Encountering the “Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable” error can be a frustrating roadblock for those navigating the intricacies of network and directory management. If you find yourself facing this issue, you’re not alone. In this guide, we’ll explore the steps to troubleshoot and fix the “Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable” error.

Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable - 1
  • How to Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable
  • Basic Troubleshooting Tips
  • Method 1: Restart Print Spooler
  • Method 2: Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter
  • Method 3: Repair System Files
  • Method 4: Enable File & Printer Sharing
  • Method 5: Run Antivirus Scan
  • Method 6: Update Windows
  • Method 7: Update Drivers
  • Method 8: Reinstall Printer Drivers
  • Method 9: Add Printer Manually
  • Method 10: Recognize Printer using Other Applications
  • Method 11: Change Permissions via Registry Editor
  • Method 12: Install Network Protocols
  • Method 13: Modify Trust Center Settings (Application Specific)

How to Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable

In this section, we have compiled a list of methods to resolve this error in your PC. The methods are arranged from basic to advanced levels to help you achieve the fix effectively and quickly.

Basic Troubleshooting Tips

Before trying the advanced troubleshooting methods, try these two basic tips to resolve this issue:

  • Restart your PC.
  • Ensure that the cables are correctly connected.

Method 1: Restart Print Spooler

Print Spooler is a software that helps Windows users to manage print jobs. Restarting the Print Spooler will resolve all the temporary glitches associated with the software. You can restart the Print Spooler from Services as discussed below:

Option I: Restart Directly

  1. Launch the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys simultaneously.

  2. Type services.msc as follows and click OK .

Type services.msc as follows and click OK. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 2
  1. Now, in the Services window, scroll down and search for Print Spooler, and right-click on it.

  2. Select the Restart option as depicted.

Now, in the Services window, scroll down and search for Print Spooler, and right click on it. select the Restart option  - 3
  1. Wait until your screen gets refreshed after restarting the service.
Wait until your screen gets refreshed after restarting the service. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 4

Option II: Stop the Service and Start Again

  1. Launch Run dialog box as done earlier.

  2. Type services.msc as follows and click OK .

Type services.msc as follows and click OK. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 5
  1. Now, in the Services window, scroll down and search for Print Spooler , and right-click on it.

  2. Select the Stop option as depicted.

in the Services window, scroll down and search for Print Spooler, and right click on it. Select the Stop option - 6
  1. Now, press Windows + E keys together to open File Explorer .

  2. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

Note: You need admin rights to access this folder .

Navigate to the Printers folder - 7
  1. Select all the files and delete them.
You will need admin rights to access this folder and once you have entered your password, delete all the files in it. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 8
  1. Again, navigate to the Services window and right-click on Print Spooler as you did earlier.

  2. Now, select the Start option as shown.

navigate to the Services window and right-click on Print Spooler as you did earlier. Now, select the Start option. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 9
  1. Finally, restart your PC and check if you have fixed the Active Directory Domain Services Windows 10 issue.

Method 2: Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter

Running the Windows Printer Troubleshooter is the simplest way to resolve the Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable error message in your PC. All the corrupt and damaged files in your computer will be eliminated when you proceed with this process. Here are a few simple steps to run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter.

  1. Hit the Windows key . Type Troubleshoot settings in the search bar and open it.
Hit the Windows key. Type Troubleshoot settings in the search bar and open it - 10
  1. Now, click on Additional troubleshooters as depicted below.
 Now, click Additional troubleshooters. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 11
  1. Select Printer, which is displayed under the Get up and running section as shown.
select Printer, which is displayed under the Get up and running section  - 12
  1. Click Run the troubleshooter .
Click Run the troubleshooter. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 13
  1. If any issue is found in your system, click on Apply this fix and follow the instructions given in the successive prompts.
click on Apply this fix - 14
  1. Finally, restart your PC .

Method 3: Repair System Files

Windows 10 users can automatically scan and repair their system files by running System File Checker . In addition, it is a built-in tool that lets the user delete files and fix the Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable error message. Then, follow the below-mentioned steps to implement the same.

  1. Type Command Prompt in the Windows search bar and click Run as administrator .
Type Command Prompt in the Windows search bar and click Run as administrator - 15
  1. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.

