How to Install or Update a Printer Driver in Windows 11

To install a printer driver in Windows 11, add the printer in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Windows can install a compatible driver automatically. To update an existing driver, check Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, then use the printer maker’s official support site if needed.

This guide covers first-time installation and driver updates on Windows 11. A separate Windows 10 note appears below; its Settings menus differ. Use an administrator account when prompted, or ask the administrator of a managed PC. If Settings > System > About > System type identifies an ARM-based processor, read the ARM section before trying a manufacturer installer. Instructions reviewed on October 2, 2026.

First-Time Installation: Add the Printer

1. Turn on the printer. Connect a USB printer as directed by its manufacturer, or connect a network printer to the same network as the PC. Follow the maker’s connection sequence if using its installer.
2. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Check whether the printer already appears.
3. If it is missing, select Add device, wait for discovery, and select Add device beside the intended printer. Follow the setup prompts.
4. Check Windows Update as described below. If Windows has not supplied a suitable driver or required features are missing, use the compatible manufacturer package in Method 2.
5. Print a page from an app on this PC. A printer’s own standalone test page checks the printer, but does not verify the PC’s driver and connection.

For manual address, USB and shared-printer connection choices, use our Windows printer installation guide. Microsoft’s add-or-install procedure explains automatic driver installation and the optional Find drivers prompt.

Do You Actually Need a New Driver?

A printer driver is the software that translates what you print into instructions your printer understands. A new one can fix printing errors, add features, or restore a printer that stopped working after a Windows update. Before updating an existing printer, check the connection and queue:

• Turn the printer off and on, and restart the PC.
• Check the USB cable, or make sure a network printer is on the same local network.
• Clear any stuck print jobs.
• Run the printer troubleshooter in Get Help. See the Windows 11 troubleshooter guide for that current route.

A compatible manufacturer package may add supported scanning or print features. A driver update is one troubleshooting option; it does not repair every cable, network, queue or hardware problem.

Method 1: Windows Update (Recommended)

1. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Advanced options.
2. Make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft products is on.
3. Under Additional options, select Optional updates.
4. Expand Driver updates. If your printer is listed, check it and select Download and install.
5. Restart the PC when it finishes. Microsoft says to restart even if no update asks for it.

Optional driver updates don’t install on their own, so they’re easy to miss. If none appears, no optional driver is being offered there. This does not prove that the manufacturer has no newer compatible package.

Method 2: The Printer Maker’s Website

1. Find the printer’s model number. It’s usually on the front or top of the printer, or on your receipt.
2. Go to the maker’s official support site, such as HP, Canon, Epson, or Brother, and open Support or Drivers.
3. Search for the exact model and select Windows 11 and the correct processor architecture if requested. Check System type in Settings > System > About rather than guessing. See how to check whether your Windows 11 PC is x64 or ARM-based if the line is unclear.
4. Download the latest driver or full software package. It usually lands in your Downloads folder.
5. Right-click the file, select Open, and follow the prompts. Restart if asked. Check for a successful installation message, then print from an app. Installing the same package again does not necessarily change its version.

Maker software often adds scanning, ink levels, and print-quality tools the basic Windows driver lacks. Microsoft warns that drivers on the disc in the box may be outdated, so download instead. Microsoft advises downloading drivers only from the manufacturer’s official site.

Method 3: Device Manager

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Print queues (or Printers).
3. Right-click your printer and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers, or Browse my computer for drivers for a downloaded and extracted compatible driver. For the manual route, browse to its folder, check the path and select Next. Use a packaged installer according to the maker’s instructions instead of pointing Device Manager at an installer file.

If a recent update caused problems, an administrator can select Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver when available. Follow the confirmation prompts and restart if requested. Microsoft’s Device Manager instructions cover manual selection and rollback.

Method 4: Remove and Reinstall the Printer

Microsoft notes that reinstalling may obtain an updated driver. Record your current connection and settings, finish or cancel pending jobs, and make sure you can add the printer again before removing it:

1. Remove the printer in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Restart the PC.
3. Add the printer back with Add device.
4. Run Windows Update and check Optional updates again.

Method 5: Add Printer Driver Wizard (Last Resort)

Microsoft lists this legacy tool as a last resort that can work better for older printers. Driver Wizard limitation: it adds a driver to Windows; it does not install the printer connection. Complete first-time setup if the printer is absent from Printers & scanners:

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select Print server properties.
2. On the Drivers tab, select Add, then Next.
3. Choose the architecture matching your PC’s System type, then select Windows Update on the driver list page. The list can take a few minutes to refresh.
4. Pick the manufacturer and model, select Next, then Finish.

If Your PC Uses an ARM Processor

Microsoft reports manufacturer-installer problems on some ARM PCs. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select Add device instead, unless the maker has ARM-specific instructions. To check, open Settings > System > About and look for “ARM-based processor” next to System type.

Troubleshooting

The installer is blocked or fails

Save the exact error and check the package’s model, Windows version and architecture. A managed PC or app-installation restriction may require an approved installation route. Ask its administrator or the printer manufacturer for a supported package instead of changing security restrictions as a first fix.

An old driver keeps coming back

Check which queue and package you installed and whether an automatic update or manufacturer utility is replacing it. Ask the administrator or manufacturer to resolve a recurring driver conflict. Avoid deleting shared driver packages indiscriminately; other printer queues may rely on them.

The printer still won’t print

Updated drivers don’t fix a stuck queue. See how to clear the printer queue in Windows 11 or 10, and browse our driver guides for more fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I update a printer driver in Windows 10?

In Windows 10, optional drivers are under Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates, when available. Printer setup starts at Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Use a package supported for that version and architecture.

How often should I update printer drivers?

Only when something isn’t working, after a major Windows update, or when the maker releases a fix you need. Windows Update handles most routine updates automatically.

Is it safe to use driver updater software?

Stick with Windows Update and the printer maker’s own site. Choose a package supported for your exact model and PC rather than a third-party driver-updater download.