A driver is a small piece of software that helps your PC communicate with a certain piece of hardware, like your mouse, keyboard, or printer. Every once in a while, though, those drivers may require ...

PCWorld reports that Microsoft will stop distributing V3/V4 printer drivers through Windows Update starting January 2026, affecting printers up to 12 years old. Existing older printers will continue ...

Windows Update can update drivers, sure, but BIOS/UEFI updates are another beast entirely. They patch critical security gaps and need to be checked manually.

The takeaway: Microsoft quietly signaled a major shift in how printer drivers would work on Windows nearly three years ago. That plan is now becoming reality, though most older third-party printers ...