A stuck or failed update usually means Windows can’t replace or install the printer’s driver, and most of the time the cause is one of a few common issues (service, connection, permissions, driver conflicts, or security). If your Printer driver update doesn’t work in Windows 10, this article explains the likely causes and gives step‑by‑step fixes so you can get printing again.
You’ll learn the most common reasons an update fails, how to diagnose each one, and the exact Windows menus, commands, and safe workarounds to resolve them.
Key Takeaway
Restart the Print Spooler service, remove any conflicting driver packages from the driver store (using pnputil or Print Management), and install the correct manufacturer driver as an administrator — that sequence fixes most cases where a Printer driver update doesn’t work in Windows 10.
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Print Spooler service stopped or stuck | Restart the Print Spooler service and clear the print queue. |
| Printer is offline / connection problem | Check cables/IP, power cycle the printer and PC, and reconnect using Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. |
| Wrong driver version or architecture (32-bit vs 64-bit) | Download the correct 64‑bit or 32‑bit driver from the manufacturer and install it as admin. |
| Corrupt driver or driver store conflict | Remove the existing driver package with pnputil or Print Management and reinstall. |
| Driver signature enforcement blocks unsigned drivers | Boot to Advanced Startup and temporarily disable driver signature enforcement to install unsigned drivers. |
| Windows Update overwrote the driver | Roll back the driver in Device Manager or install the manufacturer driver manually. |
| Pending reboot or Windows updates | Reboot the PC and finish Windows Updates, then retry the driver update. |
| Insufficient permissions or Group Policy restriction | Run the installer as Administrator or adjust Point and Print Group Policy/registry settings. |
| Antivirus/security software blocking installer | Temporarily disable antivirus or firewall during installation, then re-enable. |
| Manufacturer requires special utility or firmware update | Install the OEM installer/utility and update the printer firmware before updating drivers. |
Detailed Fixes for “Printer driver update doesn’t work in Windows 10”
Below are ten common causes and step‑by‑step solutions. Follow them in the order that matches your symptoms (service errors first, then driver store issues, then permissions/security).
1) Print Spooler service stopped or stuck
Why it causes the problem
- The Print Spooler manages print jobs and driver installation actions. If it’s stopped or locked up, driver updates can fail or leave jobs in queue.
Step-by-step solution
- Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter to open Services.
- Find Print Spooler, right‑click it and choose Restart. If it’s stopped, choose Start.
- If restarting doesn’t help, clear the spooler queue:
- Open an elevated Command Prompt (right‑click Start → Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)).
- Run:
- net stop spooler
- del /Q /F %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS* (press Enter; confirm if prompted)
- net start spooler
- Try the driver update again (via the installer or Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners).
Note: If the spooler repeatedly stops, check Event Viewer (Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System) for spooler errors; look for corrupted drivers.
2) Printer is offline or connection problem (USB / network)
Why it causes the problem
- If Windows can’t communicate with the printer, the installer can’t apply driver files to the device, so the update fails.
Step-by-step solution
- For USB printers: unplug the USB cable from the PC and printer, power off printer, wait 30 seconds, then power on and reconnect to a different USB port; try a different cable.
- For network printers:
- Confirm the printer has an IP address (check its display panel or print a Network Configuration page).
- On PC, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, click Open queue, and confirm status; if offline, choose Manage > Printer properties to check the port.
- Use ping
from Command Prompt to verify connectivity.
- If IP changed, remove and re-add the printer:
- Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer or scanner and select or add by The printer that I want isn’t listed > Add a printer using TCP/IP address.
- Try the driver install after connection is stable.
Tip: For wireless printers, temporarily connect via USB for the driver install if supported.
3) Wrong or incompatible driver (architecture or driver model mismatch)
Why it causes the problem
- Installing a 32‑bit driver on 64‑bit Windows, or a driver built for the wrong driver model (V3 vs V4), can fail or produce errors.
Step-by-step solution
- Check Windows architecture: Settings > System > About, look at System type (e.g., 64‑bit).
