Printer shows Driver update needed in Windows
Driver update needed under your printer in Windows settings means the installed driver needs replacing. Get it from Windows Update or the maker's site.
What this error means
In Settings, Windows shows a short status line under each printer's name. "Driver update needed" means Windows is telling you the driver installed for that printer has to be updated or replaced before the printer will work properly. That usually happens when the driver is incomplete, doesn't suit your version of Windows (often after a feature update), or a replacement driver hasn't downloaded yet. Depending on the cause, the printer may still print with limited features, or not print at all until the driver is sorted out.
Common causes
- A newer driver is available but hasn't been installed
- A Windows feature update left the old driver incompatible
- Windows is holding back driver downloads on a metered connection
- The original driver install was incomplete or interrupted
- No driver exists yet for your Windows version or processor type, such as an Arm-based PC
How to fix it
Start with the first fix. They’re ordered from safest and quickest to most involved.
Fixes for Windows
0 of 6 steps tried
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Restart the PC and the printer
Restart the computer, and turn the printer off and on again. If Windows was partway through installing a driver, the restart lets it finish, and the status often changes to Idle or Ready on its own.
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Install Windows updates, including optional driver updates
Open Settings > Windows Update, click Check for updates and install everything offered. Then go to Advanced options > Optional updates and expand Driver updates; if a driver for your printer is listed, tick it and install it. On Windows 10, use Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates. Restart afterwards.
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Allow driver downloads on metered connections
If your Wi-Fi or mobile connection is set as metered, Windows may skip downloading printer drivers. In Printers & scanners, turn on Download drivers and device software over metered connections, or turn off Metered connection in your network's properties under Settings > Network & internet. Then remove and re-add the printer so Windows fetches the driver.
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Install the driver from the manufacturer
Go to the manufacturer's official support site, search for your exact model and choose your Windows version. Check whether your PC is x64 or Arm-based in Settings > System > About (next to System type) and pick the matching download. Run the installer as an administrator and follow its steps, connecting the printer when it asks.
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Remove the printer and add it again
Remove the printer in Printers & scanners. Press Win + R, run
printui /s /t2, select its old driver and choose Remove driver and driver package. Restart, then choose Add device and let Windows find the printer. If you add it manually instead, click Windows Update on the driver list page to refresh the available drivers; it can take a few minutes. -
Use the built-in driver for a network printer
Many recent network printers support Mopria or IPP printing, and Windows can set them up with its own built-in class driver without any download from the manufacturer. If the maker has no driver for your version of Windows, removing the printer and letting Windows add it automatically over the network often gives you working basic printing, though some advanced options may be missing.
Did this fix it?
Good. To confirm everything is healthy, print a test page. It takes a minute and shows any quality problems early.
Still stuck? Our printer assistant can walk you through it by live chat, free. . Or the The troubleshooter asks a few questions and narrows it down. If your printer is under warranty, the manufacturer can repair or replace it at no cost. Find their official support site on our brand pages.
Common questions
Can I keep printing while it says Driver update needed?
Sometimes. Print a test page from Printer properties; if it prints correctly you can update the driver when convenient. If nothing prints, follow the steps above first.
Why doesn’t Windows Update offer a driver for my printer?
Not every manufacturer publishes every driver through Windows Update, and Microsoft has announced plans to rely more on its built-in printer class driver over time. The manufacturer's official website is the place to get the full driver for your model.