Microsoft Confirms Windows 11 Will Keep Legacy Printer Drivers

Microsoft has confirmed it is not dropping support for legacy printer drivers on Windows 11, following confusion sparked by a recent roadmap update.

The clarification comes after reports suggested V3 and V4 printer drivers were being deprecated, raising concerns among users and IT admins who rely on older hardware.

Microsoft says legacy printer drivers stay on Windows 11

According to Windows Central, Microsoft has confirmed that support for legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers remains in place on Windows 11.

The confusion began when an update on the Windows Roadmap indicated that these drivers were being deprecated. Microsoft now says that the information was inaccurate and has removed the entry.

Printers that already work on Windows 11 will continue to function without any required action from users. The operating system still supports legacy drivers for existing devices.

What is actually changing in 2026?

While Microsoft is not ending support, it is tightening certification rules.

Starting January 15, 2026, new legacy printer drivers submitted to the Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) and Windows Update will face case-by-case approval. This move aligns with Microsoft’s End of Servicing Plan for third-party printer drivers.

The key point: this policy affects driver certification and distribution, not compatibility for end users.

If your printer already works on Windows 11, it should continue working for the foreseeable future.

Why were users worried

The reaction stems from Microsoft’s recent pattern of removing or modernizing legacy features in Windows 11 and related services.

In recent years, Microsoft deprecated features such as Collections in Edge and Send to Kindle in Word. The company has also rolled out Microsoft Planner updates that removed certain legacy elements.

Because of these changes, many assumed printer driver support might follow the same path.

No full deprecation for V3 and V4 drivers

Despite stricter submission rules, Microsoft has made it clear that legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers are not being fully deprecated at this time.

Older printers should continue to operate normally on Windows 11, and businesses that depend on legacy hardware do not need to rush into upgrades based on the recent roadmap confusion.

For now, the change focuses on how new legacy drivers enter the ecosystem, not on removing support from devices already in use.