If you’ve been feeling anxious about Microsoft potentially discontinuing driver support for your aging printer in Windows 11, there’s good news to ease your worries. Microsoft has clarified that if your trusty old printer is currently functioning within the Windows ecosystem, it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
This reassurance comes after some initial confusion stemming from a Windows Roadmap document released a few weeks ago. In that document, Microsoft indicated that starting in January, “Windows will no longer support V3 and V4 printer drivers,” which had been marked as deprecated since September 2023. This announcement sent ripples of concern through the user community, especially among those who rely on older printer models.
For many, troubleshooting printer issues can be a frustrating endeavor—often likened to a battle with a swarm of bees. Printers have a reputation for being temperamental, and the prospect of losing support for older drivers was certainly unwelcome news. While there was some solace in knowing that users might still be able to print under certain conditions, the uncertainty loomed large. Microsoft had warned that printers relying on V3 or V4 drivers “may stop installing or working after support ends,” leaving users to navigate the murky waters of obtaining drivers from manufacturers and hoping for a seamless experience.
Fortunately, this concern has now been rendered moot. In a statement to Windows Central, Microsoft acknowledged that its previous messaging was “inaccurate and has since been removed.” The company emphasized that “Windows has not ended support for legacy printer drivers.” If your printer is operational with Windows today, it will remain functional without any required action on your part.
Looking ahead, Microsoft did clarify that as of January 15, 2026, legacy drivers submitted to Windows Hardware Quality Labs and published to Windows Update will only be approved on a case-by-case basis, as outlined in the End of Servicing Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows. This means that while existing printers will continue to work, the pathway for new driver updates for legacy models will be more restricted.
In essence, the key takeaway is that while the messaging from Microsoft has shifted, the practical implications for users of older printers remain largely unchanged. Your printer can continue to serve you well, at least for the time being, without the looming threat of immediate obsolescence.