- Go to the printer manufacturer’s support page and download the driver matching your Windows 10 version and architecture.
- Right‑click the installer and choose Run as administrator.
- If only older drivers are available, try using Compatibility mode:
- Right‑click installer → Properties > Compatibility tab → check Run this program in compatibility mode for: and choose Windows 8 or Windows 7, then Run as administrator.
- If the device supports both V3 and V4 drivers, prefer the manufacturer’s recommended driver for your OS.
Note: Avoid generic drivers from Windows Update if printing advanced features are needed.
4) Corrupt driver or driver store conflicts
Why it causes the problem
- Old or corrupted driver packages in the Windows driver store can conflict with new installers and prevent replacement.
Step-by-step solution
- Open elevated Command Prompt and list driver packages:
- pnputil -e
- Identify the problematic driver(s) (look for manufacturer or printer model in the list).
- Remove the package(s) by GUID or oem name:
- pnputil -d oemXX.inf (replace oemXX with the exact name shown).
- If deletion fails because the driver is in use, stop the spooler first:
- net stop spooler
- pnputil -d oemXX.inf
- net start spooler
- Alternatively (Pro/Enterprise), run printmanagement.msc:
- Expand Print Servers > [Your PC] > Drivers, right‑click the driver and choose Remove Driver Package.
- Reboot and install the new driver package as administrator.
Warning: Be sure you’re removing the correct driver package; removing shared drivers can affect other printers.
5) Driver signature enforcement blocks unsigned drivers
Why it causes the problem
- Windows blocks unsigned drivers for security; unsigned vendor drivers won’t install unless enforcement is temporarily disabled.
Step-by-step solution
- If the vendor driver is unsigned, boot into Advanced Startup:
- Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now.
- On the blue options screen: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- After restart, press 7 or F7 to Disable driver signature enforcement.
- Windows will boot with enforcement disabled temporarily — install the driver now (run installer as admin).
- Reboot again to re-enable enforcement.
Caution: Only use this for trusted drivers from the manufacturer; unsigned drivers can pose a security risk.
6) Windows Update overwrote or blocked the driver
Why it causes the problem
- Windows Update sometimes installs a generic or older driver that conflicts with the vendor’s package, or it may prevent rollback.
Step-by-step solution
- Try a driver rollback:
- Open Device Manager (right‑click Start → Device Manager) and find the printer under Print queues or Printers.
- Right‑click the device → Properties > Driver tab → click Roll Back Driver (if available).
- If roll back isn’t available, block the driver via Device Installation Settings:
- Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Hardware tab > Device Installation Settings and choose No (your device might not work as expected) to prevent Windows from auto‑installing drivers.
- Reinstall the manufacturer driver manually (run as admin).
- To stop Windows Update from reinstalling a driver, use the “Show or hide updates” troubleshooter package from Microsoft to hide the problematic driver update.
Tip: On Windows 10 Pro, you can use Group Policy to prevent driver updates via Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Do not include drivers with Windows Updates.
7) Pending reboot or Windows updates block changes
Why it causes the problem
- A pending restart or incomplete Windows update can lock files and block driver installations.
Step-by-step solution
- Reboot your PC first.
- Install any outstanding Windows updates:
- Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates; install and reboot if required.
- After reboot, try the driver update again.
Note: If you recently removed a driver, rebooting ensures the removal is finalized before reinstalling.
8) Insufficient permissions or Group Policy restrictions (Point and Print)
Why it causes the problem
- Installing drivers typically requires administrative rights; also, system policies (Point and Print restrictions) may block non‑admin installs.
Step-by-step solution
- Run the driver installer as administrator: right‑click the installer → Run as administrator.
- If Point and Print restrictions are blocking installs (common in enterprise), change policy:
- Open gpedit.msc (Windows 10 Pro) → Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Printers → open Point and Print Restrictions and set to Disabled or configure the allowed servers and user permissions.
