The “Printer driver is unavailable” error is a common issue that can occur in Windows 10. This error means that Windows is unable to locate the correct driver for your printer, which prevents it from communicating with the device. There are a few things you can do to fix this error:
Update the printer driver manually
- Go to Start > Device Manager.
- Expand Printers.
- Right-click on your printer and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
Manually download and install the printer driver
- Go to the website of your printer manufacturer and download the latest driver for your printer model.
- Once the driver is downloaded, run the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions.
Roll back the printer driver
- Go to Start > Device Manager.
- Expand Printers.
- Right-click on your printer and select Properties.
- Go to the Driver tab.
- Click on Roll Back Driver.
Reinstall the printer
- Go to Start > Settings > Devices.
- Click on Printers & scanners.
- Under Printers & scanners, click on the printer you want to remove and then click on Remove device.
- Restart your computer.
- Once your computer has restarted, Windows will automatically reinstall the printer.
Use the generic printer driver
- Go to Start > Device Manager.
- Expand Printers.
- Right-click on your printer and select Properties.
- Go to the Hardware tab.
- Click on Properties.
- In the General tab, select Generic PnP Monitor.
- Click on OK.
If you have tried all of the above steps and you are still getting the “Printer driver is unavailable” error, you may need to contact your printer manufacturer for further assistance.
Here are some additional tips:
- Make sure that your printer is turned on and connected to your computer.
- Try using a different USB cable to connect your printer to your computer.
- Make sure that your printer is set as the default printer.
- Try uninstalling and reinstalling the printer software.