Why is my device showing Printer driver is unavailable? There are several reasons for the printer to become unresponsive and you can begin by testing the following:

Check if the printer cables are properly attached to the computer Check if the printer is connected to Wi-Fi Make sure that the ink cartridges are not empty Check your system for alert lights or error messages If you just upgraded your computer from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10 and started facing printer issues, the update may have corrupted the printer driver It is possible that the original printer driver is incompatible with the latest version of Windows OS

Microsoft had stated that when Windows 10 was released, there would be no built-in backward compatibility with some apps and applications. However, numerous printer manufacturers were unable to update their drivers in time, which complicated the situation further.

What is the use of a printer driver? Prior to understanding how to resolve the Printer not responding issue, it is imperative to learn about the printer drivers. It is a simple application that is mounted on the Windows 10 computer that allows interaction between the PC and the printer. It performs two critical roles:

The first function is to act as a link between the printer and your device. It allows your computer to recognize the printer hardware, its features, and specifics. Secondly, the driver is accountable for converting the print job data to signals which can be understood & implemented by the printer.

Each printer comes with its own special driver that is tailored to different operating system profiles such as Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10.  If your printer is not programmed correctly or mounts the wrong system driver, the computer would be unable to find it & process a print job. Certain printers, on the other hand, can utilize generic drivers offered by Windows 10. This enables you to print without the need to install external vendor drivers. 

Fix Printer Not Responding Error in Windows 10

If you’re unable to print any internal document or a file that you downloaded from the internet then you may be facing the Printer driver is unavailable error. To resolve the printer not responding error, you can follow the below-listed troubleshooting steps. 

Fix Printer Not Responding Error in Windows 10 Method 1: Run Windows Update Method 2: Update Your Printer Drivers  Method 3: Reinstall Printer Driver Special Mention: Only for Plug–and–Play Printers

Method 1: Run Windows Update

One possible reason for your Windows 10 computer to display the ‘Printer Driver is Unavailable’ error is because you are running an out-of-date operating system. To update your Windows OS, follow the below steps: 

  1. Click the Start button and navigate to the Settings icon.

  2. Select Update & Security.

  3. Windows will check for updates and, if found, will automatically download and install them.

  4. Now, Restart your computer once the update process is complete. You can now check if you’re able to fix printer is not responding error. Also Read: Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer [SOLVED]

Method 2: Update Your Printer Drivers 

To update your printer drivers, you can download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website. Drivers can also be downloaded from the manufacturer’s support site. To install the printer drivers downloaded from the manufacturer’s website, follow these steps: 

  1. Search for Control Panel in the Windows search bar then click on the Control Panel from the search results.

  2. Make sure to select ‘Large Icons‘ from the ‘View by:‘ dropdown. Now look for Device Manager and click on it.

  3. Under the Device Manager window, locate the printer for which you want to install drivers for.

  4. Right-click the name of the printer and select Update Driver Software from the accompanying pop-up menu.

  5. A new window will appear. If you’ve already downloaded drivers from the manufacturer’s website, choose the Browse my computer for driver software option.

  6. Next, click on the Browse button and navigate to the place where you have downloaded the printer drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

  7. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the drivers manually.  8.  If you don’t have the downloaded drivers then select the option labeled Search automatically for updated driver software.

  8. Follow on-screen instructions to install the latest printer drivers. Restart your PC and see if you’re able to fix the printer not responding issue.  Also Read: Fix Printer Driver is unavailable on Windows 10

Method 3: Reinstall Printer Driver

If you cannot print your document because of the error message ‘printer driver is unavailable,’ the best course of action would be to reinstall the printer driver. Follow these steps to fix printer is not responding error:

  1. Press Windows Key +R then type devmgmt.msc and click on OK.

  2. The Device Manager window will open. Expand Print queues and find your printer device. 

  3. Right-click on your printer device (with which you are facing the issue) and select Uninstall device option.

  4. Remove the device from printer queues and restart your PC to finish the uninstallation.

  5. After restarting your device, re-open Device Manager and click on Action.

  6. From the Action menu select Scan for hardware changes.

Windows will now reinstall the appropriate printer driver on your computer. Finally, restart the device and see if your printer is responding and you’re able to print your documents.

Special Mention: Only for Plug–and–Play Printers

After you reinstall the printer drivers, Windows will automatically detect your Printer. If it recognizes the printer, proceed with the on-screen instructions.

  1. Unplug the printer from your computer. Also, remove any cords and wires that are connected between them.
  2. Reconnect all and follow the Setup Wizard process.
  3. If the Wizard is unavailable, navigate to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners > Add a Printer or Scanner.

Q1. What should I do if my Printer Driver is not Installing? If nothing happens when you double-click the installation file, try the following:

  1. Click on Start, then navigate to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
  2. Select Print Server Properties under Related Settings.
  3. Verify that your printer is specified under the Drivers tab. 
  4. If your printer is not visible, click Add under the Welcome to the Add Printer Driver Wizard then click on Next.
  5. Pick the Device Architecture in the Processor Selection dialogue box. Once done, click Next.
  6. Pick your Printer Manufacturer from the left pane. Then choose your Printer Driver from the right pane.
  7. Finally, click on Finish and follow the on-screen instructions to add your driver. Q2. How do I download the driver from the manufacture’s website? Consult the service website for your printer manufacturer. To do so, conduct an internet search for the manufacturer of your printer followed by the term support, e.g., HP support. Driver updates are available and accessible from a printer manufacturer’s website under the Drivers category. Certain support websites enable you to check specifically as per printer model code. Find and download the most recent driver for your printer and install it according to manufacturer installation directions. A vast majority of drivers are executable files that you can simply install by double-clicking on them. After you have downloaded the file, begin the installation. Then, proceed with these steps to re-install the printer drivers:
  8. Click on Start, then navigate to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
  9. Locate the printer under Printers & scanners. Select it, and then click on Remove device.
  10. After deleting your printer, reinstall it using the Add a printer or scanner option.  Q3. What is the meaning of Printer Driver Unavailable? The error printer driver is unavailable indicates that the driver mounted on your computer is incompatible with your printer or is outdated. If the machine is unable to identify the drivers, you will be unable to activate or print from your printer.  Recommended:

How to Get Your Printer Back Online in Windows 10 How to Print When You Don’t Have a Printer Fix Volume Automatically Goes Down or Up in Windows 10 How to Link Facebook to Twitter

We hope that this guide was helpful and you were able to fix printer not responding error. Let us know which method worked for you best. If you have any queries/comments regarding this article, then feel free to drop them in the comments section.

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