Driver unavailable

[Lynitt]

My computer is connecting to my HP ENVY 4520, but it still keeps saying the diver is unavailable. I have restarted, removed the dirver (and now that option isn't even available after trying to reinstall and use the trick of changing the 3 folder to 3.old), and reinstalled at least three times. It still only gives me the option of printing to the Smart Folder. I'm honestly at a loss as to what else to try. I went through this whole process because I had lost the option to print in color. Now I can't print to it at all from my computer. Any ideas??

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Lynitt,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you’ve been through quite a bit of troubleshooting already. When a printer driver is marked as "unavailable," it can prevent printing and might cause issues like losing color printing functionality. Here’s a structured approach to resolving this problem:

1. Uninstall Old Drivers Completely

Since you've tried uninstalling and reinstalling drivers multiple times, make sure any old or conflicting drivers are completely removed:

Use Printer Removal Tool: Use a tool like HP Print and Scan Doctor to remove all HP printer drivers and software. This tool can help in thoroughly cleaning out old drivers and related software.

Download HP Print and Scan Doctor: HP Print and Scan Doctor

Manually Remove Drivers:

• On Windows:
  1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click on your HP ENVY 4520 and select Remove device.
  3. Open Device Manager (you can search for it in the Start menu).
  4. Look for any entries under Print queues or Other devices that are related to HP. Right-click and select Uninstall.
  5. Check %SystemRoot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete any files in the folder (be careful to only delete files and not the folder itself).

2. Download and Install the Latest Driver

HP Official Website:

1. Go to the HP Support website.
2. Search for your HP ENVY 4520 printer model.
3. Download the latest full-feature driver for your operating system.
4. Install the driver following the on-screen instructions

• Sometimes, using the HP Smart app can resolve driver issues. Download and install the HP Smart app from the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store and follow the setup process to add your printer.

3. Update Operating System

• Windows Updates: Ensure your operating system is up to date. Sometimes updates can include fixes for printer drivers or compatibility issues.

4. Printer Settings and Defaults

1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on your HP ENVY 4520 and select Set as default printer.

• Ensure the printer is online and has no pending errors. Right-click on the printer icon in Devices and Printers and select See what's printing to check the print queue.

5. Troubleshoot Printer Issues:

• Run the HP Print and Scan Doctor to diagnose and fix common printer issues. It can help identify issues with the driver and other settings.

6. Reconfigure Printer Settings:

• Use the HP printer software (if installed) to reconfigure the printer. Look for options to manage or configure the printer settings.

7. Network and Connectivity Issues:

• If your printer is networked (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), ensure that it is properly connected to your network. You might need to reconnect the printer to the network or check network settings.

8. Check for Conflicts

• Ensure that there is no other printer software or driver installed that might be conflicting with your HP ENVY 4520. Sometimes, other printer software can cause conflicts.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support