Updating Printer Drivers: Every Method for Windows 11 and What Changed in 2026

Updating printer drivers in Windows 11 is done through Windows Update, Device Manager, or the manufacturer’s website. As of January 2026, Microsoft stopped publishing new V3 and V4 printer drivers to Windows Update, making the manufacturer’s website the most reliable method. For HP, download from support.hp.com. For Epson, use epson.com/support. For Canon and Brother, use their respective support pages.

Every printer driver guide written before 2026 is partially wrong now. Microsoft changed how Windows Update handles printer drivers in January 2026, and the most common advice, “just run Windows Update,” now misses a large portion of printers entirely.

This guide covers all five update methods, which one fits your specific situation, and what actually changed in January 2026 so you stop seeing that “Driver unavailable” message.

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Before You Start: Check Your Current Driver Version

Before updating anything, check which driver version your printer is currently using. This single step prevents unnecessary updates, identifies whether you have a legacy V3 or V4 driver, and pinpoints the exact problem when your printer has stopped working.

Method A via Settings:

1. Press Win+I to open Settings.
2. Go to Bluetooth and Devices, then click Printers and Scanners.
3. Click your printer from the list.
4. Click Printer properties.
5. Click the Advanced tab.
6. Read the Driver field for the driver name and the driver date below it.

Method B via Device Manager:

1. Press Win+X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Print queues in the device list.
3. Right-click your printer and select Properties.
4. Click the Driver tab to see the driver version and driver date.

Tip: If the driver name contains “V3” or “V4” such as “HP LaserJet V3 Printer Driver,” you are running a legacy driver. A legacy driver does not require immediate replacement if your printer is working correctly. If you are seeing errors or your printer stopped working after a Windows update, a legacy driver combined with the January 2026 changes is almost certainly the cause.

Which Update Method Is Right for Your Situation?

Picking the wrong method wastes time without solving anything. Match your exact situation to the correct fix before running any update.

Your Situation	Best Method	Reason
Routine maintenance update	Windows Update first	Easiest starting point; covers most current printers
“Driver unavailable” error	Manufacturer website (Method 3)	Most reliable; Windows Update may no longer carry your driver
Printer broke after a Windows update	Manufacturer website or IPP Class Driver (Method 5)	V3/V4 phaseout is the most likely cause
Need scanning and ink monitoring features	Print Support App (Method 4)	HP Smart, Epson Smart Panel, Canon PRINT, and Brother iPrint&Scan cover features IPP does not
Old printer not being recognized	Manufacturer website (Method 3)	Legacy drivers now only exist on manufacturer support pages
Clean slate reinstall	Method 5: Remove, restart, re-add	Forces Windows to assign a fresh driver including IPP if compatible

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What Changed with Printer Drivers in January 2026 (And Why Windows Update Is Less Reliable)

This is the section most frustrated users in 2026 are actually searching for. If your printer stopped working after a routine Windows update, this is the explanation.

On January 15, 2026, Microsoft stopped publishing new third-party V3 and V4 printer drivers to Windows Update for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. Microsoft announced this change in September 2023 and has been executing a staged phaseout ever since. The motivation is security. V3 printer drivers run partially in kernel mode, which is the same attack surface that the PrintNightmare exploit used in 2021. Removing kernel-mode printer drivers from Windows Update permanently closes that attack vector.

Date	What Changed
September 2023	Microsoft announced end-of-servicing plan for V3 and V4 printer drivers
January 15, 2026	No new V3 or V4 drivers published to Windows Update for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025
July 1, 2026	Windows always prefers the IPP Class Driver over manufacturer drivers in ranking order
July 1, 2027	Third-party driver updates fully stopped except for security fixes

Existing printers with already-installed drivers are not immediately affected by the January 2026 change. The disruption hits when Windows needs to fetch a driver it does not already have, which happens during new printer setup, a fresh Windows install, or when a printer is removed and re-added.

Warning: If your printer worked before a Windows update and stopped afterward, the V3/V4 phaseout is the most likely cause. Windows Update removed or failed to reinstall the legacy driver your printer needed. Running Windows Update again will not solve this. The correct fix is downloading the driver directly from your printer manufacturer’s website using Method 3 below.

Method 1: Updating Printer Drivers via Windows Update (Easiest)

Windows Update is the easiest starting point and still works for mainstream printers that remain in Microsoft’s driver catalog. Due to the January 2026 changes, it is no longer reliable for older printers or models that relied on V3 or V4 drivers.

