# 1-866-203-7571 How to Fix Driver Unavailable For HP Printer?

**1-866-203-7571**

HP printers are among the most widely used printers in homes and offices because of their reliability and advanced features. However, users often face a common issue — the **“Driver Unavailable”** error message. This issue prevents your HP printer from functioning properly, halting your ability to print, scan, or even detect the printer on your system.

If you are seeing the **“HP Printer Driver Unavailable”** error on your Windows or Mac computer, don’t worry. This detailed guide will help you **understand what the error means, why it happens, and how to fix it step-by-step**.

If you want quick assistance, call **HP Printer Support at 1-866-203-7571** and speak with a certified technician who can remotely fix the issue for you.

**call HP Support at 1-866-203-7571.****

## **1. What Does “Driver Unavailable” Mean on an HP Printer?**

When you see a “Driver Unavailable” message on your HP printer, it means that your computer is unable to communicate with the printer because the driver is missing, outdated, incompatible, or corrupted.

A **printer driver** is a small software program that acts as a bridge between your computer’s operating system and your printer. Without it, your computer cannot send print commands properly.

If the driver is not properly installed, or if it conflicts with recent Windows or macOS updates, your HP printer may fail to respond or appear as “Offline” or “Driver Unavailable.”

**call HP Support at 1-866-203-7571.**

## **2. Common Causes of HP Printer Driver Unavailable Error**

Before moving to the fixes, it’s essential to know what triggers this issue. Here are the most common reasons:

1. **Outdated or corrupted printer driver** – The most common cause.
2. **Incomplete printer driver installation** – If the installation was interrupted or failed.
3. **Operating system updates** – Sometimes Windows or macOS updates can cause incompatibility issues.
4. **Missing HP Smart app or HP full-feature software** – Your HP printer might need the HP Smart App to function correctly.
5. **Connection issues** – Problems with Wi-Fi, USB, or network connections can cause communication failures.
6. **Conflicting printer versions** – Having multiple instances of the same printer installed.
7. **Windows registry errors** – Corrupted registry files may interfere with driver operations.

**call HP Support at 1-866-203-7571.**

## **3. Preliminary Checks Before You Start Fixing**

Before diving into technical fixes, perform these basic checks:

1. **Restart your computer and printer.**

* Turn off both devices, wait 30 seconds, and restart them.

2. **Check your connections.**

* If using USB, ensure the cable is securely connected to both the printer and the computer.
* If using Wi-Fi, ensure your printer and computer are connected to the same network.

3. **Run Windows Update.**

* Go to *Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates*.
* Install any pending updates.

If these simple steps do not solve the problem, proceed to the advanced troubleshooting methods below.

**call HP Support at 1-866-203-7571.**

## **4. Method 1: Uninstall and Reinstall HP Printer Driver**

One of the most effective ways to fix the “Driver Unavailable” error is to uninstall the faulty driver and reinstall a fresh copy.

### **Step-by-Step Guide:**

1. **Open Control Panel** → Go to **Devices and Printers.**
2. Locate your **HP printer**.
3. Right-click it and select **Remove device.**
4. Confirm removal and restart your computer.
5. Now open **Device Manager** (search it in the Start menu).
6. Expand **Printers** or **Print queues**.
7. Right-click your HP printer and select **Uninstall device.**
8. Restart your computer again.

Now, **reinstall the latest driver** using one of the following methods:

* Visit the **official HP Support website (support.hp.com)**.
* Enter your printer model (e.g., HP ENVY 6000, HP OfficeJet 9025, etc.).
* Download and install the **Full Feature Software and Drivers** package.
* Follow on-screen instructions to complete installation.

After installation, restart your computer and print a test page.

## **5. Method 2: Use Windows Update to Automatically Install Drivers**

Windows can automatically find and install compatible printer drivers.

