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Microsoft Halts Legacy Printer Drivers, Modernizes Windows Printing

2/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

Microsoft will stop publishing new legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers to Windows Update as of January 15, 2026, to modernize the Windows printing system.
The modernization follows a deprecation announced in September 2023.
Users with older printers may face installation issues, but existing drivers will function.
From July 1, 2026, Windows will prioritize built-in Microsoft drivers, and by July 1, 2027, third-party updates will be limited to security fixes.

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Story summary

Microsoft will stop publishing new legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers to Windows Update as of January 15, 2026, to modernize the Windows printing system.
The modernization follows a deprecation announced in September 2023.
Users with older printers may face installation issues, but existing drivers will function.
From July 1, 2026, Windows will prioritize built-in Microsoft drivers, and by July 1, 2027, third-party updates will be limited to security fixes.