Driver setup
How to install a printer driver
Let Windows Update install the recommended printer driver first; if it cannot, download the current driver for the exact model and operating system from the manufacturer's official support site.
What you need
- The exact printer model
- Your operating-system version and system type
- Administrator access on the computer
Connect the printer
- 1
Identify the exact model
Read the complete model number from the printer label or its information screen. Similar model names can require different packages.
Source: Microsoft Support — Download and install the latest printer drivers - 2
Try Windows Update first
Add the printer in Printers & scanners, then check Windows Update for current drivers. Microsoft recommends Windows Update as the first driver source.
Source: Microsoft Support — Download and install the latest printer drivers - 3
Use the manufacturer's official support site
If Windows cannot provide the needed driver, visit the printer manufacturer's official Support or Drivers section, select the exact model and operating system, and download the current package.
Source: Microsoft Support — Download and install the latest printer drivers - 4
Check compatibility before opening it
Confirm the package matches the Windows version and system type. Do not use a third-party driver download site or an older unsupported package unless the manufacturer specifically directs it.
Source: Microsoft Support — Download and install the latest printer drivers - 5
Install and restart when requested
Open the downloaded installer, follow its connection prompts, and restart the computer if requested. Then print a one-page test.
Source: Microsoft Support — Download and install the latest printer drivers
How to confirm it worked
The printer appears without a driver warning in Printers & scanners and completes a one-page test print.
If it did not work
Choose the symptom that best matches what happened. These links lead to the existing diagnostic pages rather than repeating generic setup steps.
Documented from official support guidance. Last verified 2026-08-13.
Did this fix it?
One anonymous answer. No account, email address, or tracking profile.