Microsoft purges Windows 11 printer drivers, putting millions of devices on borrowed time — leg…

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Microsoft purges Windows 11 printer drivers, putting millions of devices on borrowed time — legacy printers face extinction as Microsoft stops distributing V3 and V4 drivers

Microsoft cuts off new third-party print driver releases via Windows Update.

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Microsoft is preparing a major change to how printers are supported in Windows 11, pulling the plug on drivers that primarily support older hardware. Beginning with a non-security update that was released on January 15, Microsoft will no longer support legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers, which were announced as deprecated in September 2023.

The policy is part of broader plans to modernize the Windows print platform following the release of Windows 10 21H2, which removed the need for print device manufacturers to provide their own installers. Under these plans, users on Windows 11 or Windows Server 2025 and later will no longer be able to install new printer drivers via Windows Update.

Microsoft is pulling the plug on old printer drivers — here’s what it means

The next system update for Windows 11 could break your printer. Here's what you need to know.

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Microsoft is moving forward with a long-planned cleanup of the Windows 11 printing stack. Starting with the non-security update released in January 2026, Windows 11 no longer supports legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers, a change that will affect devices running versions 24H2 and 25H2 as the rollout gradually expands.

The company first announced the deprecation of V3 and V4 printer drivers in September 2023, giving hardware partners and customers more than two years to prepare. As the final cutoff now approaching, Microsoft is signaling that the transition to modern printing is no longer optional for Windows 11 users.

Windows 11 printer alert: Microsoft tightens the screws on legacy V3/V4 drivers in 2026

Microsoft has tightened controls on legacy Windows printer drivers, blocking most new submissions by default and routing them through manual review as the company winds down the old V3 and V4 driver pipeline. Print partners must now file a justification document with each submission, Microsoft said. 1

Why it matters now: the shift lands on top of routine Windows 11 updates, and it changes what “plug it in and Windows finds the driver” looks like for older printers. Windows Central reported that devices still tied to V3 or V4 drivers may fail to install or stop working as the rollout expands across Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. 2

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