How to Delete Printer Drivers in Windows 11
Deleting printer drivers in Windows 11 clears out hidden software packages left behind by devices you no longer own. A printer driver is a translator program that lets Windows talk to your printer hardware.
Windows 11 often keeps 30 or more old driver packages stored deep in the system long after you disconnect the physical machine. Cleaning out these leftover files fixes stubborn print errors, stops ghost printers from appearing in your settings, and frees up storage space on your PC.
Delete printer drivers in Windows 11 by first removing the printer in Settings. Then, open Print Server Properties by typing printui /s /t2, select the driver, and click Remove. Choose “Remove driver and driver package” for a complete deletion.
Why delete printer drivers?
When you uninstall a printer, Windows often leaves the driver files behind. These files take up space and can cause conflicts if they are corrupted. You should delete them to stop ‘ghost printers’ from appearing in apps like Word or Photoshop.
What happens when done?
Once finished, the driver package is completely removed from your system. You will need to download and install the driver again if you decide to use that printer in the future. This ensures a clean install without old, broken files interfering with your new setup.
Step 1Remove the printer
Before you delete the driver, you must remove the printer from your settings.
- Open Settings by pressing Win+I.
windows 11 settings button - Click Bluetooth & devices on the left.
- Select Printers & scanners on the right.
windows 11 add new scanners - Click on the name of the printer you want to delete.
windows 11 share a printer with others - Click the Remove button.
windows 11 share printer properties remove
Step 2Restart the Print Spooler Service
If you get a ‘printer driver is in use’ error, the Print Spooler service is likely holding the file open.
- Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
- Scroll down to find Print Spooler.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
Step 3Delete the driver using Print Server Properties
Print Server Properties lets you delete printer drivers in Windows 11 when standard uninstallation methods fail. Open the tool by pressing the Windows key and R at the same time, typing printui /s /t2 into the run box, and pressing Enter. This brings up a complete list of every printer driver currently installed on your PC so you can pick the exact one you want to remove.
- Press Windows key + R, type printui /s /t2, and press Enter.
- A list of installed drivers will appear.
- Select the driver you want to remove and click Remove.
- Choose Remove driver and driver package to fully wipe it from C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore.
Step 4Advanced Cleanup with Command Line
Note: This step requires administrator privileges. For stubborn drivers, use the pnputil.exe tool.
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Type pnputil /enum-drivers to see all installed drivers.
- Identify the Published Name (e.g., oem12.inf).
- Type pnputil /delete-driver oem12.inf /uninstall and press Enter.
Step 5Registry Cleanup
Sometimes registry keys keep printers alive.
- Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers.
- Delete the folder corresponding to your old printer.
Summary
Deleting old printer drivers in Windows 11 helps keep your computer running smoothly and saves disk space by removing unneeded files.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
What does it mean if the “remove” button isn’t there when you open up the printer in settings?