  2. Now, type the chkdsk C: /f /r /x command and hit Enter key .

type the following command and hit Enter - 16

Note: If you are prompted with a message, Chkdsk cannot run…the volume is… in use process , press Y key and reboot your system.

  1. Again, type the sfc /scannow command and hit Enter key to SFC scan.

Note: The System File Checker will scan all the programs and repair them automatically in the background. You can continue your activities until the scan is complete.

Type the below command line and hit Enter to execute it. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 17
  1. After completing the scan, it will show either of the messages:
  • Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  • Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
  • Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  • Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
  1. Restart your PC and open Command Prompt as done earlier.

  2. Type the following commands one by one and hit Enter key .

DISM.exe /Online /cleanup-image /scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

DISM /Online /cleanup-Image /startcomponentcleanup

Note: You have to be connected to a network to run DISM properly.

Type the DISM commands one by one and hit Enter. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 18
  1. Finally, wait for the process to run successfully and close the window .

Method 4: Enable File & Printer Sharing

The File and Printer Sharing feature is not enabled by default for all computers. Few public networks restrict these sharing accesses. You can enable file and printer sharing options if that concerns you.

Note: You may get several sharing options depending upon the version of Windows you use. Follow the steps according to the type of File & Printer Sharing options you have.

  1. Hit the Windows key . Type Control Panel and open it as shown below.
Hit the Windows key. Type Control Panel and open it. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 19
  1. Set View by as Category . Click on Network and Internet as depicted.
Set the View by as Category. Select Network and Internet - 20
  1. Here, click on Network and Sharing Center as depicted.
Here, click on Network and Sharing Center  - 21
  1. Here, click on Change advanced sharing settings as follows.
Here, click on Change advanced sharing settings. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 22
  1. Select the option Turn on file and printer sharing under File and Printer sharing and click Save changes .

Note: You need admin rights to save this change.

Select the option Turn on file and printer sharing under File and Printer sharing and click Save changes - 23
  1. In the Advanced sharing settings window, expand All Networks .
In the Advanced sharing settings window, expand All Networks. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 24
  1. Select Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the Public folders option.
Now, turn on the file sharing option - 25
  1. Finally, click on Save changes and restart your PC .

Method 5: Run Antivirus Scan

To avoid this error message, run an antivirus scan in your system and check if the problem is solved. Then, follow the below-mentioned steps to do so.

  1. Press Windows + I keys together to open System Settings .

  2. Here, click on Update & Security , as shown.

Here, the Windows Settings screen will pop up. Now click on Update and Security. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 26
  1. Click on Windows Security in the left pane.

  2. Next, select the Virus & threat protection option under Protection areas .

select the Virus and threat protection option under Protection areas - 27
  1. Click on Scan Options , as shown.
Click on Scan options. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 28
  1. You can choose Quick scan, Full scan, Custom scan, or Microsoft Defender Offline scan according to your need and click on Scan Now as highlighted.
Choose a scan option as per your preference and click on Scan Now . - 29

7A. If there are any threats, click on Start Actions under Current threats .

All the threats will be enlisted here. Click on Start Actions under Current threats. - 30

7B. If your computer does not have any threats, the No current threats prompt will pop up as highlighted below.

If you do not have any threats in your system, the system will show the No actions needed alert as highlighted below. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 31

Method 6: Update Windows

If you did not obtain any fix by the above methods, then there are few chances that you might have bugs in your system. If you use an outdated Windows version, the files in the system will not be compatible with the PC files leading to the Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable error message. Follow the below-mentioned steps to update your Windows OS.

  1. Press the Windows + I keys together to open Settings in your system.

  2. Now, select Update & Security .

Now, select Update and Security - 32
  1. Now, select Check for Updates from the right panel.
select Check for Updates from the right panel. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 33

4A. If a new update is available, click Install now to download and install the latest version.

If a new update is available, click Install now to download and install the latest update - 34

4B. If your system is already up-to-date, then it will show You’re up to date message.

windows update you're up to date message. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 35

Method 7: Update Drivers

If you haven’t fixed the Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable error, try to add the printer again. A few printers are automatically added to your PC when installing the corresponding drivers. Now, you can try updating all your drivers as instructed below.

  1. Type Device Manager in the Windows 10 search menu and open it.
Type Device Manager in the Windows 10 search menu and open it - 36
  1. Double-click Print queues to expand it.

