Begin with this short answer: if your Printer driver doesn’t work in Windows 10, it’s usually due to a driver mismatch, a stopped Print Spooler service, corrupted files, connectivity problems, or Windows replacing a driver during updates. This article explains the common causes and gives step‑by‑step fixes so you can restore printing quickly.
You’ll learn 11 specific reasons why drivers fail and practical, beginner-friendly repairs (including commands and menu paths) to resolve each one.
Key Takeaway
Most printer driver problems in Windows 10 are fixed by reinstalling the correct manufacturer driver and restarting the Print Spooler; if issues persist, remove conflicting driver packages with pnputil or the Print Server Properties > Drivers tool, then re-add the printer.
Quick Fix Guide
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| 1. Incompatible or wrong driver version | Download and install the correct driver for your model and Windows 10 (64‑bit/32‑bit) from the manufacturer. |
| 2. Corrupted driver files | Uninstall the printer and driver package, delete driver files, then reinstall fresh. |
| 3. Print Spooler service stopped or stuck | Restart the Print Spooler service and clear the spooler folder. |
| 4. Windows Update replaced driver with a faulty one | Roll back the driver or hide the problematic Windows Update and install the manufacturer driver. |
| 5. USB or cable/port issues | Try a different USB cable and port; test the cable on another device. |
| 6. Network printer or IP address conflict | Ping the printer IP, ensure correct port in Devices and Printers, or re-add using TCP/IP. |
| 7. Driver signature enforcement blocks driver | Disable driver signature enforcement temporarily via Advanced Startup to install unsigned drivers. |
| 8. Multiple or conflicting drivers installed | Remove extra driver packages via Print Server Properties or pnputil. |
| 9. 32‑bit vs 64‑bit driver mismatch | Use the correct architecture driver for your Windows 10 installation. |
| 10. Antivirus or firewall blocking driver communication | Temporarily disable firewall/AV or add rules to allow print services. |
| 11. User profile or permission issues | Try installing from an admin account or use Run as administrator for installation. |
Detailed Fixes for “Printer driver doesn’t work in Windows 10”
1. Incompatible or wrong driver version
Why it causes the problem
- Printer drivers are specific to model and OS architecture. A driver for another model or the wrong architecture (32‑bit vs 64‑bit) can fail to load or misbehave.
Step-by-step solution
- Check your Windows architecture: open Settings > System > About and note System type (e.g., Windows 10 Pro 64‑bit).
- Identify your printer model (look on the device or the box).
- Go to the manufacturer’s support site (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, etc.) and find the driver for your exact model and Windows 10 architecture.
- Download and run the driver installer as an administrator: right‑click the installer and choose Run as administrator.
- Restart Windows after installation.
Notes
- Prefer “Full Feature” drivers if available; universal drivers may work if specific ones are not provided.
2. Corrupted driver files
Why it causes the problem
- Partial installs or disk errors can corrupt driver files so Windows cannot communicate correctly with the printer.
Step-by-step solution
- Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer and choose Remove device.
- Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, click any printer, then click Print server properties (top toolbar). Go to the Drivers tab and remove the printer driver package (select driver, Remove > Remove driver and driver package).
- If Print Server Properties is not available (Home edition), open an elevated command prompt: press Start, type cmd, right‑click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Use:
- pnputil /enum-drivers (find the OEM driver name)
- pnputil /delete-driver oem#.inf /uninstall /force
- Reboot, then reinstall the latest driver from the manufacturer.
Tips
- Keep a backup of the downloaded driver installer on your PC or a USB drive.
3. Print Spooler service stopped or stuck
Why it causes the problem
- The Print Spooler (service that queues print jobs) must be running. If it stops or becomes stuck, print jobs fail.
Step-by-step solution
- Open Services: press Windows key + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
- Find Print Spooler, right‑click and choose Restart.
- If it fails to restart, clear the spooler files:
- Stop the service: open an elevated Command Prompt and run net stop spooler.
- Delete queued jobs: del /Q %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS* (you may need admin privileges).
- Start the service: net start spooler.
- Try printing again.
Notes
- If the spooler keeps crashing, check Event Viewer (Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System) for error entries tied to Spooler and note driver references.
4. Windows Update replaced driver with a faulty one
Why it causes the problem
- Windows Update can push a generic or newer driver that is unstable for your printer.
Step-by-step solution
- Roll back the driver: open Device Manager (right‑click Start > Device Manager), expand Printers or Print queues, right‑click your printer, choose Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver (if available).
- Prevent Windows from auto‑updating the driver:
- Download and run the Microsoft wushowhide troubleshooter (wushowhide.diagcab) to hide the problematic driver update.
- Alternatively, in Settings > System > About, click Advanced system settings > Hardware > Device Installation Settings and choose No (your device might not work as expected) — this prevents automatic driver updates.
- Reinstall the manufacturer driver as described in Reason 1.
Tips
- Use System Restore to revert to a known good system point if the issue began after an update.
5. USB or cable/port issues
Why it causes the problem
- A faulty USB cable or port can lead to intermittent connections that look like driver failures.
Step-by-step solution
- Unplug the USB cable from the printer and PC. Try a different USB cable.
- Plug into a different USB port (preferably a USB 2.0 port for older printers).
