Printer Not Working After Windows Update?

Fix driver issues, offline errors & spooler problems caused by Windows 11/10 updates

Updated January 2026 | Works with Windows 11 24H2 & Windows 10 22H2

Quick Fix (Works 70% of the time)

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. Find "Print Spooler", right-click > Restart
4. Try printing again

1. Why Windows Updates Break Printers

Windows updates commonly cause printer problems due to:

Driver Replacement

Windows may replace your working driver with a generic or incompatible version from Windows Update.

Print Spooler Reset

Updates can stop or reset the Print Spooler service, which handles all print jobs.

Port/Connection Changes

Network or USB port settings may be changed, breaking the connection to your printer.

Security Changes

Security updates may block certain printer features or network protocols.

2. Run Windows Printer Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in tool that can automatically fix many printer problems:

Windows 11

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters
3. Find Printer and click Run
4. Follow the prompts and apply suggested fixes

Windows 10

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot
3. Click Additional troubleshooters
4. Select Printer and click Run the troubleshooter

3. Fix Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler service manages all print jobs. If it's stopped or corrupted, nothing will print:

Restart Print Spooler

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. Scroll down to find Print Spooler
4. Right-click it and select Restart
5. If it's stopped, click Start
6. Double-click Print Spooler, set Startup type to Automatic

Clear Print Queue (If Spooler Keeps Stopping)

1. Stop the Print Spooler service (right-click > Stop)
2. Open File Explorer, go to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
3. Delete all files in this folder
4. Start the Print Spooler service again

4. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Update Driver via Device Manager

1. Right-click Start button > Device Manager
2. Expand Print queues
3. Right-click your printer > Update driver
4. Select Search automatically for drivers
5. If found, install and restart computer

Download Fresh Driver from Manufacturer (Recommended)

Getting the driver directly from the manufacturer is more reliable than Windows Update:

HP Drivers

support.hp.com/drivers

Canon Drivers

usa.canon.com/support

Epson Drivers

epson.com/support

Brother Drivers

support.brother.com

Complete Driver Reinstall

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
2. Select your printer and click Remove
3. Open Device Manager, expand Print queues
4. Right-click your printer > Uninstall device
5. Check "Delete the driver software" if shown
6. Restart your computer
7. Install the fresh driver downloaded from manufacturer

5. Remove and Re-add Printer

Sometimes starting fresh with the printer setup fixes update-related issues:

Steps to Re-add Printer

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
2. Select your printer and click Remove
3. Restart your computer
4. Go back to Printers & scanners
5. Click Add device
6. Wait for Windows to find your printer
7. Select it and click Add device

6. Rollback Printer Driver

If your printer worked before the update, rolling back to the previous driver may help:

1. Right-click Start > Device Manager
2. Expand Print queues
3. Right-click your printer > Properties
4. Go to Driver tab
5. Click Roll Back Driver (if available)
6. Follow prompts and restart

Note: "Roll Back Driver" is only available if a previous driver version exists.

7. Uninstall Problematic Windows Update

As a last resort, you can remove the Windows update that caused the problem:

Warning

Only uninstall updates if nothing else works. Updates contain important security fixes. Try driver solutions first.

Uninstall Recent Update

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history
2. Click Uninstall updates
3. Find the most recent update (check dates)
4. Click Uninstall next to it
5. Restart and test printing

8. Brand-Specific Fixes

HP Printers

Download and run HP Print and Scan Doctor - it automatically fixes most HP printer problems after Windows updates.

Complete HP troubleshooting guide

Epson Printers

Download Epson Software Updater to get the latest compatible drivers and firmware updates.

Complete Epson troubleshooting guide

Brother Printers

Use Brother Driver Uninstall Tool first, then install fresh drivers from Brother's support site.

Complete Brother troubleshooting guide

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my printer stop working after Windows update?

Windows updates often replace or update printer drivers automatically. Sometimes these new drivers are incompatible with your printer, or the update process corrupts driver files. Updates can also reset printer settings or disable the Print Spooler service.

How do I fix printer driver issues after Windows 11 update?

First, try updating the driver via Device Manager. If that doesn't work, download the latest driver directly from your printer manufacturer's website. Uninstall the current driver completely first, then install the fresh download.

How do I restart the Print Spooler service?

Press Windows + R, type 'services.msc' and press Enter. Find 'Print Spooler', right-click it, and select 'Restart'. Ensure the Startup type is set to 'Automatic'.

Can I undo a Windows update that broke my printer?

Yes, go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. Find the recent update and uninstall it. However, fixing drivers is usually better than removing security updates.

Test Your Printer

Print a test page to verify the fix worked

Color Test Page B&W Test Page