from their website.<\/p>\n Those using older Canon printers may also find this fix helpful—this Reddit user can vouch for that<\/a>. They managed to trick Windows by manually downloading the driver designed for another OS, and it worked! To install the driver manually, you must know the brand and model of your printer to choose the correct driver to download.<\/p>\n First, find your printer’s model. Check its surface for any identifying labels or go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers. <\/i>Locate your printer and note its manufacturer and model.<\/p>\n Next, you’ll need to go to your printer manufacturer’s support page, locate the precise driver you need, and download and install it. Here is the overview of the process for HP, Epson, Canon, and Brother printers:<\/p>\nFix 1: Restart your printer<\/h3>\n
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Fix 2: Check USB\/Bluetooth connections<\/h3>\n
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\nFix 3: Run the Windows Printer troubleshooter<\/h3>\n
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Fix 4: Use your printer manufacturer’s troubleshooting tool<\/h3>\n
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Fix 5: Apply a Windows update<\/h3>\n
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Windows key<\/code> on your keyboard to open the Start menu.<\/li>\n![\"Click](\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screenshot-2-2.png\")
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Fix 6: Update the printer driver automatically<\/h3>\n
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Windows key<\/code> and press X<\/code>.<\/li>\n![\"Right-click](\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screenshot-4-2.png\")
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Fix 7: Manually update the printer driver<\/h3>\n
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