If you’re seeing the Brother printer driver unavailable error, you’re not alone. This common printer issue prevents your computer from communicating with your Brother printer, making it impossible to print documents. The problem is usually caused by outdated drivers, corrupted printer software, Windows updates, or incorrect printer settings. Fortunately, most cases can be resolved in just a few simple steps.

In this guide, you’ll learn what causes the Brother printer driver unavailable error, how to troubleshoot it on Windows and macOS, and the best ways to prevent it from happening again.

What Is the Brother Printer Driver Unavailable Error?

The “Driver Unavailable” message means your operating system cannot access or use the installed Brother printer driver. Since the driver acts as the communication bridge between your computer and printer, printing stops until the issue is resolved.

You may encounter this error when:

• Printing documents
• Installing a new Brother printer
• Updating Windows
• Connecting through Wi-Fi
• Switching between USB and wireless connections

Common Causes of Brother Printer Driver Unavailable

Several factors can trigger this error.

The most common causes include:

• Corrupted printer driver
• Missing printer driver files
• Outdated Brother printer driver
• Windows Update compatibility issues
• Incorrect printer configuration
• Damaged print spooler service
• Antivirus software blocking the driver
• Network communication problems
• USB connection issues
• Incomplete printer installation

Identifying the root cause makes troubleshooting much easier.

How to Fix Brother Printer Driver Unavailable Error

Start with the simplest solutions before moving to advanced troubleshooting.

Restart Your Printer and Computer

Temporary software glitches often disappear after restarting both devices.

Follow these steps:

1. Turn off your Brother printer.
2. Shut down your computer.
3. Wait 60 seconds.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Turn the printer back on.
6. Try printing again.

This simple fix resolves many temporary communication problems.

Update the Brother printer driver.

An outdated driver is one of the most common reasons for the “driver unavailable” error.

To update the driver:

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Printers or Print Queues.
3. Right-click your Brother printer.
4. Select Update Driver.
5. Choose Search automatically for drivers.

If Windows cannot find a newer driver, download the latest driver from Brother’s official support website.

Always install the driver that matches:

• Your printer model
• Windows version
• 32-bit or 64-bit operating system

Reinstall the Brother printer driver.

If updating doesn’t work, reinstall the driver completely.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select Devices and Printers.
3. Remove your Brother printer.
4. Open Device Manager.
5. Uninstall the printer driver.
6. Restart the computer.
7. Install the latest Brother printer driver.
8. Reconnect the printer.

A clean installation removes damaged files that may be causing the issue.

Restart the Print Spooler Service

The Windows Print Spooler manages all print jobs.

If it stops running, Windows may display the “driver unavailable” message.

To restart it:

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type services.msc.
3. Locate Print Spooler.
4. Right-click it.
5. Select Restart.

Try printing once the service starts again.

Run the Windows printer troubleshooter.

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that automatically detects printer problems.

To run it:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to System.
3. Select Troubleshoot.
4. Click Other Troubleshooters.
5. Run the printer troubleshooter.

The tool can identify driver conflicts, spooler issues, and configuration errors.

Check Windows updates.

Sometimes Windows installs a generic printer driver that conflicts with the Brother driver.

Make sure your system is fully updated.

To check:

• Open Windows Update.
• Install pending updates.
• Restart the computer.

After updating, reinstall the latest Brother printer driver if necessary.

Verify the Printer Connection

Communication issues can also trigger driver errors.

For USB printers:

• Try another USB port.
• Replace the USB cable.
• Avoid USB hubs.

For wireless printers:

• Ensure the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
• Restart your router.
• Confirm both devices are on the same network.

Stable connectivity helps prevent driver communication failures.

Fix Brother Printer Driver Unavailable After Windows Update

Many users experience this error immediately after a Windows update.

To fix it:

• Remove the existing printer.
• Download the newest Brother driver.
• Reinstall the printer.
• Restart the Print Spooler.
• Restart Windows.

This resolves most compatibility problems introduced by major Windows updates.

Brother Printer Driver Unavailable on Windows 11

Windows 11 includes stronger driver security requirements.

If you’re using Windows 11:

• Install the latest certified Brother driver.
• Update Windows regularly.
• Avoid using very old printer drivers.
• Check optional driver updates in Windows Update.

Keeping both Windows and your printer driver current reduces compatibility issues.

Brother Printer Driver Unavailable on Windows 10

Windows 10 users often encounter this error after feature updates.

Helpful fixes include:

• Updating the printer driver
• Reinstalling the printer
• Clearing the print queue
• Restarting the Print Spooler
• Removing duplicate printer entries

These steps resolve the majority of Windows 10 driver issues.

How to Prevent Brother Printer Driver Problems

Preventive maintenance reduces the chances of future driver errors.

Follow these best practices:

• Keep Windows updated.
• Install official Brother drivers.
• Avoid disconnecting the printer during updates.
• Restart the printer occasionally.
• Use quality USB cables.
• Maintain a stable Wi-Fi connection.
• Remove unused printer installations.
• Check for firmware updates periodically.

Routine maintenance helps ensure reliable printing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Brother printer say driver unavailable?

The message usually appears because the printer driver is outdated, corrupted, missing, or incompatible with your operating system.

Can Windows Update cause the driver unavailable error?

Yes. A Windows update may replace the manufacturer driver with a generic one, creating compatibility issues.

Do I need to reinstall the printer?

In many cases, yes. Reinstalling both the printer and its driver removes corrupted files and restores normal operation.

Can antivirus software block printer drivers?

Some security software may interfere with printer installation or communication. Temporarily disabling it during installation can help identify the cause.

Is the Brother printer driver unavailable error hardware-related?

Usually not. Most cases are software-related and can be fixed without replacing the printer.

Conclusion

The Brother printer driver unavailable error is usually caused by outdated, missing, or corrupted printer drivers rather than a hardware failure. Restarting your devices, updating or reinstalling the correct Brother driver, restarting the Print Spooler, and checking your printer connection can resolve the issue in most cases. By keeping your operating system and printer software up to date and using official Brother drivers, you can minimize future driver-related problems and keep your printer running smoothly.