Microsoft is retiring legacy Windows printer drivers, one step at a time

[Alfonso Maruccia]

The takeaway: Microsoft quietly signaled a major shift in how printer drivers would work on Windows nearly three years ago. That plan is now becoming reality, though most older third-party printers won't suddenly stop working anytime soon.

Starting in January 2026, Microsoft will no longer distribute new "official" printer drivers through Windows Update. First announced back in 2023, the move is meant to improve the reliability and security of Windows printing by pushing the platform toward a single, unified driver standard. Despite early warnings about an extinction-level event for printers, the transition is unlikely to meaningfully disrupt everyday users – or the legacy hardware that continues to churn out pages just fine.

Microsoft confirmed in a support document that it is ending active servicing for legacy V3 and V4 Windows printer drivers. The company describes the shift as significant, which explains why it's being rolled out over several years. As of the January 15, 2026 non-security updates, Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 can no longer install new printer drivers via Windows Update.

Existing drivers may still receive occasional updates, but only with explicit Microsoft approval on a case-by-case basis. Beginning July 1, 2026, Windows will be configured to always prefer the built-in Windows IPP class driver. A year later, on July 1, 2027, Windows Update will stop offering new printer drivers altogether aside from major security fixes.

Does this mean Microsoft is killing off third-party printer drivers? Not exactly. The company says users will still be able to install existing drivers from Windows Update, and manufacturers can continue distributing their own installation packages directly. In other words, it's business as usual, much as it has been since the Windows 3.x era.

Still, the shift isn't nothing. Microsoft introduced a modern Internet Printing Protocol – based driver with Windows 10 21H2, designed to support Mopria-compliant devices. The Mopria Alliance created the standard to streamline printing and scanning across PCs and mobile platforms alike.

According to Microsoft, the IPP class driver eliminates the need for traditional third-party drivers and bundled software. Printer makers can still offer a customized experience, but that now means building UWP apps delivered through the Microsoft Store instead of relying on "legacy" Win32 utilities.

In practice, that future feels more aspirational than real. As I recently found after purchasing a brand-new Epson ET-8500 multi-function printer, Microsoft's idea about the "future" of printing on Windows feels like wishful thinking at best. Modern printers have indeed switched to an IPP driver model, but you will likely still need to download hefty Win32 software on top to get the most out of your new machine. Meanwhile, Epson's own Print and Scan app on the Microsoft Store has an abysmal user rating and doesn't even support Windows 11.

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Microsoft is retiring legacy Windows printer drivers, one step at a time

 

[opckieran]

Windows' built-in print management is pretty solid (albeit clunky) and offers perhaps the most comprehensive control over printer settings I have seen in any OS. You have complete control over driver versioning, printer mapping, settings, etc. Unfortunately, like every good software item by M$, it will likely be deprecated or dumbed down in the next 5 years.

 

[bandit8623]

Windows' built-in print management is pretty solid (albeit clunky) and offers perhaps the most comprehensive control over printer settings I have seen in any OS. You have complete control over driver versioning, printer mapping, settings, etc. Unfortunately, like every good software item by M$, it will likely be deprecated or dumbed down in the next 5 years.

this doesnt mean domain level drivers cant be deployed still (GPO)..it just means that client os's wont come with a giant pack of v3 v4 drivers by default.

 

[NumberNine]

Meanwhile Linux infrastructure will simply continue to fuction, often for free.

 

[OortCloud]

Of late I don't say this much, but I have a lot of sympathy with MS on this one.
Printer companies have shovelled out truly atrocious printer drivers with abysmal 3rd party apps often written in the 90s and just patched and glued together to carry on working for years.
I'm sad though as this may finally be the end for my HP 1320 which has served me well for decades and comes from a time when HP still remembered how to make a printer, rather than a cheap-as-possible loss-leader for a toner/cartridge scam.

 

[Bamda]

Meanwhile Linux infrastructure will simply continue to fuction, often for free.

About that, Linux is nice when it doesn't have issues just like Windows. And fixing it isn't nearly as easy.

 

[Alpine7995]

In the short term, nothing really changes for users, which is probably the point. The real impact shows up years from now, when a new printer “just works” for 80% of people and the remaining 20% still install a driver package only now it’s optional instead of mandatory. That’s not exciting, but it’s progress.

 

[barca1au]

I've already lost the use of my ancient Brother laser printer which keeps on keeping on. It works when attached to my older laptop, but my newer one, which is not exactly new, simply doesn't recognise it so it won't install, and its not a matter of a faulty cable. I suppose all good things come to an end sometime, but the money I've saved with this elderly Brother has made it an excellent purchase. I doubt the newer printers are as user and bank account friendly. They are simply cash cows pretending to be useful.