Brother Printer Says Driver Unavailable: How to Fix It Step by Step

Seeing the “Driver is unavailable” error on your Brother printer can be frustrating, especially when you need to print an important document. This message usually appears because Windows cannot communicate properly with the printer driver. Without a working driver, your computer cannot send print jobs to the printer, even if the device is connected correctly.

Whether you recently updated Windows, installed a new printer, changed USB ports, or noticed the issue without any obvious reason, there are several solutions you can try.

Let’s go through the steps!

Table of Contents

Brother Printer Says Driver Unavailable

A printer driver is software that acts as a translator between your computer and your Brother printer. When you click Print, Windows sends the print request to the driver, and the driver converts that request into instructions the printer understands.

If Windows cannot access the driver, it displays the Driver is unavailable message. As a result, documents remain in the print queue, or printing stops completely.

This issue can happen for several reasons, including:

Corrupted printer drivers after a Windows update.
Outdated Brother printer software.
An incomplete printer installation.
Damaged Windows system files.
Problems with the Print Spooler service.
USB or network connection issues.
Compatibility problems between Windows and an older printer driver.

Fortunately, you can usually solve the issue without replacing your printer.

Step 1: Restart Your Computer and Brother Printer

The first thing you should try is performing a complete restart. Temporary software glitches often prevent Windows from communicating with the printer correctly.

Turn off your Brother printer using its power button. Once it powers down, unplug the printer’s power cable from the electrical outlet. Wait for about one minute before plugging it back in.

Next, restart your Windows computer normally. Avoid using Sleep or Hibernate because these modes do not completely refresh Windows services.

After your computer starts, turn the Brother printer back on and wait until it finishes initializing. If your printer connects through a USB cable, make sure the cable is firmly connected. If it is a wireless printer, confirm that it is connected to the same WiFi network as your computer.

Open any document and try printing again. If the error disappears, the issue was likely caused by a temporary communication problem.

Step 2: Check Whether Windows Detects Your Printer Correctly

Sometimes Windows recognizes the printer but fails to load the correct driver.

Open Settings by pressing Windows + I. Select Bluetooth & devices, then choose Printers & scanners.

Locate your Brother printer in the list. If you see Driver is unavailable, click the printer name and review its status. If the printer shows as Offline, reconnect the printer before troubleshooting the driver.

You can also remove the printer from Windows and add it again.

Choose Remove to delete the printer. Restart your computer. Select Add device. Allow Windows several minutes to search for available printers.

If your Brother printer appears, install it again and test printing.

Many driver problems are resolved simply by reinstalling the printer connection.

Step 3: Download and Install the Latest Brother Printer Driver

Using the latest driver is one of the most effective ways to fix this error.

Open your web browser and visit the official Brother Support website. Search for your printer model exactly as it appears on the printer label.

Select your version of Windows.

Download the latest Full Driver & Software Package instead of installing only the basic driver whenever possible. The complete package installs everything needed for proper communication between Windows and the printer.

After downloading the installer, close all open programs. Run the installation file as an administrator.

Follow each instruction on the screen carefully.

If prompted, connect the printer only when instructed.

Once installation finishes, restart your computer.

Open Printers & scanners again and confirm that the printer now appears without the Driver is unavailable message.

Step 4: Update the Printer Driver Using Device Manager

If Windows already has a driver installed but it is outdated or damaged, updating it through Device Manager may solve the problem.

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
Expand Print queues or Printers.
Locate your Brother printer.
Right-click the printer and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers.

Windows will search your computer and Microsoft Update for a newer compatible driver.

If Windows installs an updated version, restart your computer before testing the printer.

Even if Windows reports that the best driver is already installed, you should still install the latest driver from Brother if the problem continues.

Step 5: Remove the Existing Driver and Install It Again

Sometimes printer drivers become corrupted beyond repair.

Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.
Remove your Brother printer.
Next, open Print Server Properties.
Select the Drivers tab.
Locate your Brother printer driver.
Choose Remove and delete both the driver and driver package if Windows offers that option.
Restart your computer.

Download the latest driver from Brother and install it again from scratch.

This removes damaged driver files that Windows may continue using even after reinstalling the printer.

Step 6: Restart the Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler manages all print jobs in Windows.

If it stops working, printers may display unexpected errors.

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Scroll down until you find Print Spooler.
Double-click the service.
If it is not running, click Start.
If it is already running, select Restart.
Confirm that the Startup type is set to Automatic.
Click Apply, then OK.

Close the Services window and try printing again.

Many users find that restarting this service immediately restores printer functionality.

Step 7: Install Available Windows Updates

Windows updates often include improved printer compatibility and driver fixes.

Open Settings.
Go to Windows Update.
Click Check for updates.

Download and install every available update.

Restart your computer after installation.

Once Windows finishes updating, reconnect your Brother printer and print a test page.

Keeping Windows updated helps prevent future driver compatibility issues.

Step 8: Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter

Windows includes a troubleshooting tool that automatically checks common printer problems.

Open Settings.
Select System.
Choose Troubleshoot.
Open Other troubleshooters.
Locate Printer.
Click Run.

Allow Windows several minutes to detect problems.

If Windows recommends any fixes, apply them and restart your computer before testing the printer again.

Additional Tips

Always download printer drivers directly from the official Brother website instead of unofficial sources.

Keep your Windows installation fully updated to improve hardware compatibility.

Avoid disconnecting the printer while the driver installation is in progress.

If you use a USB printer, connect it directly to your computer instead of using a USB hub during setup.

If your printer connects over WiFi, make sure both the computer and printer remain connected to the same wireless network.

Restart both your router and printer if wireless printing suddenly stops working.

Regularly update your Brother printer firmware whenever newer versions become available.

FAQs

Why does my Brother printer say Driver is unavailable?

This message usually appears because the printer driver is missing, corrupted, outdated, or incompatible with your current version of Windows.

Can Windows automatically install a Brother printer driver?

Yes. Windows can install basic drivers automatically for many Brother printers. However, installing the Full Driver & Software Package from Brother usually provides better functionality and improved reliability.

Will reinstalling the printer delete my documents?

No. Removing and reinstalling the printer only affects the printer configuration and driver. Your personal files remain unchanged.

Why did the problem start after a Windows update?

Some Windows updates replace or modify printer drivers. If the installed driver becomes incompatible, Windows may display the Driver is unavailable message until the correct driver is installed again.

Should I uninstall the old printer driver first?

Yes. If reinstalling the driver does not solve the problem, completely removing the old driver before installing the latest version often resolves persistent issues.

Can a faulty USB cable cause this error?

Yes. A damaged or loose USB cable may prevent Windows from communicating properly with the printer. Trying another USB cable or a different USB port is a good troubleshooting step.