How to reinstall corrupted printer drivers in Windows 11 Device Manager

Use Windows Update

Updating printer drivers through Windows Update 🔃 is the easiest way to get tested and safe software for your printer without visiting external websites. Open Settings ⚙️, select Windows Update 🔃, and click Check for updates to let Windows scan for the latest software packages. You can also click Advanced options, go to Optional updates, expand Driver updates, check your printer manufacturer, and click Download & install.

1. Open Settings ⚙️.
2. Select Windows Update 🔃.

   

3. Click Check for updates 🔃.
4. Click Advanced options, then click Optional updates.

   

5. Expand the Driver updates section, check the box next to your printer manufacturer, and click Download & install.

Download and install printer drivers from the manufacturer’s website

Updating printer drivers by downloading ⬇️ them directly from the manufacturer website gives you access to the newest software and advanced printing tools. Open your web browser, go to the support page for your brand like HP or Canon, and enter your exact printer model number into the search 🔍 field. Download the full-featured driver or installation package recommended for your specific Windows version.

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the support or download page of your printer manufacturer (such as HP, Canon, Brother, or Epson).
2. Enter your exact printer model number into the search 🔍 field.
3. Download the ⬇️ full-featured driver or installation package recommended for your operating system version.
4. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

Install software that came with the printer

Updating printer drivers using the physical media that came in the box lets you install the 💿 original software when you do not have an internet connection. Insert the manufacturer disc into your optical drive or plug the installation USB drive into an open port on your computer. Open File Explorer 📁, click This PC, double-click the drive with the installation files, and run the setup application.

1. Insert the manufacturer disc into your optical drive or plug the installation USB drive into an available port.
2. Open File Explorer 📁, click This PC, and double-click the drive containing the installation media.
3. Run the setup application or installer executable file.
4. Accept the license terms and follow the setup wizard to install the 💿 software package.

Use Device Manager

Updating printer drivers through Device Manager (a control panel 🎛️ applet that lets you view and control the hardware attached to your computer) lets you manage your hardware directly from the built-in system interface. Right-click the Start button ⊞ and select Device Manager to open the hardware list. Click the arrow next to Print queues or Printers to find your device.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.

   

2. Click the arrow next to Print queues or Printers to expand the list of installed devices.

   

3. Right-click your printer and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers to let Windows find and install the updated package.

Reinstall the printer

Open Settings, select Bluetooth & devices, and click Printers & scanners. Click your printer name, select Remove, and then click Add device to let Windows discover your printer and install fresh software.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Bluetooth & devices, then click Printers & scanners.

   

3. Click your printer name, then click Remove.

   

4. Click Add device to let Windows discover your printer and install fresh software automatically.

Use Add Printer Driver Wizard

Updating printer drivers with the Add Printer Driver Wizard lets you manually install specific hardware files using INF files (setup information files Windows uses to install hardware) downloaded from external sources. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box, type printmanagement.msc, and press Enter. Click Print Servers in the left sidebar, click your computer name, select Drivers, and click Action.

1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type printmanagement.msc and press Enter.
3. Click Print Servers in the left sidebar, click your computer name, and select Drivers.
4. Click Action in the top menu, then select Add Driver to launch the Add Printer Driver Wizard.
5. Follow the prompts to locate and install your INF driver package.

Reinstall a device driver

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager, then expand the Printers category. Right-click your printer, select Uninstall device, check the box to remove the driver if available, click Uninstall, and restart your computer.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Printers category.
3. Right-click your printer and select Uninstall device.
4. Check the box for "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" if available, then click Uninstall.
5. Restart your computer and reconnect or reinstall the printer to generate a fresh installation.

Rollback the driver (if a recent update was installed)

Updating printer drivers by rolling back to an older version fixes printing errors caused by a faulty recent update. Right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, expand the Printers category, and right-click your printer to select Properties. Click the Driver tab, click Roll Back Driver, and follow the on-screen instructions to restore the previous software.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Printers category.
3. Right-click your printer and select Properties.
4. Click the Driver tab.
5. Click Roll Back Driver and follow the on-screen instructions. (This button is greyed out if no previous version is stored on your system.)

Update a device driver automatically

Automatic updates query online hardware databases without requiring manual file searches.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Printers category.
3. Right-click your printer and choose Update driver.
4. Select Search automatically for drivers.

Update a device driver manually

Updating printer drivers manually lets you point Windows to a specific software package you downloaded and saved to your computer. Right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, expand the Printers category, and right-click your printer to choose Update driver. Select Browse my computer for drivers, click the option to pick from a list of available drivers, and choose your hardware model.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Printers category.
3. Right-click your printer and select Update driver.
4. Choose Browse my computer for drivers.
5. Click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer, select your hardware model, and click Next.

Contact the device manufacturer

Updating printer drivers through direct manufacturer support helps you solve stubborn printing errors when automated and manual software updates fail. Visit the official support website for your printer brand and locate their live chat, phone support, or ticketing system. Provide your printer serial number and error codes to the support representative to get advanced troubleshooting and firmware help.

1. Visit the official support portal for your printer brand.
2. Locate the live chat, phone support, or ticketing system.
3. Provide your printer serial number and error codes to a support representative for advanced troubleshooting.

What to do next

Your printer driver should now be fully updated, allowing you to print documents without communication errors. If printing issues persist, check your physical hardware connections or run the built-in printer troubleshooter in your Windows Settings menu.