Your printer works perfectly one day, then refuses to print the next. Nothing has changed – or so you think. Often, the culprit is driver issues. Understanding what drivers do and how to maintain them prevents many headaches.

What Printer Drivers Actually Do

A driver is translation software. It takes print commands from your computer and converts them into instructions your specific printer understands. Without the correct driver, your computer and printer speak different languages.

Every printer model needs its own driver. Even different models from the same manufacturer often use different drivers. Using the wrong driver causes problems from poor print quality to complete printing failure.

Signs of Driver Problems

Printer shows offline when it's clearly on – The driver can't communicate properly with the printer.

Print jobs disappear without printing – Jobs send successfully from your end but never reach the printer.

Missing features – Your printer can duplex print, but the option isn't available. Features require correct drivers.

Print quality issues – Wrong colours, strange formatting, or partial prints despite printer hardware working fine.

Printer worked before Windows update – Operating system updates sometimes break driver compatibility.

Finding the Right Driver

Always start at the manufacturer's website. Not random download sites – go directly to HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, or whoever made your printer.

Find the 'Support' or 'Downloads' section
Enter your exact printer model number (it's on a label on the printer)
Select your operating system and version
Download the recommended driver package

Choose 'Full Feature' drivers when offered rather than 'Basic' drivers. Basic drivers often miss advanced functionality.

Installing Drivers Correctly

For new printer installation:

Download the driver BEFORE connecting the printer
Run the installer and follow prompts
Connect the printer when the installer tells you to
Complete setup and print a test page

For driver updates:

Note your current driver version (Device Manager > Printers > Properties)
Download the new driver from manufacturer
Run the installer – it usually handles removal of old versions
Restart your computer when prompted
Test printing to verify success

Removing Problematic Drivers

Sometimes a clean removal is needed before reinstalling:

Through Windows Settings:

Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners
Select your printer and click 'Remove device'
Open Device Manager and check for remaining printer entries
Right-click any found and select 'Uninstall'

For stubborn drivers:

Type 'printui /s /t2' in the Run dialog (Win+R) to access print server properties. Here you can remove driver packages that refuse to uninstall normally.

Windows Update Driver Issues

Windows sometimes installs generic drivers that don't work as well as manufacturer drivers. If printing problems started after a Windows update:

Check if Windows installed a different driver
Download the latest driver from the manufacturer
Install it, which should override the Windows version

Network Printer Driver Considerations

For network printers shared across multiple computers:

Each computer needs the correct driver installed
All computers should use the same driver version for consistency
When updating, update all connected computers
Consider driver deployment tools for large offices

When Driver Updates Can't Help

If you've installed the correct, latest driver and problems persist, the issue likely isn't the driver. Hardware problems, network issues, or application-specific problems need different troubleshooting.

At ilexDigital, we handle printer software configuration alongside hardware repair. Whether it's driver installation, network configuration, or diagnosing the real cause of printing problems, we provide complete solutions. Contact us when printer software frustrates you.

Understanding Printer Drivers: Why They Matter and How to Update Them