How to Remove and Reinstall a Printer Driver

01Quick answer

To reinstall a printer driver cleanly, remove the printer from your computer, remove its driver package and any manufacturer software, restart, then add the printer again using a driver from Windows Update, Apple or the manufacturer’s official website. This clears damaged or mismatched drivers that cause messages like “driver is unavailable”, garbled printouts or jobs that never leave the queue. This guide is for Windows and Mac users who have already tried restarting and simple fixes.

02Before you start

• Try the simpler fixes first. A restart, clearing the print queue and checking the connection fix many problems without touching drivers.
• Have the correct driver ready. Our guide to finding the right printer driver shows where to get it safely. Download it before you remove anything, in case your internet connection depends on the same computer.
• Note any custom settings, such as default paper size or tray, so you can set them again afterwards.
• On work or school computers, ask your IT team first. They may install printers for you.

03Why this happens

Usually simple to fix:

• An operating system update left an old driver that no longer matches.
• Two drivers for the same printer conflict, often after installing software more than once.
• A driver installation was interrupted, for example by a restart or a lost connection.
• The printer was added with the wrong model’s driver.

Needs the manufacturer or a repair service:

• The manufacturer’s installer fails every time, even on a freshly restarted computer.
• The printer doesn’t work on any computer even with a clean driver, which suggests a printer fault.

04Remove and reinstall on Windows

1. Remove the printer. Open Settings, go to the Printers & scanners page (under Bluetooth & devices on Windows 11, or Devices on Windows 10), select your printer and choose Remove. Confirm.
2. Remove the driver package. On the same page, open Print server properties (it is listed under related settings). Go to the Drivers tab, select your printer’s driver, choose Remove, then pick the option to remove the driver and driver package. Confirm.

   If Windows says the driver is in use, restart the computer and try this step again before adding any printers.

3. Remove manufacturer software, if any. Open Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps & features (Windows 10). Uninstall software from your printer’s manufacturer only, if it’s listed.
4. Restart the computer.
5. Add the printer again. Return to Printers & scanners and add the printer, or run the manufacturer’s installer you downloaded. Connect the printer when asked.

   What you should see: the printer appears once in the list. Print a test page from its settings.

05Remove and reinstall on a Mac

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS) and choose Printers & Scanners.
2. Select the printer and click the remove button, then confirm.
3. If you installed the manufacturer’s software, use the uninstaller it provides if there is one. The manufacturer’s support pages explain how.
4. Restart the Mac.
5. Return to Printers & Scanners, add the printer again and let macOS choose the driver (often AirPrint). Print a test document.

If several printers are misbehaving on a Mac, macOS offers a reset of the printing system (Control-click in the printer list to see it). This removes every printer and its queue, so use it only as a last resort and be ready to add each printer again.

06Check the fresh install

Once the printer is back, take a minute to confirm everything is set up the way you need.

1. Print a test page and one real document from the app you use most.
2. Set your preferences again, such as paper size, default tray, colour or black and white, and double-sided printing.
3. Check there is only one entry for the printer. If Windows or macOS added a second copy automatically, remove the one that doesn’t print.
4. Set it as the default printer if it should be selected automatically.

07Common mistakes to avoid

• Removing the printer but not its driver package, then reinstalling on top of the same damaged driver.
• Removing drivers for other printers you still use. Select only the one for your problem printer.
• Downloading a replacement driver from an unofficial site.
• Skipping the restart between removing and reinstalling.
• Adding the printer twice, once with the built-in driver and once with the manufacturer’s, then printing to the wrong one.

08If it still doesn’t work

If a clean reinstall doesn’t help, check whether another computer can print to the same printer. If it can, the problem is likely on your computer, and Microsoft’s or Apple’s support resources can help with wider system issues. If no computer can print, the printer itself may need attention: see our printer offline guide or contact the manufacturer through its official support website.

Have your printer model, operating system version and the exact wording of any message ready.

09The short version

Remove the printer, remove its driver package and any maker software, restart, then add the printer again with a driver from an official source. A clean reinstall clears most driver errors.

10FAQ

What does “driver is unavailable” mean?

Windows shows this when it can’t use the driver installed for a printer, often because the driver is damaged, missing or meant for a different system version. A clean remove and reinstall usually fixes it.

Will removing the printer driver delete my documents?

No. It only removes the software that talks to the printer and any jobs waiting in its queue. Your files are not affected.

Do I need to remove the manufacturer’s software as well?

If the problem started after installing or updating that software, yes. Otherwise, removing the printer and its driver package is often enough. You can reinstall the software afterwards from the manufacturer’s official website.

How often should I reinstall a printer driver?

Only when there is a problem that simpler fixes don’t solve. A working driver doesn’t need to be reinstalled on a schedule.

Can I reinstall a printer driver without the original CD?

Yes. Windows Update, macOS and the manufacturer’s website provide drivers, and they are usually newer than the ones on the disc.