- Open Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers, right‑click each USB Root Hub and choose Uninstall device, then reboot — Windows will reinstall them.
- If the printer appears under Other devices or with a yellow error, uninstall the device and reinstall the correct driver.
Notes
- If using a USB hub or docking station, connect the printer directly to the PC to rule out hub issues.
6. Network printer or IP address conflict
Why it causes the problem
- Network printers depend on correct IP/port settings; DHCP changes or duplicate IPs break connectivity.
Step-by-step solution
- Find the printer’s IP via its control panel or print a network configuration page.
- Ping the printer: open Command Prompt and run ping
(e.g., ping 192.168.1.100). - If ping fails, check network cables/Wi‑Fi and ensure the printer is on the same subnet as your PC.
- Re-add the printer using TCP/IP: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer or scanner > The printer I want isn’t listed > Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.
- Ensure the port is set correctly in Devices and Printers > right‑click printer > Printer properties > Ports.
Tips
- Assign a static IP to the printer from the printer’s network settings or reserve its IP in your router (DHCP reservation).
7. Driver signature enforcement blocks driver
Why it causes the problem
- Windows enforces signed drivers; unsigned or older drivers may be blocked during installation.
Step-by-step solution
- To install an unsigned driver temporarily:
- Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now.
- After reboot: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Press 7 or F7 to Disable driver signature enforcement.
- Install the driver as an administrator.
- Reboot normally.
Warning
- Disabling driver signature enforcement reduces security; use only for trusted drivers.
8. Multiple or conflicting drivers installed
Why it causes the problem
- Multiple drivers for different models or old leftovers can conflict and prevent the correct driver from loading.
Step-by-step solution
- Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, click any printer, then Print server properties > Drivers.
- Remove duplicate or incorrect drivers by selecting them and clicking Remove > Remove driver and driver package.
- Alternatively, use elevated Command Prompt: pnputil /enum-drivers and pnputil /delete-driver oem#.inf /uninstall /force for each conflicting package.
- Reinstall only the correct driver.
Notes
- On Windows 10 Home, Print Server Properties may not show; use pnputil.
9. 32‑bit vs 64‑bit driver mismatch
Why it causes the problem
- A driver compiled for 32‑bit Windows won’t work on 64‑bit Windows and vice versa.
Step-by-step solution
- Check Settings > System > About > System type.
- Download the correct architecture driver from the manufacturer website.
- Remove existing incorrect driver (see Reason 2) and reinstall the correct package.
Tip
- Most modern systems are 64‑bit; verify before installing.
10. Antivirus or firewall blocking driver communication
Why it causes the problem
- Security software can block printer services or driver installers.
Step-by-step solution
- Temporarily disable the antivirus and firewall (Windows Defender Firewall: Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall > Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off).
- Try installing the driver or printing.
- If successful, add exceptions in the antivirus/firewall for printing processes (spoolsv.exe, tcp/udp ports used by printer).
- Re-enable security software after changes.
Notes
- Use caution when disabling security software; reconnect to the internet as needed.
11. User profile or permission issues
Why it causes the problem
- Non-admin accounts may lack permissions to install drivers or configure ports.
Step-by-step solution
- Use an administrator account to install the driver: right‑click installer > Run as administrator.
- If the problem persists, create a new local admin account to test:
- Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Add someone else to this PC > I don’t have this person’s sign‑in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account, then change account type to Administrator.
- Install the driver from the new admin account. If it works, your original profile may be corrupted — consider migrating to a new profile.
Tips
- Always run driver installers as admin to avoid permission issues.
When to contact support and additional resources
When to contact manufacturer support
- If the printer hardware itself shows errors (paper jams, head faults) or the manufacturer’s diagnostics report firmware issues, contact the manufacturer for support or firmware updates.
Useful tools and resources
- Microsoft wushowhide.diagcab — hide a problematic driver update.
- Manufacturer diagnostic utilities (HP Print and Scan Doctor, Epson Print and Scan).
- Microsoft Docs on Print Management and pnputil (search Microsoft docs).
Backup advice
- Keep a copy of working driver installers and note your printer’s IP and configuration for quick recovery.
FAQ
How can I prevent driver problems in the future?
Keep Windows 10 and printer firmware up to date, download drivers only from the manufacturer, and create a restore point before applying major updates.
Can I use a generic or built‑in Windows driver?
Yes — for basic printing, Microsoft’s Universal Print Driver or built‑in drivers can work; however, features like scanning or advanced color controls may need manufacturer drivers.
How do I roll back a driver if a Windows Update broke printing?
Open Device Manager, right‑click the printer, choose Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver; if not available, use System Restore to revert to a previous point.
Is it safe to delete driver packages with pnputil?
Yes if you know the exact OEM driver to remove; deleting the wrong driver can disable hardware. Use pnputil /enum-drivers to identify the correct package first.
What if my printer works on one PC but not another?
Compare drivers and Windows architecture, test the same cable and network settings, and ensure the problematic PC has the correct driver and services running (see Print Spooler).
Conclusion
Most printer driver failures on Windows 10 are resolved by installing the correct manufacturer driver, restarting the Print Spooler, and removing conflicting driver packages. Following the steps above will fix common root causes of Printer driver doesn’t work in Windows 10 and help you restore printing reliably.