Windows Version	Path to Optional Driver Updates
Windows 11	Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates > Driver updates
Windows 10	Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update > View optional updates

Steps for Windows 11:

1. Press Win+I to open Settings.
2. Click Windows Update in the left navigation panel.
3. Click Check for updates and wait for the scan to complete.
4. If no printer driver appears in the main results, click Advanced options.
5. Click Optional updates.
6. Look for the Driver updates section and expand it.
7. Check the box next to your printer driver if it appears in the list.
8. Click Download and install.
9. Restart your computer when prompted.

Tip: If Windows Update cannot find a driver for your printer, skip directly to Method 3. Due to the January 2026 V3/V4 phaseout, a growing number of printers are no longer in Microsoft’s Windows Update driver catalog. Running Windows Update multiple times will not change this result.

Method 2: Update Printer Drivers via Device Manager

Device Manager gives you direct control over driver updates and lets you point Windows to a driver file you have already downloaded from the manufacturer website.

1. Press Win+X and select Device Manager.
2. Locate your printer. Expand Print queues first. If your printer is not listed there, check the Printers section or Other devices.
3. Right-click your printer and select Update driver.
4. Select Search automatically for updated driver software to let Windows search its online catalog.
5. Alternatively, select Browse my computer for drivers if you have already downloaded a driver file from the manufacturer website.
6. For Browse my computer: navigate to the folder where you extracted or saved the driver file and click Next.
7. Follow any on-screen installation prompts and restart your computer when complete.

Tip: Device Manager’s automatic search uses the same driver catalog as Windows Update. If Windows Update could not find a driver for your printer, Search automatically in Device Manager will typically return the same empty result. Use Method 3 directly when troubleshooting a “Driver unavailable” error rather than spending time on both.

Method 3: Update Printer Drivers from the Manufacturer Website (Most Reliable)

This is the most reliable method for updating printer drivers in 2026. Manufacturers publish updated drivers on their support pages before Microsoft adds them to the Windows Update catalog, and many legacy drivers now exist only on manufacturer support pages after the January 2026 changes.

Brand	Support Page	Download Path
HP	support.hp.com	Enter model number > select OS > download
Epson	epson.com/support	Enter model > Drivers and Downloads > select OS
Canon	usa.canon.com/support	Enter model > Drivers and Downloads
Brother	support.brother.com	Enter model > Downloads > Drivers
Xerox	support.xerox.com	Enter model > Drivers and Downloads

Steps:

1. Find your printer model number. It is printed on a label on the printer itself, typically on the front, top, or bottom surface. Alternatively, find it in Settings > Printers and Scanners > click printer > Printer properties > Advanced tab.
2. Go to your manufacturer’s support page using the table above.
3. Enter your exact printer model number in the search or download field.
4. Select your Windows version (Windows 10 or Windows 11) from the operating system dropdown.
5. Download the latest available driver file. This is typically an .exe installer or a .zip archive.
6. For a .exe file: double-click the file and follow the installation wizard to completion.
7. For a .zip file: right-click the file and select Extract All. Open the extracted folder and run Setup.exe. If there is no Setup.exe in the folder, open Device Manager, right-click the printer, select Update driver, choose Browse my computer for drivers, and point to the extracted folder location.
8. Restart your computer after the installation wizard completes.

Install Type	What It Includes	When to Use
Full Install (Complete)	Print driver plus scanning software, ink monitor, fax utility, and photo printing apps	All-in-one printer users who need scanning and ink level monitoring
Driver Only	Core print driver only, no additional manufacturer software	Users who only need printing; cleanest install with no bundled apps
Custom Install	Choose individual components from the full package	Advanced users with specific software requirements

Warning: Only download printer drivers from the official manufacturer support pages in the table above. Third-party driver download sites frequently bundle adware, distribute outdated file versions, or serve files modified after the original manufacturer release. If a site displays your printer model number but the domain does not match the official manufacturer address, leave the page immediately.

Method 4: Install a Print Support App from the Microsoft Store (Modern Method)

Print Support Apps are the modern replacement for traditional manufacturer software suites. They are free, update automatically through the Microsoft Store independent of Windows Update, and provide scanning, ink level monitoring, and advanced print settings alongside core printing.

