Microsoft is quietly ripping out one of Windows’ oldest plumbing systems, and the impact will hit the most boring but essential task many PCs still perform: printing. By winding down traditional ...

PCWorld reports that Microsoft will stop distributing V3/V4 printer drivers through Windows Update starting January 2026, affecting printers up to 12 years old. Existing older printers will continue ...

In the name of security for its ubiquitous OS, Microsoft is ditching support for legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers in Windows 11. Microsoft previously warned this was coming way back in September 2023, ...

Microsoft is moving forward with a long-planned cleanup of the Windows 11 printing stack. Starting with the non-security update released in January 2026, Windows 11 no longer supports legacy V3 and V4 ...

The takeaway: Microsoft quietly signaled a major shift in how printer drivers would work on Windows nearly three years ago. That plan is now becoming reality, though most older third-party printers ...

In brief: Last month, Windows 11 users became concerned when Microsoft announced significant upcoming changes in its handling of legacy printer drivers. Most users will likely not experience any ...