The ecosystem of Windows 11 is preparing for a major change in the field of printingWith the next major system updates, a number of older printers may stop working properly, especially those that depend on drivers that Microsoft has decided to permanently retire.
This move is not a surprise: The company has been warning for over two years. The days of legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers were numbered. Now, with the rollout of update KB5074105 and Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, that plan is moving from theory to practice, forcing many users to check which printer they have connected to their PC.
What exactly changes with older printers in Windows 11?
The turning point is marked by the Windows 11 update KB5074105This marks the practical beginning of the end of support for V3 and V4 printer drivers. These drivers have accompanied older printer models for years and were designed for previous versions of Windows, but Microsoft considers them no longer compatible with the current system strategy.
According to official documentation, Starting in January 2026, Windows will no longer support these devices. In newer versions of the system, especially on computers that upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, printers that rely exclusively on these drivers may fail to install correctly or even stop working overnight after the upgrade.
Microsoft reminds us that The withdrawal of these drivers was not improvised.The discontinuation of the V3 and V4 drivers was announced in September 2023, giving manufacturers and users more than two years to adapt, look for alternatives, and, if necessary, upgrade their printing hardware.
In practice, The impact will be concentrated on printers manufactured more than a decade agoMany of them are still present in environments where equipment renewal is slower: small businesses, educational centers, local administrations or home users who continue to use the same printer for years.
Why is Microsoft retiring the V3 and V4 drivers?
The underlying reason for this change is not only technical, but also related to security. Printer drivers V3 and V4 are now considered obsolete technology.with legacy architectures that have suffered from years of stability problems and a less-than-friendly cybersecurity track record.
For a long time, The Windows printing subsystem has been a common entry point for attackswith known vulnerabilities in components such as the Print Spooler service. Maintaining old, outdated, and complex drivers added an extra burden to the system and multiplied potential weaknesses.
By removing these controllers, Microsoft aims to simplify Windows 11 maintenance and reduce the number of open security fronts.The idea is to focus support on more modern technologies, such as the IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), the IPP class driver integrated into the system itself, and the Print Support Apps distributed through the Microsoft Store.
In this way, the manufacturer seeks a more predictable and easier-to-manage environment, where Recent printers operate using universal drivers and standard solutions instead of relying on specific, legacy third-party packages that, in many cases, haven't been updated for years.
This "clean-up" of the system is part of a broader modernization plan, with which Windows 11 attempts to leave behind components considered legacy. to improve performance, reliability and security, something especially important after several problematic updates that have generated criticism among more advanced users.
End of support timeline and how it will be implemented
Although the key date that is repeated most often is January 2026The process of retiring the V3 and V4 drivers is being carried out in phases, with different implications at each stage. Microsoft's own roadmap details A timeline for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 which affects both new installations and updates that arrive via Windows Update.
On one hand, With update KB5074105, the effective compatibility cut-off begins for versions 24H2 and 25H2.From then on, printers that rely solely on these older drivers may stop working correctly when the system is updated to those builds.
In addition, Microsoft sets several specific milestones:
- January 15, 2026: in Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 New V3 and V4 drivers are no longer being published on Windows UpdateOnly in very exceptional cases, at the request of the manufacturers, might occasional updates appear.
- 1 July of 2026: system automatically prioritizes the integrated IPP class controller above other drivers in the selection process.
- 1 July of 2027: se They effectively block updates to third-party printer drivers. through Windows Update, except for critical security patches. Even so, manufacturers will still be able to offer their own installers outside of that channel.
This phased approach allows that, For a while, existing drivers will continue to install and work in the systems where they were already configured, but it closes the door to new publications and minimizes dependence on this legacy printing model.
Who will be most affected by the change?
Microsoft insists that Most home users with recent printers will not notice any changeThe vast majority of models currently sold in Europe and Spain already work with modern drivers or with printing solutions based on standards such as Mopria or IPP, fully compatible with Windows 11.