Brand	App Name	Search Term in Microsoft Store
HP	HP Smart	HP Smart
Epson	Epson Smart Panel	Epson Smart Panel
Canon	Canon PRINT	Canon PRINT
Brother	Brother iPrint&Scan	Brother iPrint&Scan

Steps:

1. Press Win+S and type Microsoft Store. Open the Microsoft Store app.
2. In the Store’s search bar, type your brand’s app name from the table above.
3. Click Get or Install on the official app listing.
4. After the installation completes, open the app and follow the setup wizard to connect your printer.
5. The app handles driver installation automatically and keeps itself updated through the Store.

Tip: Print Support Apps are the most future-proof method for keeping printer drivers current. They update independently of Windows Update and are not affected by the January 2026 V3/V4 phaseout. If you use an HP, Epson, Canon, or Brother printer and want to avoid manual driver updates going forward, installing the brand’s Microsoft Store app is a five-minute setup that eliminates the problem permanently.

Method 5: Use the IPP Class Driver (No Download Required)

The IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) Class Driver is built into Windows 11 and requires no download or installation. It handles printing, scanning, and most finishing options natively for any Mopria-certified printer.

To check if your printer supports IPP, search your printer model name alongside the word “Mopria” on the manufacturer’s support page. You can also check the certified product database at mopria.org directly.

How to trigger IPP driver assignment:

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Printers and Scanners.
2. Click your printer in the list and select Remove.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Return to Settings > Printers and Scanners.
5. Click Add device and wait for Windows to scan for available printers.
6. Click Add next to your printer. Windows assigns the IPP Class Driver automatically for compatible printers.
7. Print a test page to confirm the printer is responding correctly.

Tip: Removing and re-adding your printer to trigger the IPP Class Driver is the cleanest fix for printers that stopped working after the January 2026 Windows Update changes. If your printer is Mopria-certified, the IPP Class Driver handles all standard print functions without requiring any manufacturer driver file at all.

How to Roll Back a Printer Driver

If a driver update causes new problems, Windows can revert to the previous version if it stored one before the update.

Before updating any driver, create a restore point as a safety net. Press Win+R, type sysdm.cpl, press Enter, click the System Protection tab, click Create, give it a name, and click Create again.

To roll back a printer driver after a problematic update:

1. Press Win+X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Print queues.
3. Right-click your printer and select Properties.
4. Click the Driver tab.
5. Click Roll Back Driver.
6. Select a reason if prompted and click Yes.
7. Restart your computer.

Warning: Roll Back Driver is grayed out when Windows has not stored a previous driver version. If the option is unavailable, uninstall the driver completely by right-clicking the printer in Device Manager, selecting Uninstall device, checking Delete the driver software for this device, and restarting. Then reinstall from the manufacturer website using Method 3. As a last resort, press Win+R, type rstrui.exe, and use System Restore to return your system to before the driver update if you created a restore point beforehand.

How to Confirm a Driver Update Worked (Post-Update Verification)

Most guides stop at installation. Verification confirms the update actually registered and the printer is communicating correctly with the new driver.

1. Press Win+I to open Settings.
2. Go to Bluetooth and Devices > Printers and Scanners.
3. Click your printer, then click Printer properties, and then click the Advanced tab.
4. Confirm the driver date field shows a newer date than before the update was applied.
5. Return to the Printers and Scanners page, click your printer, and select Print a test page.
6. If the test page prints correctly, the driver update is confirmed working.

Sign	What It Confirms
Driver date updated in Printer properties Advanced tab	New driver is installed and registered with Windows
Test page prints without errors or quality issues	Driver communicates correctly with the physical printer
No “Driver unavailable” message in Settings	Driver file is valid, complete, and recognized
Advanced features accessible (duplex, color settings)	Full driver feature set loaded correctly

If the test page fails after completing an update from the manufacturer website, run the AxeeTech Windows troubleshooter guide which covers the built-in Windows printer diagnostic tools. If the driver date did not change after installation, the new driver did not register and the install needs to be run again after a full reboot. If the printer is now working but print quality or connectivity has regressed, check the AxeeTech printer maintenance tips guide for cleaning and configuration steps that resolve most post-update print quality issues.

For printer configuration after a driver update, the AxeeTech guide on configuring default printer settings covers how to set up your print defaults so the new driver applies the correct paper size, quality, and color settings from the first job.

