US EditionWindows 11 printer alert: Microsoft tightens the screws on legacy V3/V4 drivers in 2026
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In recent days, reports have surfaced online suggesting that Windows 11 will soon end support for many older printer models. This is believed to be due to the end of support for popular V3 and V4 drivers. Microsoft, however, assures us that printers will not suddenly stop working, and that the changes primarily concern the way new drivers are made available via Windows Update. Microsoft has been preparing changes to printer support for several y…
Microsoft ends support for millions of older printers
For years, your trusty old printer has been the one piece of hardware that just works—faithfully churning out documents without the constant need for upgrades. However, a major shift in Windows 11 is about to put that reliability to the test, as Microsoft prepares to pull the plug on driver support for millions of legacy devices. It sounds like the beginning of the end for your hardware, but before you start scouting for a replacement or draggin…
No, Windows 11 isn’t killing millions of printers, but it’s ending new V3/V4 drivers on Windows Update
Microsoft says it has stopped releasing V3 and V4 printer drivers via Windows Update starting January 2026, but that does not mean printers relying on these drivers are now useless or no longer supported. In fact, older printers are still supported. However, Microsoft no longer plans to publish new V3 and V4 printer drivers on Windows Update. Existing drivers or printers that depend on these drivers will continue to work. What is happening with …
It cannot be said that Microsoft is taking users of older printers by surprise, since the announcement of the withdrawal of V3 and V4 drivers dates back to September 2023. But now that Windows no longer actually supports these drivers, some may be in for a nasty surprise.
Windows 11 printer alert: Microsoft tightens the screws on legacy V3/V4 drivers in 2026
Microsoft has blocked most new legacy Windows printer driver submissions, requiring manual review and justification from print partners as it phases out the V3 and V4 driver pipeline. No new third-party printer drivers will be published to Windows Update for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 or later after January 15, 2026. Existing drivers remain installable, with security fixes continuing for supported OS versions. The post Windows 11 printer…
The new changes mean that many older printers are no longer automatically supported on Windows 11.
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