Printers are essential devices for home and office users, but there are times when you may need to remove a printer completely from your computer. Perhaps you have replaced an old printer, upgraded to a newer model, fixed a printing issue, or no longer use a particular device. In many cases, simply deleting the printer from Windows is not enough. Leftover drivers, print queues, and registry entries can remain on your system and cause conflicts when installing a new printer.
In this guide, I will explain how to completely remove a printer from your Windows 11 or Windows 10 device.
Completely Remove a Printer from Windows 11/10
To completely remove a printer from Windows 11 or Windows 10:
- Open Settings and navigate to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer you want to remove and click Remove device.
- Open Print Server Properties and delete the printer driver package.
- Stop the Print Spooler service if necessary and clear leftover print jobs.
- Remove unused printer ports from the system.
- Restart your computer to finalize the removal process.
Following these steps ensures that the printer, driver files, and related settings are completely removed from Windows.
Step 1: Remove the Printer from Windows Settings
The first step is to remove the printer from the Windows printer list.
Begin by clicking the Start button and opening Settings. In Windows 11, select Bluetooth & devices, then choose Printers & scanners. In Windows 10, navigate to Devices and then Printers & scanners.
You will see a list of installed printers. Locate the printer you want to remove and click on its name. Select Remove device and confirm the action when prompted.
Windows will remove the printer from the active printer list. While this removes the printer’s visible entry, additional printer components may remain on your computer. Therefore, you should continue with the remaining steps to ensure complete removal.
After removing the printer, refresh the printer list to verify that the device no longer appears.
Step 2: Delete the Printer Driver Package
Even after a printer is removed, Windows frequently keeps the printer driver installed. Removing the driver package prevents conflicts with future printer installations.
Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type printui /s /t2 and press Enter. This command opens the Print Server Properties window directly.
Inside the window, click the Drivers tab. You will see a list of installed printer drivers. Locate the driver associated with the printer you removed.
Select the driver and click Remove. Windows may display two options. Choose Remove driver and driver package whenever available. This option removes both the driver and its stored installation files.
Confirm the removal process and wait for Windows to complete the operation.
If the driver cannot be removed because it is currently in use, continue to the next step and clear the print spooler service before attempting the removal again.
Step 3: Clear the Print Queue and Restart the Print Spooler Service
The Print Spooler service manages all print jobs in Windows. Sometimes print jobs remain stuck in the queue, preventing complete printer removal.
Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. The Services window will open.
Scroll down and locate Print Spooler. Right-click the service and select Stop.
Next, open File Explorer and navigate to the following folder:
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
You may be asked for administrator permission. Approve the request to continue.
Delete all files located inside the PRINTERS folder. These files represent pending or stuck print jobs that may prevent complete printer removal.
Return to the Services window. Right-click Print Spooler again and select Start.
Restarting the service ensures that Windows creates a fresh print queue and removes any lingering print jobs related to the deleted printer.
Step 4: Remove Unused Printer Ports
Printer ports act as communication channels between Windows and connected printers. Sometimes ports remain after a printer is removed.
Open the Print Server Properties window again by pressing Windows + R, typing printui /s /t2, and pressing Enter.
Select the Ports tab.
Review the list of available ports and locate the one associated with the removed printer. Common examples include USB ports, TCP/IP ports, and wireless printer ports.
Select the unused port and click Delete Port.
Be careful not to remove ports currently being used by active printers. If you are unsure, compare the port information with your installed printer list before deleting anything.
Removing obsolete ports helps keep your printing configuration organized and reduces the risk of future printer conflicts.
Step 5: Remove the Printer Using Device Manager
Some printers install additional hardware components that remain registered within Windows even after the printer itself is removed.
Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
Expand categories such as Printers, Print queues, and Universal Serial Bus controllers if your printer was connected through USB.
Locate any entries associated with the removed printer.
Right-click each related device and select Uninstall device.
If you see an option labeled Delete the driver software for this device, select it whenever available.
Confirm the uninstall process and allow Windows to remove the device entries.
This step helps eliminate hidden hardware references that may interfere with future printer installations.
Step 6: Remove Leftover Printer Software
Many printer manufacturers install additional software packages alongside printer drivers. These applications can remain on the system after the printer is removed.
Open Settings and navigate to Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11 or Apps & Features in Windows 10.
Scroll through the list and locate software associated with your printer manufacturer.
Examples may include printer management utilities, scanning software, firmware update tools, and maintenance applications.
Select each relevant program and click Uninstall.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the removal process.
Removing unused printer software helps free up storage space and ensures that outdated printer components do not remain active in the background.
Step 7: Restart Your Computer
After removing the printer, drivers, ports, services, and software, restart your computer.
A restart allows Windows to finalize pending changes and unload any remaining printer-related files from memory.
Once the computer restarts, return to Printers & scanners and verify that the printer no longer appears. You can also reopen Print Server Properties to confirm that the driver package has been removed successfully.
At this point, the printer should be completely removed from your Windows 11 or Windows 10 system.
FAQs
Does removing a printer delete its driver?
Not always. Removing a printer from the Settings app typically deletes the printer entry but may leave the driver installed. You must remove the driver package separately through Print Server Properties to fully delete it.
Why does a deleted printer keep reappearing?
This usually happens because the printer driver, print spooler data, or device entry remains on the system. Following all removal steps in this guide can prevent the printer from reappearing.
Can I reinstall the printer after removing it?
Yes. Completely removing a printer does not prevent future installation. In fact, a clean removal often resolves driver conflicts and makes reinstallation easier.
Is it safe to delete printer ports?
Yes, provided the ports are not being used by another active printer. Always verify the port before deleting it.
What should I do if Windows will not remove the printer driver?
Stop the Print Spooler service, clear the print queue, restart the service, and then try removing the driver again. In some cases, a system restart may also help.
Will removing printer software affect other printers?
Generally, no. However, if multiple printers from the same manufacturer share software components, review the software carefully before uninstalling it.
Summary
Completely removing a printer from Windows 11 or Windows 10 involves more than simply deleting the device from the printer list. To ensure a clean removal, you should remove the printer from Settings, delete the associated driver package, clear the Print Spooler queue, remove unused printer ports, uninstall related hardware entries from Device Manager, and delete any leftover manufacturer software.
Following these steps helps prevent driver conflicts, eliminates outdated printer settings, and prepares your computer for future printer installations. Whether you are troubleshooting printing problems or replacing an old printer, performing a complete printer removal is one of the most effective ways to maintain a clean and reliable Windows printing environment.