You updated your printer driver — either manually or through Windows Update — and now the printer won't print, shows errors, or is stuck in the queue. This is a common issue with a straightforward fix.
Fix 1: Clear the Print Queue
- Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners
- Click your printer → Open print queue
- Click Printer menu → Cancel All Documents
- If jobs won't cancel, stop Print Spooler (Fix 2) and delete manually
Fix 2: Restart Print Spooler
- Press Win + R → type services.msc → Enter
- Find Print Spooler
- Right-click → Stop
- Open C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS → delete all files
- Go back to Services → right-click Print Spooler → Start
Fix 3: Roll Back the Driver
- Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager)
- Expand Print queues
- Right-click your printer → Properties → Driver tab
- Click "Roll Back Driver"
- If grayed out, proceed to Fix 4 for a clean reinstall
Fix 4: Clean Reinstall the Driver
- Remove the printer: Settings → Printers & scanners → select printer → Remove
- Remove the driver package:
- Press Win + R → type printmanagement.msc → Enter
- Go to All Drivers
- Right-click the problematic driver → Remove Driver Package
- Clear spooler: Stop Print Spooler → delete files in PRINTERS folder → Start Spooler
- Restart computer
- Install fresh driverfrom manufacturer's website:
- HP: support.hp.com/drivers
- Canon: usa.canon.com/support
- Epson: epson.com/Support
- Brother: support.brother.com/downloads
Fix 5: Check Printer Port Assignment
- Go to Settings → Printers & scanners → click printer
- Click Printer properties (not preferences)
- Go to Ports tab
- Make sure the correct port is checked:
- USB printer: USB00x port should be checked
- Network printer: Standard TCP/IP Port with correct IP
- WiFi printer: WSD Port or TCP/IP Port
- If wrong port, select the correct one and click Apply
Fix 6: Set as Default Printer
- Go to Settings → Printers & scanners
- Turn off "Let Windows manage my default printer"
- Click your printer → Set as default
- Try printing a test page from Printer Properties
Fix 7: Run Windows Troubleshooter
- Open Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters
- Click Run next to "Printer"
- Follow prompts
- Restart after completion
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my printer stop printing after a driver update?
Driver updates can cause: (1) Version mismatch between driver and printer firmware, (2) The new driver changed the printer port assignment, (3) Print spooler crashed during the update, (4) Old driver wasn't fully removed before new one installed. The most common fix is clearing the spooler and reinstalling the driver cleanly.
Should I use the Windows driver or the manufacturer driver?
Use the manufacturer's driver from their website (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother). Windows generic drivers lack features and often have compatibility issues. However, make sure you download the driver matching your exact printer model and Windows version (10 or 11, 32 or 64-bit).
Printer shows as ready but nothing prints — what's wrong?
The print queue is likely stuck. Open the print queue (Settings → Printers → your printer → Open queue) and cancel all jobs. Then restart the Print Spooler service. If still not printing, the driver may have changed the port — check Printer Properties → Ports tab.
How do I completely remove a printer driver?
To fully remove: (1) Remove printer from Settings, (2) Open Print Management (printmanagement.msc) → All Drivers → delete the driver package, (3) Restart Print Spooler, (4) Delete C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS contents, (5) Restart computer, (6) Install fresh driver.
Can I go back to the old printer driver?
Possibly. Open Device Manager → Print queues → right-click printer → Properties → Driver → Roll Back. If not available, check the manufacturer's website for archived/previous driver versions. You can also use Windows System Restore to go back to your previous configuration.
Printer Still Not Printing?
Our technicians can remotely fix driver conflicts and printing issues.