Microsoft has successfully addressed a significant issue that plagued users of USB printers following the installation of Windows updates since late January 2025. This problem, which resulted in printers unexpectedly producing random text, has been resolved in the March 2025 non-security preview updates KB5053643 and KB5053657 for Windows 10 (version 22H2) and Windows 11 (versions 22H2 and 23H2).
The company has assured users that this fix will also be included in the cumulative updates scheduled for release during the April 2025 Patch Tuesday, even for those who opt not to install this month’s optional updates. In a recent update on their release health dashboard, Microsoft emphasized, “We recommend you install the latest update for your device as it contains important improvements and issue resolutions, including this one.”
Details of the Printing Issue
Earlier this month, Microsoft took steps to mitigate this printing anomaly on enterprise devices through the Known Issue Rollback (KIR) feature, which effectively reverses problematic non-security updates delivered via Windows Update. Users affected by this issue reported that their printers began to output erroneous text, often starting with the header “POST /ipp/print HTTP/1.1,” followed by various Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) related headers.
The problem was particularly pronounced when printers were powered on or reconnected after being disconnected. Users noticed that their printers would unexpectedly begin printing when the print spooler sent IPP protocol messages to the devices, leading to confusion and frustration.
Microsoft initially acknowledged the issue, stating, “After installing the January 2025 Windows preview update (KB5050092), released January 29, 2025, or later updates, you might observe issues with USB connected dual-mode printers that support both USB Print and IPP Over USB protocols.” This led to instances where printers would produce random text and data, including network commands and unusual characters.
Additional Fixes and Collaborations
This week, Microsoft also resolved another known issue affecting Remote Desktop and RDS connections following recent updates. This fix was similarly distributed through the Known Issue Rollback for enterprise customers and is expected to be made generally available in a future Windows Update.
In a related development, Veeam announced on Tuesday that it is collaborating with Microsoft to investigate a known issue that triggers connection errors on Windows 11 24H2 systems while restoring data from Backup & Replication servers or SMB network shares. This joint effort underscores the ongoing commitment of both companies to enhance user experience and address technical challenges swiftly.
