Have you ever tried to print something from a Windows 10 device and received the notice “Canon Printer Driver Unavailable“? If this describes you, you are not alone. By taking the measures outlined below, you can swiftly remedy this issue and avoid the worry and difficulty it may create. This article will look at the causes of the problem as well as possible solutions. By being aware of this knowledge, you can avoid it from happening again.
What Causes The “Canon Printer Driver Unavailable” Error?
Windows users are routinely confronted with the infamous “Driver is Unavailable For Canon Printer” error. The printer will not print anything, and the error message Unavailable Canon Printer Driver is displayed in the device status.
This problem could be caused by a number of different objects on your computer. Fortunately, most of the likely causes are simple to cure and won’t even require you to touch your printer, let alone buy a new one! The following are possible causes of the Windows printer driver problem:
- Your printer’s driver is missing or was never properly installed.
- The driver for your printer is corrupted.
- The driver for your printer and your computer are incompatible.
- The driver for your printer is out of date.
- A new Windows Update is required.
- There is a flaw in Windows.
You may discover what goes wrong, how to swiftly solve it, and how to avoid it from happening again in the suggestions below.
Problem Solved In Windows, the Canon Printer driver is not available.
There are five different ways to resolve the “Driver is unavailable” error message for your printer when using Windows.
Method 1: One method is to reconnect the printer.
This annoying problem is occasionally resolved by a full printer connection. To do so, unplug the device, remove it from your computer, and then reconnect it. It’s possible that doing so will resolve any potential driver issues and allow printing to resume. Follow these steps to completely disconnect your printer before reconnecting it for the first time.
- To open up the search interface, use Windows + S on your keyboard. To start the software, type “Control Panel” into the search box and click on the appropriate search result.
- To begin, click View devices and printers. If this option is not visible, make sure your view mode is set to Category.
- Right-clicking the printer that’s giving you issue will remove it from the context menu.
- If the User Account Control (UAC) page prompts you, select Yes. Change your user if you’re using a local account that doesn’t have administrator privileges.
- Disconnect the device from the computer after deleting it from your system. Before connecting the device, wait two to three minutes for Windows 10 to finish installing.
After completing these procedures, test the printer to ensure that it works as expected. If it doesn’t work, try something else!
Method 2: Update your printer driver in Windows.
Your drivers, like your system, may become obsolete in the future. It is possible that you previously installed printer drivers without upgrading them. It’s possible that the drivers that came with your computer when you bought it need to be updated.
Use the suggestions below to upgrade the printer driver directly in Windows 10. This procedure is simple and quick. Regardless of the underlying cause, Windows 10 may be able to assist you by automatically updating your drivers to resolve this annoying error:
- Press Windows + X on your keyboard, and then select Device Manager from the WinX menu.
- Click the arrow next to the Printers menu to enlarge it. You can open the context menu by right-clicking on the printer name and selecting Update Driver.
- If you can’t find your printer in the list, add it to the Unknown Devices category.
- Choose to automatically search the list of available drivers. By doing so, Windows may connect to the internet and locate the most recent printer drivers. If more than one driver is detected, you may be asked to choose one.
- When the driver installation is finished, restart your computer to see the changes take effect.
Remember that if Windows 10 is unable to identify your printer’s drivers online, you may need to try another method (such as a manual installer).
Method 3: Manually install your printer’s driver.
If Windows is unable to find the most recent printer drivers on its own, you must do it manually. Before proceeding, look up the manufacturer and model name of your printer. Once you’ve determined the printer model, you can begin manually installing the most recent, functional drivers using the instructions below.
- Determine the manufacturer and model of your printer. To find your specific model, look for stickers on the actual device or go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
- Make a note of your printer’s name, brand, and version, if applicable. The following step is to go to the manufacturer’s website and find the driver download page.
- Find the most recent drivers for your system and printer. Make sure to select either the 32-bit or 64-bit version depending on your operating system!
- After you’ve downloaded the required driver, locate it in your Downloads folder and run the installation. If you have an administrator account, you can also right-click the installer and select Run as administrator from the context menu.
- After installing the driver, restart your computer to ensure that the printer is operational. Continue reading if you’re still getting the “Driver is unavailable” error!
Method 4: Download and install the generic printer driver.
Users claim that installing the Windows default printer driver will resolve this vexing problem. This driver allows your computer to use the printer again and is compatible with the majority of printers.
- Press Windows + X on your keyboard, and then select Device Manager from the WinX menu.
- Click the arrow next to the Printers menu to enlarge it. You can open the context menu by right-clicking on the printer name and selecting Update Driver.
- Choose Browse my computer for drivers from the menu. You will be taken directly to the next section.
- Choose the option “Let me choose from a list of available drivers on my machine.” Here is a list of the drivers that are compatible with your printer.
- After checking the Generic Software Device box, click Next. If your printer cannot print because the driver is unavailable, Windows 10 will install generic drivers, which may resolve the problem.
Method 5: Install a Windows update
To resolve some basic difficulties, such as the printer driver appearing as unavailable when you try to print, your operating system may need to be updated. Download the most recent Windows version to see if the issue has been resolved.
- To open the Start menu, click the Windows icon in the lower left corner of your screen. You can also open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
- Select the Update and Security tile. You can set the update frequency and locate the majority of your Windows Update options here.
- Leave the default page of the Windows Update tab alone. After selecting the Check for Updates option, Windows will check for any available updates. To see and instal any available updates, click the View all optional updates link.
- When Windows detects a new update, select Install. While you wait, Windows will install the necessary updates.
Last thoughts
You now have it! We sincerely hope that our solutions to the “Printer driver is unavailable” issue were helpful. You should be able to continue printing on your Windows 10 device from this point forward. If you have any concerns or need assistance with the aforementioned responsibilities, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are pleased to address any questions you may have about technology.
References: Why Does My Printer Say Driver Is Unavailable