  2. Now, right-click on the driver and click Update driver .

Double-click Print queues to expand it. Now, right click on the driver and click Update driver. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 37
  1. Now, click on Search automatically for drivers .
click on Search automatically for drivers - 38

5A. If the driver is outdated, the drivers will be updated to the latest version.

5B. If they are already in an updated stage, the screen displays the following message, The best drivers for your device are already installed . Click Close .

If they are already in an updated stage, the screen displays the following message, The best drivers for your device are already installed - 39

Method 8: Reinstall Printer Drivers

If updating drivers does not give you a fix, you can uninstall the drivers and install them again. Then, follow the below-mentioned steps to implement the same.

  1. Launch the Device Manager using the steps mentioned above and expand Print queues by double-clicking on it.

  2. Now, right-click on the driver and select Uninstall device .

right-click on the driver and select Uninstall device. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 40
  1. Confirm the prompt by clicking Uninstall .
Confirm the prompt by clicking Uninstall - 41
  1. Visit the manufacturer’s website e.g. Intel .
intel driver download page - 42
  1. Find & Download the drivers corresponding to the Windows version on your PC.

  2. Once downloaded, double-click on the downloaded file and follow the given instructions to install it.

Method 9: Add Printer Manually

If you face this error after updating the driver, you can try reinstalling any particular printer where you face the Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable error.

Note: Microsoft Print to PDF is taken as an example below.

  1. Launch Control Panel by searching it as shown.
open control panel. - 43
  1. Set the View by option to Large icons and select Devices and Printers as shown.
Set the View by option to Large icons and select Devices and Printers. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 44
  1. Then, right-click on the printer and select Remove device option as depicted below.
Then, right-click on the printer and select the Remove device option to fix the handle is invalid - 45
  1. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt to Remove Device .
Click Yes in the prompt. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 46
  1. Later, click on Add a printer shown highlighted.
click on Add a printer to fix the handle is invalid error - 47
  1. Select The printer that I want isn’t listed option as shown highlighted below.
Now, select The printer that I want isn’t listed option to fix the handle is invalid error - 48
  1. Then, click on Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings as shown and click on Next .
Then, click on Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings as shown and click on Next to fix the handle is invalid error - 49
  1. In the next window, click on PORTPROMPT: (Local Port) in the drop-down menu of Use an existing port and click on Next .
In the next window, click on PORTPROMPT Local Port in the dropdown menu of Use an existing port and click on Next - 50
  1. Now, choose the Manufacturer and Printers and click on Next as highlighted.
choose the Manufacturer and Printers and click on Next. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 51
  1. Rename the printer if needed and click on Next .
Rename the printer if needed and click on Next - 52
  1. Finally, wait for Windows to install the Printer.

Method 10: Recognize Printer using Other Applications

Another simplest method to fix this Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable issue is recognizing the printer using other applications.

Note: Here, Text Document is chosen as an example.

  1. Right-click on an empty area of the Desktop .

  2. Select New and then Text Document as depicted below.

Right-click on an empty area of the Desktop. Select New and then Text Document  - 53
  1. Open the document. Select File in the menu bar.
Select File in the menu bar - 54
  1. Select Print .
Select Print. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 55
  1. Click Find Printer in the Print window.
Click Find Printer in the Print window - 56

Method 11: Change Permissions via Registry Editor

If your PC does not have essential keys like PrinterPorts , you will probably face this Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable error message. You could correct them by tweaking the permission in the Registry editor as instructed below:

  1. Press and hold Windows + R keys together to open Run dialog box.

  2. Type regedit and hit Enter key to open Registry Editor .

type regedit in the box and hit Enter - 57
  1. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.

  2. Now, navigate to the following path .

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
navigate to the following path. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 58
  1. Right-click on Devices in the left pane and select the Permissions option.
right click on Devices in the left pane and select the Permissions option - 59
  1. Now, choose your account and select the box next to Full Control under Allow section.

Note: Make sure you have no items checked under Deny section.

  1. Click Apply and then OK .
choose your account and select the box next to Full Control under Allow section - 60
  1. Repeat the same steps for PrinterPorts and Windows keys.
Repeat the same steps for PrinterPorts and Windows keys. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 61
  1. Finally, update or reinstall the printers to implement the changes. Check if you have fixed the errors concerning Active Directory Domain Services Windows 10.

