Windows 11 will make old printers unusable

⚡ The gist in 5 seconds - After a Windows 11 update, some older printers will stop working due to a new OS feature. - The danger was described by How-To Geek, with details published on September 28, 2026. - Already installed printers will keep working, but problems will arise after reinstalling Windows or connecting the device to a new computer. ### 🔍 What was found Microsoft is moving Windows 11 to a modern printing platform based on the IPP protocol. As a result, starting July 1, 2027, the company will stop accepting third-party printer driver updates via Windows Update. The transition is happening in stages: on January 15, 2026, Microsoft stopped automatically accepting new printer drivers for Windows 11, and from July 1 of the same year the OS by default prefers the built-in IPP driver over third-party solutions. The How-To Geek authors explained that the update won't disable an already installed printer — existing drivers will continue to work. However, problems are possible after reinstalling Windows or connecting an old printer to a new computer. If a device works only via USB, no longer receives driver updates, and is no longer supported by its manufacturer, it will not function. ### 💡 Why it matters Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, and there are no more free security updates, so the old system remains unprotected. Skipping the upgrade to Windows 11 also carries risks, while moving to the new version may render a printer unusable. Before installing, you should check your printer's compatibility with the new printing platform to avoid suddenly losing printing access after a system reinstall or when connecting to another PC. ### 🧩 Context Microsoft has long been moving toward the universal IPP protocol, which is meant to replace outdated vendor drivers. The transition began before the publication: since January 2026, new printer drivers for Windows 11 have no longer been accepted automatically, and since July of the same year the system has given preference to the built-in IPP driver. The full shutdown of third-party drivers via Windows Update is scheduled for July 1, 2027, so owners of older devices have time to assess the risks and check compatibility in advance.

🔗 Read on lenta.ru