Sometimes, simply removing a printer from Settings isn’t enough. Old printers can leave behind drivers, print queues, and registry entries, which may cause issues like duplicate printers, driver conflicts, or printing errors.
If you want a clean removal of a printer from Windows 11, you need to delete both the device and its associated components. In this guide, we will walk you through how to completely remove printers in Windows 11.
How to Completely Remove Printers in Windows 11
Follow the steps below to fully remove a printer and its drivers.
1. Remove Printer from Settings
Start by removing the printer normally.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer.
- Click Remove.
2. Clear the Print Queue
Ensure no pending jobs are blocking removal.
- Open Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer.
- Click Open print queue.
- Cancel all jobs.
3. Remove Printer Drivers via Print Management
This removes leftover drivers.
- Press Windows + R, type: printmanagement.msc
- Press Enter.
- Go to: Print Servers → Your PC → Drivers
- Right-click the printer driver.
- Select Remove Driver Package.
4. Remove Drivers Using Device Manager
- Right-click Start → Device Manager.
- Expand:
- Print queues
- Printers
- Right-click your printer.
- Select Uninstall device.
5. Delete Printer from Control Panel
Legacy entries may remain.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Devices and Printers.
- Right-click the printer.
- Select Remove device.
6. Clear Print Spooler Files
This removes cached printer data.
- Press Windows + R, type: services.msc
- Stop Print Spooler.
- Navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
- Delete all files in the folder.
- Restart the Print Spooler service.
7. Remove Printer via PowerShell (Optional)
For stubborn printers:
- Open PowerShell (Admin).
- Run: Get-Printer
- Remove printer: Remove-Printer -Name “Printer Name”
8. Remove Registry Entries (Advanced)
Only if necessary.
- Press Windows + R, type: regedit
- Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
- Delete the printer key.
Be careful when editing the registry.
9. Restart Your PC
- Restart your system.
- Confirm the printer is fully removed.
Common Issues After Removal
- Printer reappears → driver not removed
- Print jobs stuck → spooler not cleared
- Duplicate printers → leftover registry entries
Conclusion
Completely removing a printer in Windows 11 requires more than just deleting it from Settings. You also need to remove drivers, clear spooler files, and eliminate leftover entries to avoid conflicts.
By following these steps—removing the printer, deleting drivers, clearing the print queue, and cleaning up system files—you can ensure a full and clean removal of any printer from your Windows 11 system.