### **Steps:**

1. Press **Windows + I** to open Settings.
2. Go to **Devices → Printers & Scanners**.
3. Click **Add a printer or scanner**.
4. Wait for Windows to detect your HP printer.
5. Select your printer and click **Add device**.
6. If Windows installs a generic driver, test print a document.

If the generic driver works, your problem is fixed. If not, move to the next method.

## **6. Method 3: Install HP Smart App**

The HP Smart App is a universal application developed by HP to handle printing, scanning, and driver management. It automatically detects your printer and installs the correct software.

### **Steps to Install HP Smart App:**

1. Visit the **Microsoft Store** or **HP’s official website**.
2. Search for **HP Smart App**.
3. Download and install the app.
4. Open HP Smart and sign in or create an HP account.
5. Click **Add Printer** and follow on-screen steps.

HP Smart automatically installs the correct driver and updates firmware if necessary.

## **7. Method 4: Update HP Printer Driver via Device Manager**

If your printer is already listed in Device Manager, you can manually update its driver.

### **Steps:**

1. Press **Windows + X** → Select **Device Manager**.
2. Expand **Printers** or **Print queues**.
3. Right-click your HP printer → Select **Update driver**.
4. Choose **Search automatically for drivers**.

Windows will search for the best driver and install it.
If no update is found, download the driver manually from **support.hp.com** and install it.

## **8. Method 5: Use HP Print and Scan Doctor**

HP provides a free diagnostic tool called **HP Print and Scan Doctor** that automatically detects and fixes printer issues.

### **Steps:**

1. Download **HP Print and Scan Doctor** from HP’s official support page.
2. Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen prompts.
3. Select your printer from the list.
4. Click **Next** and allow the tool to diagnose your printer.
5. Follow the recommendations provided by the tool.

This tool can automatically fix missing or corrupted driver issues, network problems, and more.

## **9. Method 6: Manually Add Printer via Control Panel**

If the driver is missing, you can manually install it using the Control Panel.

### **Steps:**

1. Open **Control Panel → Devices and Printers**.
2. Click **Add a printer**.
3. Choose **The printer that I want isn’t listed**.
4. Select **Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings**.
5. Choose your printer port and click **Next**.
6. Select **HP** from the manufacturer list.
7. Pick your printer model and click **Next**.

Once installed, test print a page to verify the setup.

## **10. Method 7: Reinstall the HP Printer Using HP Easy Start**

HP Easy Start is an installation utility that simplifies printer setup.

### **Steps:**

1. Go to **support.hp.com**.
2. Enter your printer model.
3. Download **HP Easy Start**.
4. Run the installer and follow on-screen steps.
5. When prompted, select **Full Driver Installation**.
6. Once installed, restart your computer.

HP Easy Start ensures that all necessary drivers, firmware, and utilities are correctly installed.

## **11. Method 8: Fix Windows Update-Related Driver Errors**

Sometimes, after a Windows update, the HP driver becomes incompatible.

### **Steps to Fix:**

1. Go to **Settings → Windows Update → View Update History**.
2. Identify if a recent update caused the issue.
3. Click **Uninstall Updates**.
4. Restart your computer and check if the printer works.
5. Reinstall the HP driver manually from HP’s support page.

You can also **pause future updates temporarily** until HP releases a compatible driver version.

## **12. Method 9: Run the Printer Troubleshooter**

Windows comes with a built-in troubleshooting tool.

### **Steps:**

1. Press **Windows + I** → Go to **System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters**.
2. Locate **Printer**, then click **Run**.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

The troubleshooter can automatically fix some driver-related or connection-related issues.

## **13. Method 10: Check for Firmware Updates**

Outdated firmware can sometimes cause driver conflicts.

### **Steps:**

1. Open **HP Smart App**.
2. Select your printer → Click **Printer Settings**.
3. Choose **Advanced Settings → Tools → Firmware Update**.
4. Follow prompts to install available firmware updates.

After updating firmware, restart both your printer and computer.

