Installing a printer driver used to be as simple as plugging in the printer and letting Windows Update handle the rest — and for most people, it still is. But a significant change Microsoft rolled out in early 2026 means the “just plug it in” approach doesn’t work as reliably as it used to for some printers, which makes knowing the alternative methods more useful than ever.
Quick answer: Connect your printer via USB or ensure it’s on the same network as your PC, then go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device. Windows will try to detect and install a driver automatically. If it doesn’t find one, download the “full feature” driver package directly from your printer manufacturer’s official support site using your exact model number — this is now the more reliable method for many printers following Microsoft’s 2026 driver policy changes.
Important: What Changed With Windows Printer Drivers in 2026
This matters enough to cover before the standard installation steps, since it affects which method actually works for your printer.
Starting January 15, 2026, Microsoft stopped accepting new third-party V3 and V4 printer driver submissions to Windows Update for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 and later, as part of an end-of-servicing plan first announced back in September 2023. In practical terms:
- Printers you already have set up are unaffected — existing installed drivers keep working exactly as before
- New printer models increasingly rely on Mopria certification and Windows’ own built-in IPP class driver rather than a dedicated manufacturer driver distributed through Windows Update
- From July 1, 2026, Windows began prioritizing its built-in IPP driver over third-party drivers when both are available for the same printer
- From July 1, 2027, third-party driver updates through Windows Update will be limited to security fixes only — manufacturers can still distribute full driver packages directly through their own websites, just not through Windows Update itself
What this means practically: if you’re setting up a newer printer and Windows’ automatic detection doesn’t find a dedicated driver the way it might have a couple of years ago, that’s expected rather than a sign something’s wrong. Downloading the driver directly from the manufacturer’s website — covered in Method 2 below — has become the more dependable path for a growing number of printers.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Method | Best For | Reliability in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic detection (Add device) | Older, widely supported printers; Mopria-certified network printers | Still strong for many printers, less so for some newer or niche models |
| Manufacturer’s website (full driver package) | Getting every feature — scanning, ink monitoring, maintenance tools | Most reliable overall, especially post-2026 |
| Windows Update (optional updates) | Updating a driver already partially installed | Works, but fewer new drivers are being added here going forward |
| Device Manager (manual INF install) | A driver file you already have, or troubleshooting a failed install | Useful as a fallback, more technical |
Method 1: Automatic Installation (Add Device)
This remains the fastest method and is worth trying first for any printer.
- Connect the printer to a power source and turn it on
- Connect it to your PC via USB, or make sure it’s joined to the same WiFi network as your computer
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings
- Go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
- Select Add device
- Wait while Windows searches for nearby and network-connected printers
- When your printer appears, select it, then select Add device
If Windows finds and installs a driver this way, you’re done — though see the note below on whether it’s the full feature set or just basic printing.
Method 2: Download the Full Driver From the Manufacturer (Most Reliable)
This is now the recommended starting point for many printers, not just a fallback, and it’s the only way to get scanning, ink level monitoring, and maintenance tools bundled with basic printing.
- Go to your printer manufacturer’s official support website:
- HP: support.hp.com
- Canon: usa.canon.com/support (or your regional Canon support site)
- Epson: epson.com/support
- Brother: support.brother.com
- Search using your printer’s exact model number
- Navigate to Software, Drivers and Firmware (or the equivalent section) and select Full Feature Software and Drivers, not just a basic driver-only download
- Download the installer for your version of Windows
- Run the installer and follow its setup wizard, which typically prompts you to connect the printer via USB or WiFi partway through
- Restart your PC if the installer recommends it
If you already have a basic driver installed from Method 1 and want the full feature set instead, it’s worth uninstalling the basic version first — search for any entries related to your printer brand under Settings > Apps > Installed apps, remove them, restart your PC, then run the manufacturer’s installer.
Method 3: Install or Update a Driver Through Windows Update
Some printer drivers are still distributed as optional updates, separate from your regular system updates.
- Open Settings > Windows Update
- Select Advanced options, then Optional updates
- Look under Driver updates for anything matching your printer brand
- Select the checkbox next to it and select Download & install
Keep in mind that, following the 2026 policy change described above, fewer new drivers are being added to this specific list going forward — it’s still worth checking, but the manufacturer’s own website (Method 2) is increasingly the more dependable source.
Method 4: Manually Install a Driver Through Device Manager
This method is useful if you already have a driver file downloaded, or if you’re troubleshooting a printer Windows isn’t detecting through the standard methods.