Method 12: Install Network Protocols

If your PC does not have all the necessary protocols for printing the document, you will face the Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable error message. You can manually install protocols on your PC by following the below-mentioned steps.

  1. Hit Windows + I keys together to open Settings .

  2. Select the Network & Internet option as shown.

Hit Windows and I keys together in your PC and select the Network and Internet option  - 62
  1. Select Wi-Fi in the left pane.

  2. Scroll down and click on Change adapter options as illustrated below.

Now, select Wi-Fi in the left pane. scroll down the right-screen and click on Change adapter options  - 63
  1. Right-click on the network and select the Properties option as shown.
Now, right click on the network in which you face the problem and select the Properties option  - 64
  1. Here, click on the Install… option shown highlighted.
Here, click on Install… option  - 65
  1. Here, select the Protocol option and click on Add…
select the Protocol option and click on Add… Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 66
  1. Select all the protocols listed in the Network Protocol window and click OK .
select all the protocols listed in the Network Protocol window and click OK - 67
  1. Follow the on-screen instructions to install. Finally, restart your PC .

Method 13: Modify Trust Center Settings (Application Specific)

If you face this Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable error message in Windows 10 for any particular Office applications like Word, Excel, etc., you could alter a few settings as instructed below:

  1. In your Office application , navigate to File from the menu bar followed by Options .
In your Office application, navigate to File from the menu bar followed by Options. - 68
  1. Then, click on Trust Center in the left pane.

  2. Select the Trust Center Settings… button from the right pane.

click on Trust Center in the left pane. Now, select the Trust Center Settings option from the right pane. Fix The Active Directory Domain Services is Currently Unavailable in Windows 10 - 69
  1. Next, click on the Trusted Locations option in the left pane.

  2. Check the box titled Allow Trusted Locations on my network (not recommended) and click OK.

click the box next to Allow Trusted Locations on my network (not recommended and click OK - 70
  1. Restart the app and check if you can print the document now.

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If you have issues with your Printer, then it must be because of Windows 10 unable to communicate with Print Spooler. The Print Spooler is a Windows program responsible for managing all the print jobs associated with your Printer. Only with the help of print spooler, you can initiate prints, scans, etc. from your Printer. Now users are unable to use their printers and when they go to services.msc window to start Print Spooler services they face the following error message:

Windows could not start the Print Spooler service on Local Computer.

Error 0x800706b9: Not enough resources are available to complete this operation.

Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 - 71

Now you know all about the error, it’s time we should see how to fix this annoying issue. So without wasting any time let’s see how to Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 with the help of below-listed troubleshooting guide.

  • Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9
  • Method 1: Run Printer Troubleshooter
  • Method 2: Start Print Spooler Services
  • Method 3: Run CCleaner and Malwarebytes
  • Method 4: Registry Fix
  • Method 5: Delete all the files in PRINTERS folder
  • Method 6: Create a New User Account

Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Run Printer Troubleshooter

  1. Open Control Panel and search Troubleshooting in the Search Bar on the top right side and click on Troubleshooting.
Search Troubleshoot and click on Troubleshooting | Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 - 72
  1. Next, from the left window, pane select View all.

  2. Then, from the Troubleshoot computer problems list select Printer.

From the troubleshooting list select Printer - 73
  1. Follow on-screen instruction and let the Printer Troubleshooter run.

  2. Restart your PC, and you may be able to Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9.

Method 2: Start Print Spooler Services

  1. Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.
services windows - 74
  1. Find Print Spooler service in the list and double-click on it.

  2. Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic, and the service is running, then click on Stop and then again click on start to restart the service.

Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic for print spooler - 75
  1. Click Apply, followed by OK.

  2. After that, again try to add the printer and see if you’re able to Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9.

Method 3: Run CCleaner and Malwarebytes

  1. Download and install CCleaner & Malwarebytes.

  2. Run Malwarebytes and let it scan your system for harmful files. If malware is found, it will automatically remove them.

Click on Scan Now once you run the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - 76
  1. Now run CCleaner and select Custom Clean .