The problem arises in older devices that rely exclusively on V3 or V4 driversThis mainly includes laser or office printers that have been in service for many years, and which in some cases have already been discontinued by their own manufacturers, which further complicates obtaining updated drivers.
Among the most exposed groups are:
- Small and medium businesses who still rely on robust printers from brands like HP, Lexmark, Kyocera and similar brands, purchased more than a decade ago and still used daily for their mechanical reliability.
- Educational centers and administrations who have extended the life of their printing fleet as much as possible due to budgetary issues.
- Home offices and private users who continue to use an old printer without problems, without ever having had the need to change it as long as it printed correctly.
In most of these cases, The Windows 11 update may cause a sudden disruption in printing capabilities.Being unable to install the driver, or seeing the printer simply stop responding after upgrading to version 24H2 or 25H2, can result in significant disruptions to daily work if not anticipated.
Even so, Microsoft estimates that, in global terms, the percentage of affected users will be relatively small compared to the total volume of devices with Windows 11. But for those in that group, the impact can be much greater than the statistics indicate.
Options and recommendations for users and businesses
Faced with this scenario, The first recommendation is to check which printer is being used and what type of driver it uses.If the device depends on a V3 or V4 controller, it's best not to leave the matter until the last minute and start looking for alternatives before the key dates arrive.
The most logical step is consult the official website of the printer manufacturer (or technical support in Spain or Europe) to check if there is a newer driver, a universal driver, or a printing solution compatible with the latest versions of Windows 11. Many manufacturers have been releasing updated packages to maintain support on recent systems.
If there is no longer official support for that model, The next option is to seriously consider replacing the printerIt represents an investment, but it guarantees medium and long-term compatibility with future operating system updates and reduces the likelihood of encountering a total print service outage at the worst possible moment.
In environments where printing is critical—for example, consultancies, management firms, professional offices or training centersHaving a printer that might stop working after a simple Windows update is an obvious risk. Upgrading in advance avoids having to improvise emergency solutions when the system has already stopped recognizing the old equipment.
For those who have already been affected after an automatic updateThere is a temporary solution: uninstall the specific update that caused the problem. To do this, go to Settings > Windows Update, access the update history, and use the "Uninstall updates" option. If the entry for KB5074105 appears, you can select it to revert it, but always make a backup of your important data first.
Another step in modernizing printing in Windows 11
The end of support for V3 and V4 drivers is not an isolated move, but part of a broader transition to modern printing modelsMicrosoft wants printer usage in Windows 11 to be increasingly based on standards such as IPP and built-in class drivers, reducing fragmentation and dependence on brand-specific software.
In parallel, the company prioritizes the use of the IPP class driver included in Windows 10 and Windows 11which allows a plug-and-play experience on many current printers without the need to install additional packages, or alternatives such as Use AirPrint with any printerThis commitment aligns with the Mopria certification, present in many models launched in recent years, which facilitates the detection and immediate use of printers on the network.
By focusing support on these solutions, The attack surface is reduced and maintenance is simplifiedThis is beneficial for both Microsoft and system administrators in European companies and public organizations, who will no longer have to deal with so many different third-party driver packages and their corresponding patch cycle.
This approach also fits with the company's overall strategy for Windows 11, which is heavily focused on limit legacy components and opt for a cleaner, more controlled baseAlthough in the short term it may cause a headache for those who continue to use very old printers, the stated goal is to build a more stable, secure and easily continuously updated operating system.
Although it may sound drastic to those who still rely on an older printer, The removal of V3 and V4 drivers in Windows 11 follows a clear underlying logic.The goal is to reduce risks, simplify the printing ecosystem, and encourage users and businesses to adopt newer, more secure solutions. To avoid unpleasant surprises, the wisest course of action is to check now what type of driver each printer connected to your PC uses and, if it's one of the affected drivers, contact the manufacturer or start planning for a replacement before the next updates render that printer unusable.