- Microsoft is changing how some older printers are supported in Windows 11
- This does not mean that these devices will no longer work in the operating system.
- A poorly worded statement in a roadmap gave that impression, but Microsoft has clarified that these printers will still work properly – and will be able to apply driver updates, just not through Windows Update.
There is currently some confusion between older printers and Windows 11, so it’s worth clarifying that, despite what you may read elsewhere – due to a poorly worded support update from Microsoft – printers are not about to stop working with the operating system.
As Windows Latest reports, this stems from a Windows 11 roadmap update in which Microsoft noted that: “Starting in January 2026, Windows will no longer support V3 and V4 printer drivers. These older driver models were announced as obsolete in September 2023.
“Most customers use newer printer drivers or modern printing solutions, which continue to work and are recommended. If your printer depends on a V3 or V4 driver, it may stop installing or working after support ends.”
That last sentence obviously sounds like bad news, suggesting that any printers running these old drivers might simply stop working after the latest Windows 11 update. However, thankfully, that’s not the case, as Microsoft clarified in Windows Latest.
Indeed, the quoted statement is no longer present in the Windows 11 roadmap, so it has apparently been removed by Microsoft, perhaps due to the confusion it now causes.
In a support document on its Learn portal, Microsoft offers an FAQ that makes the situation much clearer. Here are the key questions and answers to keep in mind:
Question : Will Windows prevent new printer drivers from being installed [for these older third-party printers]?
A: Windows will continue to allow installation of vendor-supplied printer drivers through separate installation packages.
Question : Will the installation of Microsoft-signed printer drivers already on the market be prevented from installing under Windows?
A: Existing printer drivers can be installed on Windows PCs even after maintenance is completed.
What does this mean if you own one of these printers?
If you have an affected printer – a printer that is not a Mopria-compatible device (which is covered by Microsoft’s IPP class driver) – going forward, you will need to install the new drivers yourself, by obtaining them from the manufacturer. (Note that all modern printers have moved away from these V3 and V4 drivers, and indeed you are looking at devices that are probably over ten years old.)
In other words, since the last (rather problematic) update in January, Windows 11 will not provide any new drivers from the device manufacturer; you will need to get them directly from the source. However, you will still be able to install these drivers in Windows 11 and your printer will not suddenly stop working. Indeed, Microsoft clarifies that it has no plans to disable existing printer features supported by the V3 and V4 printer drivers (let alone the printers themselves).
Concretely, if you have one of the printers with V3 or V4 driver affected, your device will continue to work correctly with its current driver. If you want to stay up to date with the latest drivers, you will need to monitor them yourself via the manufacturer’s website (in the support or downloads section – wherever new drivers are offered, and this can also be via the supplier’s associated software).
If you’re primarily concerned about security – and that’s understandable – it’s worth noting that Microsoft will continue to push any “critical” security fixes for these printers through Windows Update. And if your printer works perfectly as is, that’s really all you need to move forward.
So in summary, there is no reason to worry here, despite some scary headlines you may have seen. That said, it is true that Microsoft’s wording in the quote above her worrying, but clearly it’s misleading (and was apparently removed as a result).
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