  2. Under Custom Clean, select the Windows tab then make sure to checkmark defaults and click Analyze .

Select Custom Clean then checkmark default in Windows tab | Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 - 77
  1. Once Analyze is complete, make sure you’re certain to remove the files to be deleted.
Click on Run Cleaner to deleted files - 78
  1. Finally, click on the Run Cleaner button and let CCleaner run its course.

  2. To further clean your system, select the Registry tab , and ensure the following are checked:

Select Registry tab then click on Scan for Issues - 79
  1. Click on the Scan for Issues button and allow CCleaner to scan, then click on the Fix Selected Issues button.
Once scan for issues is completed click on Fix selected Issues | Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 - 80
  1. When CCleaner asks “ Do you want backup changes to the registry? ” select Yes .

  2. Once your backup has completed, click on the Fix All Selected Issues button.

  3. Restart your PC to save changes.

Method 4: Registry Fix

  1. Press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
Run command regedit - 81
  1. Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler

  1. Make sure to highlight Spooler key in the left window pane and then in the right window pane find the string called DependOnService.
Find DependOnService registry key under Spooler - 82
  1. Double click on the DependOnService string and change its value by deleting the HTTP part and leaving the RPCSS part.
Delete the http part in DependOnService registry key - 83
  1. Click OK to save changes and close Registry Editor.

  2. Reboot your PC and see if the error is resolved or not.

Method 5: Delete all the files in PRINTERS folder

  1. Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.
services windows - 84
  1. Find Print Spooler service then right-click on it and select Stop.
Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic for print spooler |Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 - 85
  1. Now in the File Explorer navigate to the following folder:

C:\Windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS

Note: It will ask to continue then click on it.

  1. Delete all the files in PRINTERS folder (Not the folder itself) and then close everything.

  2. Again go to services.msc window and s tart Print Spooler service.

Right-click on Print Spooler service and select Start - 86
  1. Reboot your PC and see if you can Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9.

Method 6: Create a New User Account

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings and then click Accounts.
Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Accounts - 87

2.Click on Family & other people tab in the left-hand menu and click Add someone else to this PC under Other people.

Click on Family & other people tab and and click Add someone else to this PC - 88
  1. Click, I don’t have this person’s sign-in information in the bottom.
Click, I don’t have this person’s sign-in information in the bottom | Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 - 89
  1. Select Add a user without a Microsoft account in the bottom.
Select Add a user without a Microsoft account in the bottom - 90
  1. Now type the username and password for the new account and click Next.
Type the username and password for the new account and click Next | Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 - 91

Sign in to this new user account and see if the Printer is working or not. If you are successfully able to Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 in this new user account, then the problem was with your old user account which might have got corrupted, anyway transfer your files to this account and delete the old account to complete the transition to this new account.

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That’s it you have successfully Fix Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9 but if you still have any questions regarding this post feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.

Does your printer fail to respond when you give the print command? If yes, there is no need to panic as you are not alone. Numerous people have encountered this problem while attempting to print documents from Windows 10 computer. A corrupt, obsolete, or damaged printer driver is the primary cause of this vexing Printer not responding error . The good news is that you can quickly resolve this issue by implementing the step-by-step methods listed in this guide.

Why is my device showing Printer driver is unavailable?

There are several reasons for the printer to become unresponsive and you can begin by testing the following:

  • Check if the printer cables are properly attached to the computer
  • Check if the printer is connected to Wi-Fi
  • Make sure that the ink cartridges are not empty
  • Check your system for alert lights or error messages
  • If you just upgraded your computer from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10 and started facing printer issues, the update may have corrupted the printer driver
  • It is possible that the original printer driver is incompatible with the latest version of Windows OS

Microsoft had stated that when Windows 10 was released, there would be no built-in backward compatibility with some apps and applications. However, numerous printer manufacturers were unable to update their drivers in time, which complicated the situation further.

How to Fix Printer Not Responding in Windows 10 - 92

What is the use of a printer driver?

Prior to understanding how to resolve the Printer not responding issue , it is imperative to learn about the printer drivers. It is a simple application that is mounted on the Windows 10 computer that allows interaction between the PC and the printer.

It performs two critical roles:

  • The first function is to act as a link between the printer and your device. It allows your computer to recognize the printer hardware, its features, and specifics.
  • Secondly, the driver is accountable for converting the print job data to signals which can be understood & implemented by the printer.

