The Selected Printer Is Not Available

The selected printer is not available is a common issue that can be resolved easily. This article briefs the possible causes and suggests some troubleshooting steps that you can try to fix the issue. Let us know more detail about ‘The Selected Printer Is Not Available’.

The Selected Printer Is Not Available

The error, ‘The selected printer is not available’ appears since the printer is not been recognized by your computer. This is probably due to a poor connection of the hardware or signal. It can also indicate the need for some new driver updates. This can be resolved smoothly by checking the connections, driver installations, or reinstalling the printer again so that the printer will get recognized. Additionally, Google chrome settings and hardware checkups can be done. 

Try one or more troubleshooting steps from the following. Go ahead with the next step if one step fails to resolve the issue:

1. Check Printer connection 

For local printers

            -Unplug and plug back the cables to the computer

            -Make sure the printer shows an ‘on’ signal

Network printer

          -Disconnect and reconnect the network printer

         – Check the router connection and any hardware damages.

Now, if you can find your printer, try to print a test page by selecting the printer.

Tip: Restart the device, printer, router, etc. Restarting your hardware resolves the issue sometimes.

2. Driver installation 

• Go to the manufacturer’s official website.
• Enter product details or choose automatic detection of the device
• Select software and drivers option
• Download the drivers
• Install the drivers

 OR

• Open device manager
• Select the ‘view’ tab and check the hidden icon box
• Select Print queues
• Select your printer, right-click and hit the update driver software
• Drivers will be updated

Note: if you have already downloaded the drivers, check if it is installed

If you are still not able to find your printer, a printer reinstallation is required.

3. Printer installation 

• Click the windows icon and Type printers and scanners

    OR

• Go to Settings, Under devices look for printers and scanners  
• Click on ‘add a printer/ scanner option’
• Click on ‘the printer the I wanted is not listed’

For local printers :

1. Select ‘Add a local printer with manual settings’ in the find my printer wizard.
2. Choose the existing port
3. Select the printer by checking the manufacturer and printer name.
4. Make sure drivers are updated from the manufacturer’s site (The printer will not be found in the above if drivers are not updated)

Or

Select Windows update (This will update the required printer drivers)

Or

Hard disc (some printers will be given a hard disc to install software that updates drivers)

5. Follow additional steps if prompted by the wizard and click finish
6.  Your printer is now added  

For network/ wireless/ Bluetooth printers 

1. From the printer help wizard, Select ‘Add a printer using TCP/IP address or hostname ’  

              Enter The IP address of the printer and hostname

(Note: To get the IP address of the printer, try either one of these methods:

• Control panel>hardware and sound> device and printers> right click on printer> properties> check under web services/ports
• Open command prompt> type netstat –r > enter)

             OR

2. , or network discoverable printer’ in the find my printer wizard

The printer will be detected if it is paired, if not go ahead and pair the network printer with the computer.

3. Select printer by checking manufacturer and printer name.
4. Make sure drivers are updated from the manufacturer’s site ( the printer will not be found in the above if drivers are not updated)

        Or

      Select Windows update (This will update the required printer drivers)

       Or

     Hard disc (some printers will be given a hard disc to install software that updates drivers)

1. Set an administrative password If prompted
2. Follow additional steps if prompted by the wizard and click finish
3. The printer is now added  

• Now go for a test print.
• Additionally, check if ‘the printer selected is not available’ shows only on Google chrome usage. If yes, update to the latest version of Google chrome. Go for a reinstall of Google chrome and restart your device. Re-launch the browser and try to print the test page.

Hopefully, the above-suggested steps must have connected your printer to the computer for it to be recognized and start printing. But, if the issue persists, it is advised to contact the customer support of printer and device support to find a fix.

Frequently asked questions 

1. ‘The selected printer is not available or installed correctly. Check your printer and try selecting another printer error on MAC’ 

– To fix this error, try to choose a different printer by changing the destination of   the printer. Select the ‘see more’ option under destination. Choose from different options available to you and try for a test print. Additionally, Check your printer connection status, install drivers and reinstall the printer. Also, update Google chrome and clear browsing cache data. This should help resolve the issue.

2. ‘Can’t print from Google chrome’ error

– First, clear the browser data by deleting browser history, cookies, and cache data. Go to settings in Google chrome> more tools> clear the data by checking the boxes. Second, delete all other active printers except for the one you want to use by changing ‘manage cloud print devices’ under the ‘Advanced tab’ of Google Chrome settings.

Additionally, Google chrome update and Reinstall can also be performed to help fix the issue.