- For Home edition, edit registry (backup first):
- Open regedit, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\PointAndPrint and set NoWarningNoElevationOnInstall = 1 and Restricted = 0 (create DWORDs if missing). Reboot.
- After policy change, attempt install again.
Warning: Changing Point and Print policies affects printer installation security; only relax temporarily if you trust the driver source.
9) Antivirus or security software is blocking the installer
Why it causes the problem
- Security software can flag driver installers or stop driver services, preventing a successful update.
Step-by-step solution
- Temporarily disable real‑time protection or third‑party antivirus:
- For Windows Defender: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings and toggle Real‑time protection off.
- For third‑party AV, use its system tray icon to disable shields (consult vendor).
- Install the printer driver as administrator.
- Re-enable antivirus immediately after installation and run a quick scan.
Tip: If the AV repeatedly blocks a trusted installer, whitelist the installer file or vendor certificate in the security software settings.
10) Manufacturer requires special utility or firmware update
Why it causes the problem
- Many printers depend on vendor utilities to configure features or update firmware; driver-only installs sometimes fail until firmware is updated.
Step-by-step solution
- Check the manufacturer’s support page for firmware updates and installation utilities for your exact model.
- Download and run the firmware updater (follow vendor instructions exactly; many require USB connection or direct IP).
- Install the OEM printer utility first, then use it to download and install the correct driver.
- If the manufacturer provides a “full software and drivers” package, prefer that over a standalone driver INF.
Note: Firmware updates can be risky; ensure stable power and follow vendor instructions.
Maintenance and Recovery Tools (additional necessary section)
Why this helps
- A few built‑in and third‑party tools make diagnosing and preventing future driver update failures easier.
Tools and steps
- Windows Printer Troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Printer — run it to auto‑fix common issues.
- Print Management (printmanagement.msc): Use to view all drivers and remove problematic packages (Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise).
- pnputil command: manage driver store from an elevated Command Prompt (pnputil -e, pnputil -d oemXX.inf).
- System File Checker and DISM: repair corrupted Windows components that might interfere with installations:
- Open Admin Command Prompt and run:
- sfc /scannow
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Open Admin Command Prompt and run:
- Keep a copy of working driver installers in a folder so you can quickly reinstall if Windows Update changes drivers.
When to escalate
- If none of the above works, collect error messages (Event Viewer, installer logs) and contact the printer vendor’s support; they often have model‑specific fixes.
FAQ
Q: Can I roll back a driver if a new update broke printing?
Yes — open Device Manager, find the printer, Properties > Driver tab and choose Roll Back Driver if available; alternatively reinstall the old driver from the manufacturer.
Q: How do I force Windows to use a specific driver version?
Remove conflicting driver packages (use pnputil -e / pnputil -d), reboot, then install the desired driver package using Run as administrator or use printui.dll commands like:
- rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /m “Driver Model Name” /h “x64” /v “Type 3” /f “C:\path\driver.inf”
Q: Is Print Management available on Windows 10 Home?
No — printmanagement.msc is only in Pro/Enterprise; Home users can use pnputil, Device Manager, and the printer Settings pages or install the RSAT/third‑party tools.
Q: What logs or error messages help diagnose driver install failures?
Check Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System and Applications, and review installer logs (some vendor installers save logs to %TEMP%). Also check C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.dev.log for detailed driver install errors.
Q: How can I prevent Windows Update from replacing a working printer driver?
On Pro/Enterprise, use Group Policy Do not include drivers with Windows Updates or use the Microsoft “Show or hide updates” troubleshooter to hide specific driver updates; you can also set Device Installation Settings to prevent automatic driver updates.
Conclusion
Most failures where a Printer driver update doesn’t work in Windows 10 come down to service issues, connection problems, driver store conflicts, or security/permission blocks. Restart the Print Spooler, clear conflicting driver packages, install the correct manufacturer driver as an administrator, and use the vendor utilities or firmware updates when required to resolve the issue.
