Fix Windows 11 Printer Driver Unavailable Error

After upgrading to Windows 11, many users are running into a frustrating issue where printer drivers suddenly show as “Unavailable” and file sharing stops working across their home or office network. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — multiple users have reported the same symptoms affecting different printer brands after the latest Windows updates.

What Causes “Driver Unavailable” in Windows 11?

The “Driver is unavailable” error appears when Windows can’t find or use the correct driver for your printer. After major OS upgrades, several things can trigger it:

The printer’s existing driver isn’t compatible with the new Windows build.
Windows Update replaced or removed a printer driver.
Network or shared printer settings were reset after the upgrade.
The Print Spooler service failed to restart correctly.
File and printer sharing features were disabled during update.

If file sharing also stopped working at the same time, it’s likely the update changed network discovery or SMB protocol settings, breaking both printer and file-share communication.

Step-by-Step Fix: Windows 11 Printer Driver Unavailable Error

Step 1: Verify Network and Sharing Settings

Windows 11 sometimes resets network profiles to “Public” after updates — this disables file and printer sharing.

Open Settings → Network & Internet → Properties.
Make sure your network is set to Private (not Public).
Scroll down and click Advanced network settings → Advanced sharing settings.
Under Private Network, turn ON:
- Network discovery
- File and printer sharing
Do the same under All Networks if you share files or printers.
Restart your PC.

Tip: If you use a firewall or antivirus, ensure it allows “File and Printer Sharing” and “Network Discovery”.

Step 2: Reinstall the Printer and Update Drivers

If your printer shows Driver unavailable, reinstall it with the correct Windows 11 driver.

Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
Select your printer → Remove device.
Press Windows + X → Device Manager → Print queues (or “Printers”).
Right-click the printer and select Uninstall device.
Download the latest Windows 11 driver directly from your printer manufacturer’s website (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, etc.).
Run the installer as Administrator and follow on-screen steps.
Restart your computer.
Add your printer again through Printers & scanners → Add device.

Advanced users can install manually using Have Disk in the Add Printer wizard if the automatic installer fails.

Step 3: Restart and Clear the Print Spooler

The Print Spooler manages all print jobs. If it’s stuck, your printer can show errors.

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
Find Print Spooler, right-click → Restart.
If it’s stopped, choose Start and set Startup type → Automatic.
To clear any stuck jobs:
- Press Windows + R, type:

C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

Delete all files in this folder.
Restart the Print Spooler again.

Now try printing a test page.

Step 4: Check Printer Sharing Settings

If your printer is shared on the network, verify its sharing configuration.

On the main PC (the host printer):
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select your printer → Printer properties → Sharing tab.
- Enable Share this printer and give it a simple name (e.g., HPDeskJet).
On the other computers:
- Go to Settings → Printers & scanners → Add device → Add manually.
- Select “Add a shared printer by name” and enter:

\\HostComputerName\PrinterShareName

Follow the prompts to install the shared printer.

If the client PC still shows driver unavailable, repeat Step 2 on that PC to install the same driver locally.

Step 5: Re-enable File Sharing Protocols (SMB)

If your file shares are also failing, the SMB service may have been disabled after the update.

Press Windows + R, type optionalfeatures, and press Enter.
Scroll down and check:
- SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support (enable only if needed).
- SMB Direct.
Click OK and restart your PC.

If you rely on older NAS devices or legacy file sharing, SMB 1.0 might be required — just remember it’s less secure and should only be enabled temporarily.

Step 6: Check for Optional Updates

Microsoft sometimes releases fixes for printer compatibility issues as Optional Updates.

Open Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates.
Look for Driver updates or printer-related updates.
Install any available updates and restart your PC.

Step 7: Roll Back or Uninstall the Problematic Update

If everything worked before the latest Windows patch, uninstalling the most recent update might help.

Open Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates.
Sort by Installed On date.
Remove the update that matches when the problem started.
Restart and test your printers and shared folders.

You can also pause further updates temporarily under Windows Update → Pause for 1 week until Microsoft rolls out a fix.

Additional Fixes to Try

Run the built-in troubleshooter:
- Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Printer → Run.
Use the manufacturer’s printer repair utility (HP Print & Scan Doctor, Canon Support Tool, etc.).
Reset the network stack if file sharing still fails:
- Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run:

netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset
ipconfig /flushdns

Restart your PC.

Why It Happens After Updates

Windows 11 updates occasionally change device policies or security defaults that affect:

Printer drivers (forcing newer driver models only).
Network discovery/firewall profiles (set to Public).
SMB file sharing (disabled by default).

When all these collide, both your file share and printers stop responding — even across different printer brands.

Read More:

The “Driver unavailable” and file-sharing not working issues after Windows 11 updates are usually caused by driver mismatches and network-sharing resets. By checking your network settings, reinstalling updated drivers, and ensuring SMB and Print Spooler services are active, you can fully restore printing and sharing functionality.

If the problem persists after following these steps, hold off on further Windows updates until Microsoft releases a patch — or check your printer manufacturer’s support page for a newer driver.

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