Next system update for Windows 11 could break your printer

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Microsoft is moving forward with a long-planned cleanup of the Windows 11 printing stack. Starting with the non-security update released in January 2026, Windows 11 no longer supports legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers, a change that will affect devices running versions 24H2 and 25H2 as the rollout gradually expands.

The company first announced the deprecation of V3 and V4 printer drivers in September 2023, giving hardware partners and customers more than two years to prepare. As the final cutoff now approaching, Microsoft is signaling that the transition to modern printing is no longer optional for Windows 11 users.

In the official support page, the company notes that starting in "January 2026, Windows will no longer support V3 and V4 printer drivers. These older driver models were announced as deprecated in September 2023."
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(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Now that support has officially ended, printers that rely exclusively on V3 or V4 drivers may fail to install or stop working altogether.

Microsoft says most users are already unaffected because the majority of printers on the market use newer driver architectures or modern printing frameworks that will continue to work without interruption. However, systems connected to older printers, especially in small businesses, schools, or home offices using legacy hardware, could run into problems if no action is taken.

In these cases, the company recommends "contact your printer manufacturer and update to a supported printer driver or another current printing solution."

The decision ties directly into the operating system's lifecycle and security goals. Legacy printer drivers have long been a weak point, frequently associated with stability issues and elevated security risks. By removing support for outdated driver models, Microsoft can continue reducing attacks, simplify maintenance, and focus efforts on modern printing solutions.

Yet another reason why I still use Windows 7.

The digital clock has finally run out for holdouts clinging to the past, forcing a critical decision for millions of PC users worldwide.

Mozilla has confirmed that it will officially terminate security updates for Firefox on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 by the end of February 2026.

The organization is the last major browser maker that still supports the discontinued Windows operating systems.

Windows 7 support ended in January 2020 officially, but Microsoft introduced Extended Security Updates for business customers. These allowed businesses to extend support for up to three years, for a price.

Windows 8 and 8.1 support ended in January 2023, which is also the month that Windows 7 ESU support ended officially.

While Mozilla continued to support Firefox on Windows 7 after January 2023, Microsoft ended support for its Edge browser in the same month. Google followed a month later, when it released Chrome 109, the last official version of the web browser that supported the two operating systems.

Mozilla has now confirmed that it won’t release new updates for Firefox 115 ESR, the last version to support Windows 7 and 8/8.1, after February 2026.

Firefox 115 is now the last version supported on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1.
Updates will be delivered through the ESR channel until the end of February 2026.

The organization recommends that users upgrade the operating system to a supported version to “continue receiving Firefox security and feature updates”.

However, this could be problematic for a number of reasons, at least when upgrades to newer versions of Windows are considered:

The next direct upgrade is Windows 10. Microsoft has ended support and ESU updates are only provided until October 2026 for Home and Pro editions. Mozilla plans to continue supporting Firefox on Windows 10 though.
Windows 11 is supported, but it has stricter system requirements. Systems that do not meet the requirements can’t be upgraded as easily, if at all (there are some that can’t be bypassed).

Affected users might consider switching to Linux. It is a daunting task, but things have improved significantly in this regard over the years. Yes, some apps or games are not available directly, others may not run, but the vast majority of apps and games should run on Linux.

Firefox 115 ESR will continue to work after February 2026, but Mozilla won’t release any new updates for the version of the open source browser.

There was recent panic when it appears that Microsoft was deprecating legacy printer drivers in Windows 11. Users and organizations with older hardware were understandably concerned that the older hardware they were using was no longer going to work with the operating system.

There is some good news. While the original announcement about these drivers losing support came directly from Microsoft, the information was not in fact correct. So what is going on?

The company says that a notice posted to the Windows Roadmap last month was published in error – although it does not provide any explanation for how this could have happened.

Microsoft has issued a statement to Windows Central to try to clarify the situation and allay fears that have built up:

Windows has not ended support for legacy printer drivers. If your printer works with Windows today, it will continue to work, and no action is required. As of Jan 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 described in the End of Servicing Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows on Microsoft Learn.

Referencing the announcement that caused confusion and fear, Microsoft adds:

An update to the Windows Roadmap stated that Windows will no longer support V3 and V4 printer drivers—this update was inaccurate and has since been removed.

Windows Central suggests that it is the wording of the initial post that caused confusion, but this seems like a major slip up for Microsoft to have made.

While we have become used to the company releasing updates for Windows that cause problems, to publish announcements which are either misleading or just plain wrong is different territory.

The good news is, however, that your old printer should continue to work for the foreseeable future.