Each printer comes with its own special driver that is tailored to different operating system profiles such as Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10. If your printer is not programmed correctly or mounts the wrong system driver, the computer would be unable to find it & process a print job.

Certain printers, on the other hand, can utilize generic drivers offered by Windows 10. This enables you to print without the need to install external vendor drivers.

  • Fix Printer Not Responding Error in Windows 10
  • Method 1: Run Windows Update
  • Method 2: Update Your Printer Drivers
  • Method 3: Reinstall Printer Driver
  • Special Mention: Only for Plug–and–Play Printers

Fix Printer Not Responding Error in Windows 10

If you’re unable to print any internal document or a file that you downloaded from the internet then you may be facing the Printer driver is unavailable error. To resolve the printer not responding error, you can follow the below-listed troubleshooting steps.

Method 1: Run Windows Update

One possible reason for your Windows 10 computer to display the ‘Printer Driver is Unavailable’ error is because you are running an out-of-date operating system. To update your Windows OS, follow the below steps:

  1. Click the Start button and navigate to the Settings icon.
Navigate to the Settings icon | Printer Not Responding: A Brief Guide to Fix ‘Printer Driver is Unavailable’ - 93
  1. Select Update & Security .
Select Update and Security. - 94
  1. Windows will check for updates and, if found, will automatically download and install them.
press the Check for Updates button. - 95
  1. Now, Restart your computer once the update process is complete.

You can now check if you’re able to fix printer is not responding error.

Method 2: Update Your Printer Drivers

To update your printer drivers, you can download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website. Drivers can also be downloaded from the manufacturer’s support site. To install the printer drivers downloaded from the manufacturer’s website, follow these steps:

  1. Search for Control Panel in the Windows search bar then click on the Control Panel from the search results.
Navigate to the Control Panel. - 96
  1. Make sure to select ‘ Large Icons ‘ from the ‘ View by: ‘ dropdown. Now look for Device Manager and click on it.
select Device Manager | Printer Not Responding: A Brief Guide to Fix ‘Printer Driver is Unavailable’ - 97
  1. Under the Device Manager window, locate the printer for which you want to install drivers for.
Locate the printer  - 98
  1. Right-click the name of the printer and select Update Driver Software from the accompanying pop-up menu.
Right-click on the problematic printer and select Update Driver - 99
  1. A new window will appear. If you’ve already downloaded drivers from the manufacturer’s website, choose the Browse my computer for driver software option.

  2. Next, click on the Browse button and navigate to the place where you have downloaded the printer drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

click on the browse button and navigate to printer drivers - 100
  1. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the drivers manually.

  2. If you don’t have the downloaded drivers then select the option labeled Search automatically for updated driver software.

search automatically for updated driver software - 101
  1. Follow on-screen instructions to install the latest printer drivers.

Restart your PC and see if you’re able to fix the printer not responding issue.

Method 3: Reinstall Printer Driver

If you cannot print your document because of the error message ‘printer driver is unavailable,’ the best course of action would be to reinstall the printer driver. Follow these steps to fix printer is not responding error:

  1. Press Windows Key +R then type devmgmt.msc and click on OK.
type devmgmt.msc | Printer Not Responding: A Brief Guide to Fix ‘Printer Driver is Unavailable’ - 102
  1. The Device Manager window will open. Expand Print queues and find your printer device.
navigate to the Printers or Print queues  - 103
  1. Right-click on your printer device (with which you are facing the issue) and select Uninstall device option.

  2. Remove the device from printer queues and restart your PC to finish the uninstallation.

  3. After restarting your device, re-open Device Manager and click on Action .

reopen Device Manager and click on the Action section. - 104
  1. From the Action menu select Scan for hardware changes .
Click on the Action option on the top.Under Action, select Scan for hardware changes. - 105

Windows will now reinstall the appropriate printer driver on your computer. Finally, restart the device and see if your printer is responding and you’re able to print your documents.

Special Mention: Only for Plug–and–Play Printers

After you reinstall the printer drivers, Windows will automatically detect your Printer. If it recognizes the printer, proceed with the on-screen instructions .

  1. Unplug the printer from your computer. Also, remove any cords and wires that are connected between them.

  2. Reconnect all and follow the Setup Wizard process.

  3. If the Wizard is unavailable, navigate to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners > Add a Printer or Scanner.

