How to remove a printer driver completely
Fully remove a printer and its driver package from Windows or macOS so you can reinstall from scratch when a driver is broken, wrong or won't update.
Removing a printer from Settings leaves its driver behind, and Windows reuses that same driver when you reinstall, so a broken driver can keep coming back. Removing the driver package as well gives you a clean start. Do this when a reinstall keeps failing, the driver shows as unavailable, or the wrong driver keeps being used.
Steps
Windows 11 / 10
0 of 7 steps tried
-
Remove the printer
Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer and click Remove (Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select it, then Remove device). Remove every entry that uses the same driver, including duplicates such as "Copy 1" and fax entries. Unplug the USB cable so Windows doesn't add the printer straight back.
-
Uninstall the maker's software
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Windows 10: Apps & features) and uninstall any software suite or app from the printer's manufacturer. Restart the PC afterwards.
-
Open Print Server Properties
Press Win + R, type the command below and press Enter. The window opens on the Drivers tab, listing every printer driver installed.
printui /s /t2 -
Remove the driver and its package
Select the driver and click Remove, choose Remove driver and driver package and click OK. Confirm, click Delete in the next window, then OK when it finishes. If you see a Change Driver Settings button, click it first to get administrator rights.
-
If Windows says the driver is in use
Restart the Print Spooler with the command below in an admin Command Prompt, or restart the PC, then try removing the driver again before reconnecting the printer.
net stop spooler && net start spooler -
Check for leftover packages (advanced, optional)
In an admin Command Prompt, the command below lists third-party driver packages; printer ones show the class Printers. You can remove one with
pnputil /delete-driver oemNN.inf, using the published name shown, but only if you are certain the provider and name belong to your printer. Deleting the wrong package can stop another device from working.pnputil /enum-drivers -
Restart and reinstall cleanly
Restart the PC, download the latest driver for your exact model from the manufacturer's official website and run the installer. Connect the USB cable only when the installer asks for it.
macOS
0 of 5 steps tried
-
Remove the printer
Open Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer and choose Remove Printer. On macOS 12 and earlier, select it in System Preferences > Printers & Scanners and click the minus button.
-
Run the maker's uninstaller if there is one
Some printer software includes an uninstaller in its Applications folder, or the manufacturer's support site explains how to remove it. Dragging an app to the Trash doesn't remove its driver files.
-
Reset the printing system
In Printers & Scanners, Control-click an empty area of the printer list and choose Reset printing system. This removes all printers, their settings and any waiting jobs, so you will need to add your printers again.
-
Remove leftover driver files (advanced)
Driver files usually sit in a folder named after the manufacturer inside
/Library/Printers; in Finder choose Go > Go to Folder and type that path. Only delete the folder for the brand you are removing, and only if there was no uninstaller. You will be asked for your password. -
Restart and add the printer again
Restart the Mac, then click Add Printer, Scanner or Fax in Printers & Scanners. Many printers work with AirPrint and need no extra driver at all.
Tips
- Write down your exact printer model before you start, so you download the right driver afterwards.
- Third-party "driver updater" tools aren't needed for printers. Get drivers from the manufacturer's official website or through Windows Update.
- Windows may install a basic driver automatically when you reconnect the printer. That is normal, and it often works well enough on its own.
Common questions
Will removing the driver delete my documents?
No. It only removes printer software and settings. Your files and other programs are not affected.
Why does the old driver come back after I remove it?
Windows may reinstall a driver automatically when it detects the printer by USB or on the network. Install the manufacturer's driver before reconnecting if you want that one used instead.
Do I need to do this on a Mac?
Rarely. Most Mac printing problems are fixed by removing and re-adding the printer, or by resetting the printing system, without touching driver files.