Windows cannot locate a suitable print driver on Windows 10

When adding a printer to an already connected printer if you receive an error – Windows cannot locate a suitable printer driver, this message will help you resolve this error. This happens for two reasons. First, when the printer is not shared properly with the right permissions. Second, if there is a problem with the printer driver.

Windows fails to locate an appropriate printer driver

If your Windows 10 does not find a suitable printer driver, here are some troubleshooting tips that will help you find the network printer from a remote computer.

1. Share the printer with appropriate permissions
2. Computer network profile is private
3. Update printer driver

You will need administrator privileges to apply the suggested settings.

1) Share the printer with the appropriate permissions

You must configure it from the computer on which the printer was originally configured.

1. Open the Run prompt (Win + R) and type in Control Panel. Press the enter key.
2. Then go to Devices and Printers.
3. Find the printer you want to share, right-click it and select Printer properties.
4. Switch to the sharing tab and check the box that says "Share this printer" and "Make print jobs on client computers"
5. Then go to the Security tab and make sure the user with the name EVERYONE is available.
6. Select the user Everyone and check the box. Authorize under Authorizations.
7. He will make sure that anyone who can see the shared printer can print to it.

2) The computer network profile is private

When you connect to a Wi-Fi network, the default mode is set to Public. It ensures that your PC and any other shared items remain hidden. Since we are talking about a non-public network, make sure the profile is set to Wifi. It is generally useful if you have a non-Wi-Fi printer shared via a computer.

1. Click the Network icon in the taskbar> properties
2. Switch the network profile from Public to Private.
3. Then go to Settings> Network & Internet> Sharing options
4. Turn on the Enable network discovery option, turn on printer and file sharing.

He will make sure that if a printer is shared via a desktop or laptop computer, it can be discovered.

Lily: How to share and add a network printer in Windows 10.

3) Update the printer driver

The last option is to update the printer driver. You will need to do this on the remote location and on the local computer as well. When you print, the computer searches for the installed driver to provide you with all native functionality such as print quality.

• Open the power menu using WIN + X, then select Device Manager
• You have two options here
  • Uninstall the device and add the printer
  • Update driver
• If you choose to update the driver, be sure to check the driver compatibility with Windows 10.
• If you remove and re-add the driver, you will need to configure the sharing permission again.

When removing an existing driver from an old printer or to completely remove an existing printer, be sure to also remove the driver software. In the Device Manager, right click on the printer properties, go to the Drivers tab and, when you uninstall a printer driver, also choose to remove the printer driver 39; printer or software.

Although it is not necessary, restart the computer so that there are steps left after shutdown, it will be taken care of. Once done, it should fix the problem: Windows cannot locate a suitable printer driver in Windows 10.

Related Reading: Where to download drivers for Windows 10?