Microsoft clarifies Windows 11 printer driver policy — support for legacy printers is not ending
Source: Tom’s Hardware
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Microsoft’s clarification on Windows 11 printer driver policy
Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 is not ending support for legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers, contrary to earlier reports that suggested these drivers would be removed from the OS entirely.
What changed on January 15 2026
- New V3 and V4 printer driver submissions to Windows Update are blocked by default.
- Each submission now requires case‑by‑case approval for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 and later.
This change does not remove support for existing drivers:
- Drivers already available through Windows Update remain accessible.
- Printers that are already installed and working will continue to function.
- Vendors can still distribute drivers directly via their own installer packages.
Background on V3 and V4 drivers
V3 and V4 are older Windows printer driver models that have been in use for over a decade. Microsoft first announced plans to phase out servicing for these legacy driver models in September 2023, giving hardware partners more than two years to prepare. The push to modernize the Windows print stack is largely driven by security concerns—legacy drivers can run in kernel mode and have been a source of serious vulnerabilities, including the class of exploits known as PrintNightmare.
Ongoing deprecation timeline
- July 1, 2024 – Windows will adjust its internal driver ranking to prefer Microsoft’s built‑in Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) driver over third‑party legacy alternatives when both are available.
- July 1, 2027 – Third‑party printer driver updates distributed via Windows Update will be limited to security‑related fixes only.
Future direction: Windows Protected Print Mode
Windows 11 24H2 introduced Windows Protected Print Mode, an optional feature that removes third‑party drivers entirely and restricts printing to Microsoft’s own class drivers. This signals Microsoft’s long‑term intent to wean Windows 11 off legacy driver models, but for now legacy printers will continue to work.
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