Microsoft stops offering drivers for old printers via Windows Update

Microsoft has decided to stop sending out new drivers for old printers via Windows Update. The drivers in question are for V3 or V4 printers, which means printers that could be up to 12 years old.

According to an update to the Windows Roadmap (spotted by Windows Latest) that’s no longer accessible:

Starting in January 2026, Windows will no longer support V3 and V4 printer drivers. These older driver models were announced as deprecated 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.

To be clear, this means that legacy V3 or V4 printers will continue to work as normal, but won’t receive new drivers via Windows Update. Furthermore, Microsoft says users can still install vendor-supplied drivers via other installation methods (outside Windows Update). So, if you have a V3 or V4 printer, rest easy that it won’t die overnight.

If you want to install printer drivers manually, you can navigate to Windows Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Printers and scanners.

In short, there’s no rush to recycle your old printer just yet. That said, you might want to get a replacement soon if yours is on the verge of its life. Check out our tips for buying a printer that doesn’t suck.