How to Completely Remove Unused Printers in Windows?

Windows stores printer information in multiple locations. Simply deleting a printer from the Settings panel does not remove associated drivers or configuration files. This can lead to duplicate printers reappearing or errors when installing new printers.

When a printer is added, Windows installs printer drivers, creates spooler files, and registers the printer in the system registry. Even after removing the printer device, these components may remain.

To completely remove unused printers, you need to perform several tasks. First, remove the printer from Windows Settings. Next, delete any associated drivers from the system. After that, clear print spooler files that store old print jobs and configurations. Finally, verify that no leftover registry entries exist and restart your system.

Let’s learn each step in detail so that you don’t do any mess!

How to Completely Remove Unused Printers in Windows?

Following the steps below ensures that unused printers are permanently removed and do not interfere with your system.

Step 1: Remove the Printer from Windows Settings

The first step is to delete the unused printer from the Windows Settings panel. This removes the visible printer entry from your system.

Open the Start menu and click on Settings. Navigate to Bluetooth and devices, and then select Printers and scanners. In Windows 10, this section may appear as Devices followed by Printers and scanners.

You will see a list of installed printers. Locate the printer you no longer use. Click on the printer name to open its options. Select Remove device and confirm when prompted.

This step removes the printer from the active device list. However, its drivers and files may remain in the system. That is why further steps are required for complete removal.

Step 2: Remove Printer Drivers from Print Management

Even after removing the printer device, Windows keeps its drivers installed. These drivers can create conflicts or cause the printer to reappear. Removing them ensures complete cleanup.

Press the Windows key and type Print Management in the search bar. Open the Print Management application. If it does not appear, you may need administrative privileges or use Windows Pro or Enterprise edition.

In the Print Management window, expand Print Servers and then select your computer name. Click on Drivers to view all installed printer drivers.

Find the driver related to the unused printer. Right-click on it and choose Remove Driver Package. Confirm the action when prompted.

If the driver is currently in use, you may need to stop the Print Spooler service before removing it. This step ensures that no leftover drivers remain on your system.

Step 3: Use Device Manager to Remove Hidden Printer Devices

Some printers remain hidden in Device Manager even after removal. These hidden devices can cause duplication issues when installing new printers.

Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager. In Device Manager, click on View and enable Show hidden devices.

Expand the Printers section and look for any greyed-out or unused printer entries. Right-click on each unused printer and select Uninstall device. Confirm the removal.

This process ensures that hidden printer instances are removed from the system hardware list. It prevents Windows from automatically reinstalling old printers.

Step 4: Clear the Print Spooler Files

The Print Spooler stores temporary files related to printing. Old files may remain even after removing printers. Clearing these files helps remove all traces of unused printers.

Pressthe  Windows and R keys together to open the Run dialog box. Type services.msc and press Enter. In the Services window, locate Print Spooler.

Right-click on Print Spooler and select Stop. This temporarily disables printing services so you can safely delete spooler files.

Open File Explorer and navigate to the following path: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

You may need administrator permission to access this folder. Delete all files inside the PRINTERS folder. These are temporary print spooler files.

Return to the Services window. Right-click on Print Spooler again and select Start to restart the service.

Clearing spooler files ensures that no leftover print jobs or configurations remain.

Step 5: Remove Printer Ports and Packages

Unused printers sometimes leave behind unused ports and packages. Removing them helps prevent errors when installing new printers.

Open the Control Panel and select Devices and Printers. Click on Print server properties located at the top of the window. Navigate to the Ports tab.

Look for any ports associated with removed printers. If a port is no longer needed, select it and click Delete port. Be careful not to remove ports used by active printers.

Next, go to the Drivers tab in the same window. Remove any remaining drivers related to unused printers. Confirm all deletion prompts.

This step ensures that printer ports and packages are fully removed from Windows.

Step 6: Remove Printer Entries from the Registry (Optional)

This step is optional and should be performed carefully. The Windows registry stores detailed printer information. Removing leftover entries ensures complete cleanup.

Press Windows and R keys, type regedit, and press Enter. This opens the Registry Editor. Always create a backup before making changes.

Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers

Under this section, you will see printer folders. If any unused printer entries remain, right-click and delete them.

Next, navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers

Remove driver entries associated with deleted printers. Close the Registry Editor after completing the process.

This step ensures that no registry entries remain for unused printers.

Step 7: Restart Your Computer

Restarting your computer finalizes the removal process. It clears cached data and ensures all changes take effect.

After restarting, open Printers and scanners again and confirm that the unused printers and drivers are no longer listed. Your system should now be free of all unnecessary printer data.

Faqs

Why do removed printers still appear in Windows?

Removed printers may still appear because their drivers or registry entries remain in the system. Deleting drivers and clearing spooler files ensures complete removal.

Is it safe to remove printer drivers?

Yes, it is safe to remove drivers for printers you no longer use. However, avoid removing drivers for active printers or shared network printers that you still need.

What should I do if a printer driver cannot be removed?

If a driver cannot be removed, stop the Print Spooler service and try again. Restarting your computer in Safe Mode may also help remove stubborn drivers.

Will removing unused printers improve performance?

Removing unused printers can improve system organization and prevent printing conflicts. While performance gains may be small, it helps keep Windows running smoothly.

Can unused printers reinstall automatically?

Yes, Windows may reinstall printers connected to a network or previously installed. Disabling automatic driver installation or removing drivers completely prevents this.