How to fix “The specified printer driver is currently in use” error

What is “The specified printer driver is currently in use” error

The specified printer driver is currently in use error is a common issue that occurs when you try to install or update a printer driver, but the driver is already in use by another process. This error can happen if the Print Spooler service is running or if there are ghost printers installed on your system. In this article, we will discuss some general steps that can help you fix this error. You can attempt to solve the problem by removing driver on Print Spooler Restart, renaming Print Processors in registry editor or disabling Bi-Directional support on your printer.

or

or

How to fix “The specified printer driver is currently in use” error manually

1. Reboot

Sometimes simply restarting your computer can resolve the issue.

2. Delete the driver when Print Spooler service is starting

The Print Spooler service can prevent users from removing printer drivers in certain circumstances. By default, the print spooler allows any user to add and delete printer drivers on the local system. If you encounter issues removing printer drivers, you can try stopping the Print Spooler service and then removing the printer.

1. Open the Services app by pressing Windows key + R, typing services.msc, and pressing Enter.
2. Find the Print Spooler service and double-click on it to open Print Spooler properties.
3. Open Control Panel, change View by to Large icons.
4. Click on Devices and Printers and pick any printer by one left mouse click.
5. In the menu above the list of printers choose Print server properties.
6. Navigate to Drivers tab. Pick the driver you need to remove by one left mouse click.
7. Return to Print Spooler properties and click on Stop button. Then click Start button and immediately return to the list of drivers.
8. Remove unwanted driver
9. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64 (or C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86 if you’re using a 32-bit system).
10. Delete any folders related to the printer driver you’re trying to uninstall or update.
11. Restart your PC.

3. Rename Print Processors

1. Stop Print Spooler service as shown on the previous set of instructions.
2. Open the Registry Editor by pressing Windows key + R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Print Processors\.
4. Right-click each Print Processor and select Rename, adding .old to the end of the name.
5. Try installing or updating the printer driver again.

4. Disable Bi-Directional Support

Bi-directional support in printers refers to the ability of a printer to communicate with the computer and vice versa. This communication allows the printer to send status updates to the computer, such as ink levels and paper jams, and allows the computer to send print jobs to the printer. Windows 11 has built-in support for bi-directional communication with printers, however, this may be the reason for “The specified printer driver is currently in use” error in some cases.

1. Open the Print Management app by pressing Windows key + R, typing printmanagement.msc, and pressing Enter.
2. Expand Print Servers, then your computer’s name, and then Printers.
3. Right-click on desired printer and select Properties.
4. Go to the Ports tab and uncheck the checkbox Enable Bi-Directional Support.
5. Click Apply and try installing or updating the printer driver again.

5. Remove Ghost Printers

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator by typing cmd in the search box of the Start menu and right click on the Command Prompt, then choose Run as Administrator.
2. Type or copy-paste following command: set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
3. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + R, typing devmgmt.msc.
4. There you will see all hidden (ghost) printers and can remove them using abovementioned routine

In conclusion, these are some general steps that can help you fix “The specified printer driver is currently in use” error. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to seek further assistance from a technical support professional.