Uninstall a Printer Driver in Windows 11/10

A printer driver allows Windows 11 and Windows 10 to communicate with a printer. If the driver becomes corrupted, outdated, incompatible, or conflicts with another printer driver, you may experience printing problems, incorrect printer detection, or repeated printer errors.

Removing the printer from Windows does not always completely remove its driver. The driver package can remain installed and may continue to cause problems when you reinstall the printer.

Windows provides several ways to remove printer drivers. You can use Settings, Device Manager, Print Management, or the Print Server Properties window. For a complete driver removal, the Print Server Properties method is particularly useful.

Method 1: Remove the Printer Before Uninstalling Its Driver

Before removing the driver, it is a good idea to remove the associated printer from Windows.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Bluetooth & devices.
3. Select Printers & scanners.
4. Select the printer you want to remove.
5. Select Remove.
6. Confirm the removal.

On Windows 10, open:

Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners

Select the printer and choose Remove device.

After removing the printer, you can continue with the driver removal methods below.

Method 2: Uninstall the Printer Driver Using Print Server Properties

The Print Server Properties window provides one of the most direct ways to remove an installed printer driver.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

printui /s /t2

3. Press Enter.
4. The Print Server Properties window will open.
5. Select the Drivers tab.
6. Select the printer driver you want to remove.
7. Select Remove.
8. Choose Remove driver and driver package if the option is available.
9. Select OK.
10. Confirm the removal.

Removing the driver package deletes the driver files and associated package from Windows.

If Windows says the driver is currently in use, make sure the printer has been removed and that there are no pending print jobs.

Method 3: Remove the Printer Driver Through Print Management

Windows editions that include Print Management can use it to manage installed printer drivers.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

printmanagement.msc

3. Press Enter.
4. Expand Print Servers.
5. Expand your computer name.
6. Select Drivers.
7. Find the printer driver you want to remove.
8. Right-click the driver.
9. Select the available removal option.

Print Management provides a central location for viewing printers, drivers, and print-related components.

If printmanagement.msc is not available on your edition of Windows, use the Print Server Properties method instead.

Method 4: Uninstall the Printer Driver Using Device Manager

Device Manager can also be used to remove printer-related devices and drivers.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Select Device Manager.
3. Look for the printer or related device.
4. Expand the appropriate category.
5. Right-click the printer device.
6. Select Uninstall device.
7. If Windows displays an option to remove the driver package, select it.
8. Select Uninstall.

After removing the device, restart Windows.

Keep in mind that Device Manager does not always remove the complete printer driver package. If the driver remains installed, use Print Server Properties to remove it completely.

Method 5: Remove the Printer Driver From Windows 10 Control Panel

Windows 10 provides access to traditional printer management through Control Panel.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

control

3. Press Enter.
4. Select Devices and Printers.
5. Select a printer.
6. Open Print server properties.
7. Select the Drivers tab.
8. Select the driver you want to remove.
9. Select Remove.
10. Choose to remove the driver and driver package if available.

This method can also be useful when the modern Settings interface does not completely remove an older printer driver.

Method 6: Stop Print Spooler Before Removing a Stuck Driver

Sometimes Windows will not allow a printer driver to be removed because the Print Spooler is still using it.

You can stop the service temporarily.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

services.msc

3. Press Enter.
4. Find Print Spooler.
5. Right-click it.
6. Select Stop.
7. Remove the printer driver using Print Server Properties.
8. Return to the Services window.
9. Right-click Print Spooler.
10. Select Start.

You can then restart the computer and check whether the old driver has been removed.

Do not leave the Print Spooler service disabled because Windows needs it to process normal print jobs.

Method 7: Remove an Old Driver Before Reinstalling the Printer

If you are reinstalling a printer because it is not working correctly, removing its old driver first can help prevent driver conflicts.

Start by removing the printer from Printers & scanners.

Then:

1. Open Print Server Properties.
2. Select the Drivers tab.
3. Find the old printer driver.
4. Select Remove.
5. Select Remove driver and driver package if available.
6. Restart Windows.
7. Install the correct printer driver.
8. Add the printer again.

This gives Windows a clean printer-driver installation instead of reusing a potentially damaged driver package.

Method 8: Remove Unused Printer Drivers

Over time, Windows computers can accumulate drivers from printers that are no longer connected.

You can check the installed drivers and remove those you no longer need.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter:

printui /s /t2

3. Press Enter.
4. Select the Drivers tab.
5. Review the listed drivers.
6. Select an unused printer driver.
7. Select Remove.
8. Choose to remove the driver package when appropriate.

Be careful when removing drivers from a computer that is used by multiple people. Another user may still need a particular printer.

Why Won’t Windows Let Me Uninstall a Printer Driver?

The most common reason is that Windows or the Print Spooler is still using the driver.

First remove the printer and cancel any pending print jobs. If the driver still cannot be removed, restart the Print Spooler service or restart Windows and try again.

You can also use Print Server Properties to manage the driver directly.

Does Removing a Printer Also Remove Its Driver?

Not necessarily.

Removing a printer from Printers & scanners removes the printer configuration, but the associated driver package can remain installed.

If you want to completely remove the driver, open Print Server Properties, select the Drivers tab, and remove the driver package.

Should I Remove an Old Printer Driver?

If the printer is no longer used and its driver is not required by another printer, removing an old driver can reduce unnecessary printer software and avoid potential driver conflicts.

However, do not remove a driver simply because it appears in the list if another printer depends on it.

Conclusion

Uninstalling a printer driver in Windows 11 or Windows 10 can be useful when a printer is repeatedly failing, a driver has become corrupted, or you want to perform a clean printer installation.

The easiest approach is to first remove the printer from Printers & scanners and then open Print Server Properties using printui /s /t2. From the Drivers tab, you can select the old driver and remove the driver package when Windows allows it.

Device Manager and Print Management provide additional options, while restarting the Print Spooler can help when Windows reports that the driver is currently being used.

After removing the old driver, restart Windows and install the correct driver before adding the printer again. This can provide a cleaner setup and help resolve problems caused by damaged or conflicting printer drivers.

FAQs

1. How do I completely remove a printer driver in Windows 11?

Remove the printer from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, then press Windows + R, enter printui /s /t2, open the Drivers tab, select the driver, and choose Remove driver and driver package.

2. Why can’t I delete my printer driver?

The Print Spooler or another application may still be using the driver. Remove the printer and pending print jobs, restart the Print Spooler service, and try removing the driver again.

3. Does Device Manager completely remove a printer driver?

Not always. Device Manager can remove the printer device, but the complete driver package may remain installed. Use Print Server Properties to check and remove the remaining driver.

4. Do I need to restart Windows after removing a printer driver?

A restart is not always required, but restarting Windows after removing a problematic printer driver is recommended before installing the printer again.

Quick Summary

• Remove the printer from Printers & scanners first.
• Use printui /s /t2 to access installed printer drivers.
• Choose Remove driver and driver package for a complete removal when available.
• Restart the Print Spooler or Windows if the driver is reported as being in use.