Click on the Add a printer & scanner button at the top of the window - 106

Q1. What should I do if my Printer Driver is not Installing?

If nothing happens when you double-click the installation file, try the following:

  1. Click on Start , then navigate to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.

  2. Select Print Server Properties under Related Settings.

  3. Verify that your printer is specified under the Drivers tab.

  4. If your printer is not visible, click Add under the Welcome to the Add Printer Driver Wizard then click on Next.

  5. Pick the Device Architecture in the Processor Selection dialogue box. Once done, click Next.

  6. Pick your Printer Manufacturer from the left pane. Then choose your Printer Driver from the right pane.

  7. Finally, click on Finish and follow the on-screen instructions to add your driver.

Q2. How do I download the driver from the manufacture’s website?

Consult the service website for your printer manufacturer. To do so, conduct an internet search for the manufacturer of your printer followed by the term support, e.g., HP support .

Driver updates are available and accessible from a printer manufacturer’s website under the Drivers category. Certain support websites enable you to check specifically as per printer model code. Find and download the most recent driver for your printer and install it according to manufacturer installation directions.

A vast majority of drivers are executable files that you can simply install by double-clicking on them. After you have downloaded the file, begin the installation. Then, proceed with these steps to re-install the printer drivers:

  1. Click on Start, then navigate to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.

  2. Locate the printer under Printers & scanners. Select it, and then click on Remove device.

  3. After deleting your printer, reinstall it using the Add a printer or scanner option.

Q3. What is the meaning of Printer Driver Unavailable?

The error printer driver is unavailable indicates that the driver mounted on your computer is incompatible with your printer or is outdated. If the machine is unable to identify the drivers, you will be unable to activate or print from your printer .

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Are you in dire need of printing a document but can’t do so because of a stuck print job in Windows 10? Here are some ways to clear the print queue in Windows 10 easily.

Printers may appear easy to use but can be very flimsy at times. Handling print Queue when you urgently want to use a printer can be quite frustrating. The print queue not only prevents the present document but all future documents from printing. The problem is not hard to detect either. If the message ‘Printing’ remains indefinitely even though the paper is not stuck and the ink is right, then certainly there is a Print queue issue. There are certain ways that can be used to clear the print queue in Windows 10 .

Why does a print job gets stuck in Windows 10 - 107
  • Why does a print job gets stuck in Windows 10?
  • How To Clear Print Queue In Windows 10?
  • Method 1: Manually Clearing and Restarting the Print Spooler
  • Method 2: Clear Print Queue using a Batch File for the Print Spooler
  • Method 3: Clear Print Queue Using Command Prompt
  • Method 4: Use the Management Console

Why does a print job gets stuck in Windows 10?

The answer lies in the fact that the printing document isn’t directly sent for printing. The document is first received at the spooler , i.e., a program used to manage and queue the print jobs. This spooler is particularly helpful while rearranging the order of print jobs or deleting them entirely. A stuck print job prevents the documents in the queue from printing, which affects all the documents further down the queue.

Often you can solve the error by deleting the print job from the queue. To delete a stuck print job in Windows 10, go to ‘Printers’ in the setting and click on ‘ Open Queue .’ Cancel the print job causing a problem, and you are good to go. If you can’t delete a particular print job, then try deleting the entire print queue. If this doesn’t work either, then try restarting all your devices. Unplug all your connections and plug them to reboot your device completely. This is the first approach that you should have for a stuck print job. If these traditional methods don’t work, then here are some other detailed methods for clearing a print job in Windows 10.

How To Clear Print Queue In Windows 10?

There are a few methods that can be employed to clear a print job in Windows 10. Clearing and restarting the Print Spooler is one of the best methods to use for fixing the stuck print job. It doesn’t delete your documents but creates an illusion that the documents are being sent for the first time to the printer. The process is done by stopping the Print Spooler until you clear the entire temporary cache used by the spooler and then starting it again. This can be accomplished by using a manual method or by making a batch file.

