How to Fix Windows 11 Printer Not Working After Upgrade

What Causes This?

After a Windows 11 upgrade, printers often stop working because the old Windows 10 printer driver is no longer fully compatible. The upgrade can also leave behind outdated spooler settings, broken printer queues, or duplicate printer entries that confuse Windows. In some cases, Windows installs a generic driver instead of the correct one from the printer manufacturer.

Common Symptoms

• Printer shows as Offline even when it is connected
• Print jobs stay stuck in the queue and never print
• Windows says Driver is unavailable
• The printer appears twice in Settings or Devices and Printers
• Scanning or advanced printer features stop working

How to Fix It Manually

1. Restart the printer, PC, and connection

   • Turn the printer off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
   • Restart your PC.
   • If it is a USB printer, unplug the cable and reconnect it to a different USB port.
   • If it is a network printer, make sure it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your PC.

2. Run the Windows printer troubleshooter

   • Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   • Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
   • Find Printer and click Run.
   • Let Windows apply any suggested fixes, then test the printer again.

3. Clear stuck print jobs and restart the Print Spooler

   • Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
   • In the Services window, find Print Spooler.
   • Right-click it and choose Stop.
   • Open File Explorer and go to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
   • Delete all files in that folder.
   • Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and choose Start.

4. Remove the printer and reinstall it

   • Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
   • Select your printer and click Remove.
   • Disconnect the printer if it uses USB.
   • Restart your PC.
   • Click Add device and let Windows search again.
   • If Windows does not find it correctly, download the latest Windows 11 driver from the printer maker’s website, then install it manually before reconnecting the printer.

5. Remove old printer drivers

   • Press Windows + R, type printui /s /t2, and press Enter.
   • Open the Drivers tab.
   • Look for old or duplicate drivers for the same printer model.
   • Select the outdated entry and click Remove.
   • Choose Remove driver and driver package if available.
   • Restart your PC after removing old drivers.

6. Set the correct printer as default

   • Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
   • Click your printer.
   • Select Set as default.
   • If needed, turn off Let Windows manage my default printer so Windows does not keep switching to another device.

7. Check for Windows and driver updates

   • Open Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates.
   • Install any pending updates and restart.
   • Then visit the printer manufacturer’s support page and install the newest Windows 11 software package, especially if scanning or wireless features are still missing.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can help clean up leftover driver files, obsolete printer entries, and upgrade junk that often causes printer problems after moving to Windows 11. It gives you a faster way to remove old system clutter so Windows can detect and use the correct printer setup again.

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