- Microsoft has confirmed that V3/V4 printer drivers are still supported, responding to previous roadmap confusion
- New drivers are only approved on a case-by-case basis, and old drivers will only receive security updates from 2027
- Users are encouraged to migrate from OEM drivers to Microsoft’s IPP Class Driver for increased security
Microsoft has patched an earlier update to its Windows roadmap that suggests older printer drivers will be cut.
“Windows has not stopped supporting older printer drivers. If your printer works with Windows today, it will continue to work and no action is required,” a company spokesman said after earlier announcements caused widespread confusion.
While this is good news for customers with existing printer drivers, a change is still being rolled out that could render some printers unusable.
Microsoft will not suddenly stop supporting your printer
The main change is that hardware manufacturers will no longer be able to submit new legacy drivers to Windows Update for certification, with a few exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Still, owners of older printers don’t have to worry about Windows updates bricking their devices for now.
“Beginning January 15, 2026, legacy drivers submitted to Windows Hardware Quality Labs and released to Windows Update will only be approved on a case-by-case basis, as described in the End of Service Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows on Microsoft Learn,” the spokesperson added.
While V3 and V4 printer drivers will still be supported, Microsoft is still intent on pushing its IPP Class Driver and Windows Protected Print Mode, citing previous generation driver vulnerabilities.
Microsoft describes the IPP class driver as a “universal inbox driver that can communicate via IPP with any Mopria-certified printer.” Full details for migrating from legacy OEM drivers to Microsoft’s preferred system are available in a support article.
And migration is definitely the way to go, because from July 2026 Microsoft will favor its Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) over third-party drivers, so from July 2027 V3 and V4 drivers will only be able to be updated with important security fixes.
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