My HP Printer Driver is ‘not available’ in Windows 11 … yes THAT again!

Overcoming the ‘Driver Unavailable’ Issue with HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 on Windows 11

Troubleshooting printer connectivity problems can be a daunting task, especially when recent updates or software changes introduce new challenges. Many users, including myself, have encountered persistent issues where the printer remains available in the system but fails to print due to a “Driver Unavailable” status. This article explores the common causes of this issue and offers actionable solutions to restore seamless printing functionality on Windows 11.

Understanding the Problem

In my experience, the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 functions correctly when printing from mobile devices such as Android phones. However, on Windows 11 PCs, the printer appears in ‘Devices and Printers’ but fails to process print jobs, showing a “Driver Unavailable” message. This problem often surfaces after Windows updates and affects multiple users across different systems, indicating a compatibility or driver-related issue.

Common Troubleshooting Steps Already Attempted

• Driver Reinstallation: Removing the printer, uninstalling drivers, and reinstalling using the official installer package.
• Software Management: Uninstalling and reinstalling HP Smart and other related applications, ensuring each step occurs with administrator rights.
• Network Checks: Confirming Wi-Fi connection stability and ensuring firmware is up-to-date.
• Firewall Settings: Disabling Windows Firewall momentarily to rule out network blockages.
• Using Diagnostic Tools: Running HP Print and Scan Doctor, which historically helped resolve driver issues, though it has been deprecated due to security vulnerabilities.

Persistent Challenges and Alternative Approaches

Despite these efforts, the “Driver Unavailable” message persists, particularly when using HP Smart. The removal of HP Print and Scan Doctor means relying on alternative solutions, such as:

1. Manual Driver Update via Device Manager

   • Open Device Manager.
   • Locate your printer under ‘Printers’ or ‘Universal Serial Bus controllers’.
   • Right-click and select ‘Update driver’.
   • Choose ‘Browse my computer for driver software’ and select the latest driver package downloaded from HP’s official website.

2. Using Windows Update to Install Drivers

   • Navigate to Settings > Windows Update.
   • Check for updates and ensure optional driver updates are included.
   • Install any available updates related to printers or peripherals.

3. Resetting the Print Spooler Service

   • Open Command Prompt as administrator.
   • Execute the following commands:
     “`
     net stop spooler
     del