Microsoft clarifies Windows 11 printer driver policy — support for legacy printers is not ending

Microsoft has clarified that Windows 11 will not be ending support for legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers, despite previous confusion. While new submissions of these drivers to Windows Update now require approval, existing drivers and printers will continue to function as usual. Microsoft's decision to modernize the Windows print stack is driven by security concerns, with plans to prioritize its own Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) driver over third-party options starting July 1, 2026. The company also introduced Windows Protected Print Mode with Windows 11 24H2 to eventually phase out third-party drivers in the long term.