Method 1: Manually Clearing and Restarting the Print Spooler

  1. Type ‘ Services .’ in the Windows search bar and open the ‘ Services ’ app.
Windows sesrch Services | How to Clear Print Queue In Windows 10? - 108
  1. Find ‘ Print Spooler ’ in the menu and double-click to open the Properties .
Find ‘Print Spooler’ in the menu and double click to open the Properties. - 109
  1. Click on ‘ Stop ’ in the Properties tab and minimize the window to use it again later.
Click on ‘Stop’ in the properties tab | How to Clear Print Queue In Windows 10? - 110
  1. Open ‘ File Explorer ’ and go to the below address location:
C:\Windows\System 32\spool\PRINTERS
Navigate to PRINTERS folder under Windows System 32 folder - 111
  1. You may be asked for permission to access the location. Click on ‘ Continue ’ to move forward.

  2. Once you reach the destination, select all the files and press Delete on your keyboard.

  3. Now go back to the Spooler properties window and click on ‘ Start .’

Now go back to the Spooler properties window and click on ‘Start.’ | How to Clear Print Queue In Windows 10? - 112
  1. Click on ‘ Ok ’ and close the ‘ Services ’ app.

  2. This will restart the spooler, and all the documents would be sent to the printer for printing.

Method 2: Clear Print Queue using a Batch File for the Print Spooler

Creating a batch file is a viable option if your print jobs frequently get stuck. Using the Services app every now and then can be a hassle that can be solved by a batch file.

  1. Open a text editor like Notepad on your computer.

  2. Paste the commands below as separate lines.

Net stop spooler

Del/Q/F/S “%windir%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.*”

Net start spooler
Paste the commands below as separate lines - 113
  1. Click on ‘ File ’ and choose ‘ Save as .’ Name the file with the extension ‘ .bat ’ at the end and choose ‘ All files (.) ’ in the ‘ Save as type ’ menu. Click on Save , and you are good to go.
Click on ‘File’ and choose ‘Save as.’ Name the file with the extension ‘.bat’ | How to Clear Print Queue In Windows 10? - 114
  1. Simply double-click on the batch file, and the work will be done . You can place it at the most accessible place on your desktop for easy access.

Method 3: Clear Print Queue Using Command Prompt

You can delete a stuck print job in Windows 10 by using Command Prompt as well. Using the method will stop and start the print spooler again.

  1. Type ‘ cmd ’ in the search bar. Right-click on the ‘ Command Prompt ’ app and choose the run as administrator option.
Right-click on the ‘Command Prompt’ app and choose the run as administrator option - 115
  1. Type the command ‘net stop spooler ’, which will stop the spooler.
Type the command ‘net stop spooler’, which will stop the spooler.  | How to Clear Print Queue In Windows 10? - 116
  1. Again type the following command and hit Enter:
 Del %systemroot%\system32\spool\printers\*/Q
  1. This will do the same task as the methods above.

  2. Start the spooler again by typing the command ‘ net start spooler ’ and press enter .

Method 4: Use the Management Console

You can use the service.msc, shortcut in the management console to clear the print queue in Windows 10. This method will stop the spooler and clear it to delete a stuck print job:

  1. Press the Windows Key + R key together to open the run window.

  2. Type ‘ Services.msc ’ and hit Enter .

Note: You can also access the ‘ Services ’ window via Windows Management. Right-click the Windows icon and choose Computer Management. Choose Services and Application then double-click on Services.

Type services.msc in the run command box then press enter - 117
  1. In the Services window, right-click on Print Spooler and select Properties.
Right-click on the Print Spooler service and select Properties - 118
  1. Click on the ‘ Stop ’ button to stop the Print Spooler service.
Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic for print spooler - 119
  1. Minimize the window and open file explorer. Type the address ‘C:\ Windows\ System32\ Spool\ Printers’ or navigate to the address manually.

  2. Select all the files in the folder and delete them. They were the files that were in the print queue at the instance.

  3. Go back to the Services window and click on the ‘ Start ’ button.

Click on the Start button to restart the Print Spooler service - 120

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We hope the above guide was helpful and you were able to successfully clear the print queue in Windows 10. If you’re still stuck, then there may be compatibility issues with the printer and the data to be printed. Outdated printer drivers can also be an issue. You can also run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter to identify the correct problem. It will help you fix the errors in the print jobs . Follow the methods above to delete a stuck print job and clear the print queue in Windows 10, and you shouldn’t have any problems.