## **14. Method 11: Fix Driver Unavailable on Mac**

If you’re using a Mac and getting the “Driver Unavailable” error:

1. Click **Apple Menu → System Settings → Printers & Scanners**.
2. Select your HP printer → Click the **Minus (-)** button to remove it.
3. Click **Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax**.
4. Select your HP printer from the list.
5. Under “Use,” choose **AirPrint** or **HP driver**.
6. Click **Add**.

Alternatively, visit **HP.com** to download **HP Easy Start for Mac** and reinstall the correct drivers.

## **15. Method 12: Reinstall HP Software Suite**

If none of the above works, reinstalling the complete HP software package is often the final solution.

### **Steps:**

1. Open **Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program.**
2. Find **HP printer software** and uninstall all HP-related programs.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Visit **support.hp.com → Software and Drivers → Printer.**
5. Download the full software package for your specific printer model.
6. Install it and follow the prompts.

After installation, print a test page to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

## **16. Method 13: Check HP Print Service Plug-in (For Android Devices)**

If you are printing from a mobile device and encountering a driver issue, check the HP Print Service Plugin.

### **Steps:**

1. Open **Google Play Store**.
2. Search for **HP Print Service Plugin**.
3. Update it to the latest version.
4. Restart your mobile device.
5. Try printing again using the **HP Smart App**.

## **17. Preventive Measures to Avoid “Driver Unavailable” Error**

To ensure you don’t encounter this problem again, follow these preventive tips:

1. **Keep drivers updated** regularly.
2. **Avoid disconnecting your printer** during driver installation.
3. **Always download drivers** from HP’s official website.
4. **Regularly run HP Print and Scan Doctor** for maintenance.
5. **Keep firmware and OS updated.**
6. **Use a stable network connection.**
7. **Remove duplicate printer entries** from “Devices and Printers.”

By adopting these measures, you can ensure seamless printing performance.

## **18. When to Contact HP Printer Support?**

If you’ve tried all the above solutions and your printer still shows “Driver Unavailable,” the issue might be deeper — possibly involving system conflicts, registry corruption, or hardware communication failure.

In such cases, **you should contact HP Printer Technical Support** for expert help. Certified technicians can remotely diagnose the issue, repair driver errors, and ensure your printer works perfectly again.

📞 **Call HP Printer Support: 1-866-203-7571**
Available 24/7 for driver installation, setup assistance, and troubleshooting help.

## **19. FAQs about HP Printer Driver Unavailable Error**

### **Q1. Why does my HP printer show “Driver Unavailable” after Windows update?**

Because the update may have replaced or deleted compatible drivers. Reinstalling or updating the driver usually resolves the issue.

### **Q2. Can I use my HP printer without drivers?**

No. Printer drivers are essential for communication between your system and the printer. You can use HP Smart App as an alternative driver interface.

### **Q3. How can I check my printer driver version?**

Go to **Device Manager → Printers → (your printer) → Properties → Driver Tab** to view details.

### **Q4. What if reinstalling the driver doesn’t work?**

Use **HP Print and Scan Doctor** or contact HP Support at **1-866-203-7571** for remote assistance.

### **Q5. Is HP Smart App free?**

Yes, HP Smart is a free application provided by HP for printer management, scanning, and troubleshooting.

## **20. Conclusion**

The **“Driver Unavailable”** error is a frustrating issue that can prevent your HP printer from functioning, but it’s almost always fixable. In most cases, reinstalling the correct driver, updating Windows, or using tools like **HP Smart App** and **HP Print and Scan Doctor** resolves the problem quickly.

If you’re still facing issues or want instant help, don’t hesitate to reach out to **HP Printer Support at 1-866-203-7571**. Certified experts can remotely troubleshoot your printer, reinstall necessary drivers, and ensure your HP printer works flawlessly.

📞 **For expert assistance anytime, call HP Support at 1-866-203-7571.**