- Connect the printer via USB, or confirm it’s on the same network as your PC
- Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager
- Look for your printer under Print queues or Other devices — if it shows a warning icon, right-click it and select Update driver
- Select Browse my computer for drivers
- Choose Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer, or browse directly to a specific .inf file if you have one from a downloaded driver package
- Follow the remaining prompts to complete installation
Installing a Network Printer Specifically
Network printers install the same way as Method 1 in most cases, but a couple of extra details are worth knowing:
- Confirm your printer is connected to your WiFi network through its own control panel before starting
- In Printers & scanners > Add device, Windows searches your network specifically, which can take slightly longer than detecting a USB printer
- If your printer doesn’t appear, confirm your PC and printer are on the exact same network, not a guest network or a different band (2.4GHz vs 5GHz) that your PC might not be joined to
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Windows Can’t Find a Driver Automatically
- Try Method 2 and download the full driver directly from the manufacturer’s website, which is increasingly the more reliable path following the 2026 policy changes described above
- Confirm the printer is fully powered on and out of any sleep or power-save mode
- Check that USB cables are firmly connected at both ends, or that a network printer is genuinely joined to the same network as your PC
Windows Only Installs Basic Printing, No Scanning or Extra Features
This is expected when Windows’ automatic driver install uses a generic or basic driver rather than the manufacturer’s full package. Installing the “Full Feature Software and Drivers” package directly from the manufacturer’s website, as described in Method 2, typically adds the missing scanning and maintenance functions.
The Driver Installed but the Printer Still Doesn’t Work
- Restart both the printer and your PC
- Check Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and confirm it isn’t set to Use Printer Offline
- Open the print queue for your printer and clear any stuck jobs that might be blocking new ones
A Reinstalled or Reset Windows PC Can’t Find the Old Driver Anymore
Following the 2026 changes to how drivers are distributed, a driver that was previously available automatically through Windows Update may no longer be offered the same way after a clean install or reset, particularly for older printer models. Downloading the driver directly from the manufacturer’s website resolves this in the vast majority of cases — it’s worth saving a copy of your printer’s driver installer somewhere safe if you rely on an older model, rather than counting on Windows Update to provide it again later.
My Printer Isn’t Mopria Certified and Doesn’t Work With Windows’ Built-In Driver
If your specific printer can’t be Mopria certified and doesn’t have a supported driver going forward, Microsoft’s own guidance points toward contacting the manufacturer directly for an updated driver, or considering a newer printer with broader current support if no update is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install a printer driver on Windows 11? Connect your printer via USB or WiFi, then go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device and let Windows detect it automatically. If Windows doesn’t find a driver, download the full driver package directly from your printer manufacturer’s official website instead.
Why can’t Windows find my printer driver automatically anymore? Starting in January 2026, Microsoft stopped accepting new third-party printer drivers for distribution through Windows Update as part of a multi-year phase-out. This mainly affects newer or less common printer models — downloading the driver directly from the manufacturer’s website is now the more reliable method for many printers.
Do I need to download drivers from the manufacturer, or does Windows handle it automatically? Windows can often detect and install a basic driver automatically, but this frequently lacks scanning, ink monitoring, and maintenance features found in the manufacturer’s full driver package. For complete functionality, downloading directly from the manufacturer’s website is generally worth doing.
Will my existing printer stop working because of Microsoft’s 2026 driver changes? No. Printers with drivers already installed are unaffected and continue working normally. The changes specifically limit how new drivers are distributed through Windows Update going forward, not whether already-installed drivers continue functioning.
What is a Mopria certified printer, and why does it matter? Mopria certification allows a printer to work with Windows’ built-in IPP class driver without needing a dedicated manufacturer driver. As Microsoft shifts away from distributing new third-party drivers through Windows Update, Mopria certification is becoming an increasingly important factor in whether a printer installs smoothly without extra steps.
How do I install a printer driver manually using a downloaded file? Open Device Manager, find your printer (often under Print queues or Other devices), right-click it and select Update driver, then choose Browse my computer for drivers and point to the downloaded driver file or its extracted folder.
Why does my printer only print in basic mode without scanning working? This typically happens when only a basic driver was installed automatically by Windows, rather than the manufacturer’s full feature software package. Installing the complete driver package from your printer manufacturer’s support site usually resolves this and restores scanning and other features.
Getting a printer properly set up is often just one part of a broader device setup. If you’re also connecting a scanner as part of the same printer, our guide on connecting a scanner to Windows covers that process in detail. And if your printer shows as offline even after installing the correct driver, see our guide on how to fix a printer showing offline for the next troubleshooting steps.
This guide reflects printer driver installation methods for Windows 11 and Windows 10 as of 2026, including Microsoft’s end-of-servicing plan for third-party printer drivers that began taking effect in January 2026. Exact menu wording and driver availability can continue to shift as this policy rolls out further — check Microsoft’s official documentation or your printer manufacturer’s support site for the most current details.