"Driver Is Unavailable" for Your Printer in Windows 11? How to Fix It

Your printer shows “Driver is unavailable” under its name in Windows 11 and refuses to print.

Why: The driver Windows needs is missing, corrupted, or incompatible with your current build of Windows. This often happens after a Windows feature update or after Windows installed a generic driver that doesn’t match your printer.

Fix 1: Update the driver from Windows Settings

Start with the built-in update path:

1. Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select your printer, then choose Manage.
3. Click Update driver and let Windows search.
4. If it installs one, print a test page.

Fix 2: Remove and re-add the printer

Reinstalling refreshes the driver files and settings:

1. Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > select your printer > Remove.
2. Restart your PC (this clears the loaded driver from memory).
3. Go back to Printers & scanners > Add a printer or scanner.
4. Select your printer when it appears and let Windows reinstall it.

Fix 3: Download the driver from the manufacturer

If Windows can’t supply a working driver, get it from the source:

1. Go to your printer maker’s support website (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, etc.).
2. Search for your exact printer model.
3. Download the driver that matches your Windows version and system type (64-bit).
4. Run the installer, then restart your PC.

This is the most reliable fix, because the manufacturer’s package contains the exact driver your model needs rather than a generic substitute.

Fix 4: Roll back the driver

If “Driver is unavailable” appeared right after an update, an older driver may work better:

1. Press Win + R, type devmgmt.msc, press Enter.
2. Expand Printers (or Print queues).
3. Right-click your printer > Properties > Driver tab.
4. Click Roll Back Driver if it’s available, then restart.

FAQ

Why did this start after a Windows update? Feature updates can replace or invalidate a third-party printer driver that no longer matches the new build. Reinstalling from the manufacturer (Fix 3) usually resolves it.

Windows Update doesn’t offer a driver anymore. Microsoft has reduced automatic delivery of some third-party printer drivers, so the manufacturer’s website is now the most reliable place to get one. Download it directly for your model.

Update driver is greyed out. Remove the printer and re-add it (Fix 2), or install the manufacturer’s package (Fix 3), which registers the driver fresh.

Sources: Microsoft — Fix printer driver compatibility issues in Windows