If the driver reinstall changed which printer Windows treats as the default, the AxeeTech guide on how to set your preferred default printer in Windows walks through every method for reassigning it. For print jobs that pile up or freeze after a driver change, the AxeeTech printer queue guide covers every method for clearing stuck jobs, including the Print Spooler restart.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I update my printer driver in Windows 11?

Open Settings, go to Windows Update, click Check for updates, then check Advanced options > Optional updates > Driver updates for printer-specific updates. If Windows Update does not find your driver, download it directly from your printer manufacturer’s support page (support.hp.com for HP, epson.com/support for Epson, usa.canon.com/support for Canon, support.brother.com for Brother). Alternatively, install your brand’s Print Support App from the Microsoft Store for automatic future updates.

Why does Windows Update not find my printer driver in 2026?

On January 15, 2026, Microsoft stopped publishing new V3 and V4 printer drivers to Windows Update for Windows 11. Many printers that relied on these legacy drivers are no longer in the Windows Update catalog. The solution is to download the driver directly from the manufacturer’s official support page, or use the IPP Class Driver by removing and re-adding your printer through Settings > Printers and Scanners.

What is the difference between a Full Install and Driver Only when installing a printer driver?

Full Install (also labeled Complete or Recommended) installs the core print driver plus the manufacturer’s software suite including scanning utilities, ink level monitors, fax tools, and photo printing apps. Driver Only installs only the core print driver with no additional software bundled. Choose Driver Only for a clean print-only setup and Full Install if you use an all-in-one printer and need scanning or ink monitoring features.

How do I know if my printer driver needs updating?

The most common signs are: the printer shows as offline when it is clearly powered on, Windows displays a “Driver unavailable” error, print jobs get stuck in the queue without printing, print quality has noticeably degraded, or the printer stopped working after a recent Windows update. To confirm, open Printer properties > Advanced tab and check the driver date. A driver date significantly older than your current Windows version is worth updating.

What is the IPP Class Driver and do I need it?

The IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) Class Driver is built into Windows 11 and handles printing for any Mopria-certified printer without requiring a separate manufacturer driver download. Microsoft is transitioning to IPP as the standard to replace legacy V3 and V4 drivers. You need it if your printer stopped working after the January 2026 Windows Update changes and your printer supports Mopria certification. Check your printer model for Mopria compatibility before attempting the IPP setup.

How do I roll back a printer driver update in Windows 11?

Open Device Manager via Win+X, expand Print queues, right-click your printer, select Properties, click the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver. If the option is grayed out, Windows did not store the previous driver version. In that case, uninstall the current driver via Device Manager (right-click > Uninstall device > check Delete the driver software), restart, and reinstall the previous version from the manufacturer website. If you created a System Restore point before the update, you can also use Win+R > rstrui.exe to revert.

Where do I download HP printer drivers?

HP printer drivers are available at support.hp.com. Enter your exact printer model number in the search field, select your Windows version (Windows 10 or Windows 11) from the dropdown, and download the latest driver package. HP offers both Full Install (which includes HP Smart and ink monitoring tools) and Driver Only options. For the most straightforward ongoing updates, install the HP Smart app from the Microsoft Store instead.

Why did my printer stop working after a Windows update?

The most common cause is Microsoft’s January 15, 2026 V3/V4 printer driver phaseout. When Windows Update ran, it may have removed or failed to reinstall the legacy V3 or V4 driver your printer depended on. Running Windows Update again will not restore it because new V3/V4 drivers are no longer being published there. Download the driver directly from your manufacturer’s support page, or remove and re-add your printer to trigger the IPP Class Driver if your printer is Mopria-certified.

What is a V3 or V4 printer driver?

V3 (Type 3) and V4 (Type 4) are classifications for legacy Windows printer drivers. V3 drivers run partially in kernel mode, which is the deepest and most sensitive layer of Windows. This gave them access to powerful hardware features but also made them a security risk; the PrintNightmare exploit in 2021 used this kernel-mode access. V4 drivers improved on V3 but are still classified as legacy. Microsoft is phasing both out in favor of the IPP Class Driver, which runs entirely in user mode with no kernel access.

How do I update my printer driver without internet access?

Download the driver file from the manufacturer’s support page on another computer with internet access and transfer it via USB drive. On the offline computer, open Device Manager, expand Print queues, right-click the printer, select Update driver, choose Browse my computer for drivers, and point to the folder containing the transferred driver file or extracted .zip contents. This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11 without an active internet connection on the target machine.