Printers cannot run without printer drivers. The printers depend on the drivers to carry out all the printing jobs.
But sometimes, you may encounter Driver unavailable error messages on Epson printers. An outdated driver or OS can be the leading cause. So, what to do?
Here is a detailed guide to help you know what to do when the Epson printer driver is unavailable. Follow this article if you are having the same issue.
Also read:
What To Do When Epson Printer Driver Is Unavailable?
When the Epson printer driver is unavailable, follow the methods discussed below to fix it easily.
1) Restart The Epson Printer And The PC
Sometimes a fresh restart of the printer and the PC can fix the problem when Epson printer drivers are unavailable.
This clears the cache from both PC and printer and fixes the problem.
So, turn off the printer and the PC. Disconnect all the cables and peripherals attached to both the devices.
Wait for a few minutes, then connect everything and turn on the devices.
Check if this has solved the issue, else go to the next solution.
2) Run Windows Printer Troubleshooter
Windows have in-built troubleshooters to fix most of the device-related problems. So if you can’t find the Epson drivers are unavailable, run the Windows in-built printer troubleshooter.
To run the troubleshooter, follow the steps given below:
- Enter Troubleshoot in the Windows search box and click on Troubleshoot Settings.
- Select Additional troubleshooters from the options.
- Click on the Printer option and Run the Troubleshooter.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
3) Update Or Reinstall The Epson Printer Drivers
If the Epson printer drivers have become outdated, then this can also be why you see the printer drivers are unavailable.
The manufacturer release regular updates to ensure a smoother experience.
So, update the Epson printer driver and see if this fixes the problem. To do that, follow the given steps:
- Right-click on the Windows Start button and select Device Manager from the options.
- Double click on the Print Queues option and select your Epson printer.
- Right-click on the Epson printer and select the Update Driver option.
- From the next window, select Search automatically for the drivers option.
Complete the updating process following the on-screen prompts.
If the Printer drivers are still unavailable, then re-install the driver following the instructions given below:
- From Device Manager, expand the Print Queues section.
- Select the problematic Epson printer and right-click on it. Click on Uninstall device option.
- Follow the instructions provided on the screen to finish the uninstallation process.
- Restart your PC and Windows will install the latest available printer drivers automatically.
- You can also visit the Epson support webpage and select your country.
- Next, enter your printer’s model number and choose your Windows OS.
- Go to the downloads section and find your printer driver name.
- Click on the Download Epson Printer driver option to install it.
- Follow the on-screen guidelines to complete the process.
4) Update Windows
Sometimes the Epson printer becomes incompatible with your Windows version and shows errors like printer drivers are unavailable or missing. So, up[date the operating system to the latest version, which can fix the problem. To do that, follow the steps given below:
- Open Windows Settings by pressing Win + I hotkeys on the keyboard.
- Choose Update & Security option. Click on Windows Update from the left side pane.
- Next, select the Check for updates option, and Windows will start checking for any available updates. If available, install it by clicking on the Next button.
Wait till Windows finishes the updating process. The Epson printer driver should be available now, and the printer should work without any issues after this.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
- How do I fix my Epson printer driver that is unavailable?
When your Epson printer driver is unavailable, restart the printer and the PC, update & reinstall the printer drivers, run the printer troubleshooter, and update your OS.
- What does driver unavailable mean?
When you get a Driver unavailable message, your Operating system cannot recognize your printer. So, you cannot carry out your printing jobs.
- What to fix if the printer driver is an unavailable error on Windows 10?
To fix the printer driver is unavailable error on Windows 10, check the power cables connecting the printer and the PC, restart the PC and the printer, run the printer troubleshooter and update or reinstall the printer drivers.
Final Words
If the above article was helpful to you, then send us feedback in the comments section below. You can also ask us your queries, and we shall revert ASAP.