Microsoft has officially begun a multi-year process to phase out support for the aging software that enables millions of older printers to work with Windows 11.
The company isn’t pulling the plug overnight, but the roadmap is now clear. Starting this year, the pipeline for new driver updates for these legacy machines via Windows Update is effectively closed. But don’t panic and drag your printer to the curb just yet. According to Microsoft’s support page, this shift is about future updates, not a sudden bricking of your existing hardware.
As of January 15, 2026, Microsoft has stopped publishing new “v3” or “v4” printer drivers to Windows Update for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. If a printer manufacturer desperately needs a new driver approved, it will be a rare, case-by-case exception.
This marks the next step in a transition Microsoft first announced back in September 2023, giving manufacturers and users over two years to prepare. The next milestone comes July 1, 2026, when Windows will be tweaked to prefer its own modern, built-in driver over older third-party ones.
Finally, on July 1, 2027, all non-security updates for these legacy drivers via Windows Update will stop.
Why is Microsoft doing this?
Simply put, the old way of printing on Windows is a headache Microsoft wants to cure. The traditional system, which relied on thousands of unique drivers from hundreds of manufacturers, has been a notorious source of bugs and security vulnerabilities.
The company is pushing everyone toward a simpler, more secure standard called “Mopria.” Think of it like a universal language for printers. For devices that speak this language, Windows already includes the driver, enabling a seamless plug-and-play experience without hunting for manufacturer software.
As noted in the official overview, this modern framework “improves reliability and performance” and means “print device manufacturers no longer have to rebuild their software.”
What should you do?
For now, probably nothing. If your printer is currently working on Windows 11, it should continue to do so. The drivers you already have installed aren’t being deleted.
The issue will arise if you need to reinstall your printer on a new PC or after a system reset in the future. The latest driver might not be readily available via Windows Update. In that case, you’ll need to visit your printer manufacturer’s website directly to download and install their software package manually.
In short, your old printer isn’t dead. But the days of getting easy, automatic updates from Microsoft are numbered.
Microsoft is pulling the plug in 2026: Windows 11 24H2, Office 2021, and more are losing support.