If your HP printer isn't working properly, one of the most common causes is the printer driver unavailable error. This type of issue is annoying and will prevent you from printing, scanning and copying, but no worries. After reading this post, you're able to solve the HP printer driver unavailable error, easily and quickly!

Try these fixes:

Here are 3 fixes for the 'HP printer driver is unavailable' error on Windows 11/10. You don't have to try them all. Just work your way down the list until you find the one that does the trick.

  1. Install all Windows updates
  2. Reinstall your printer driver
  3. Check for damaged system files

Fix 1 – Install all Windows updates

On a Windows system that's old or out-of-date, the HP printer driver issue is more likely to occur. If you haven't updated your system for a while, make sure to do it first. A new Windows patch will offer you not only bug fixes but also new features.

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and I at the same time to open the Windows settings menu. Then click Update & Security.
  2. Click Check for updates.

The download and installation will automatically start when updates are available. Wait a few minutes until the process completes, then reboot your computer to test. If the error persists, move on to the second solution.

Fix 2 – Reinstall your printer driver

The HP printer driver unavailable error usually indicates your printer is missing, corrupt or not recognized by the computer. You should just uninstall the current driver and install the latest correct printer driver. There are two ways for you to do so: manually or automatically (recommended).

Option 1 – Reinstall the printer driver with Device Manager

Device Manager is a Windows built-in tool that allows you to view and control the hardware attached to your computer and update the device drivers. Here's how to use it:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R at the same time to invoke the Run command. Then type devmgmt.msc and clickOK.
  2. Double-click Printers to expand that category.
  3. Right-click your HP printer and select Uninstall device.
  4. Tick Delete the driver software for this device and click Uninstall.
  5. Restart your computer to employ the changes, and Windows should install the correct driver for you.

It's easy to reinstall your HP printer driver via Device Manager, but it doesn't always detect outdated drivers (see why). For an easier way to install the latest driver, check out Option 2.

Option 2 – Automatically reinstall the printer driver (recommended)

If you don't have the time, patience or computer skills to reinstall the HP printer driver manually or if you want to get the latest printer driver, we recommend using Driver Easy.

Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don't need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don't need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don't need to worry about making a mistake when installing.

  1. Download and install Driver Easy.
  2. Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
    update graphics driver for hitman 3
  3. Click the Update button next to the flagged HP driver to automatically download the correct version of this driver, then you can manually install it (you can do this with the FREE version).

    Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you'll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).

The Pro version of Driver Easy comes with full technical support.
If you need assistance, please contactDriver Easy's support team atsupport@drivereasy.com.

See if your HP printer gets back working. If not, there is one more fix to try.

Fix 3 – Check for damaged system files

If none of the methods above works, there might be something wrong with your system. Corrupt system files can trigger various printer issues including the driver error. To fix it, you can use Reimage to do a full Windows scan and repair.

  1. Download and install Reimage.
  2. Open Reimage and click Yes to run a free scan of your PC.
  3. Reimage will scan your computer thoroughly. This may take a few minutes.
  4. Once done, you'll see a detailed report of all the issues on your PC. To fix them automatically, click START REPAIR. This requires the purchase of the full version. And it also has a 60-day money back guarantee so that you can refund any time if Reimage doesn't solve the issue.
    Reimage START REPAIR

Check the status of your HP printer driver and it should be back to normal now. If

Hopefully this post helped you with the HP printer driver unavailable error. If you have further questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.

8

8 people found this helpful

Available in other languages

Ihr Computer sagt Ihnen, dass der HP-Druckertreiber nicht verfügbar? Mithilfe unseres Beitrags können Sie das Problem selber beseitigen!