6 Ways to Fix Unable to Remove Printer on Windows 11

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Fix 1: Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Start by running Windows’ built-in printer troubleshooter to see if it can detect and resolve any pending printing errors.

Step 1:Click thesearch iconon the taskbar, typeprinters & scanners,and pressEnter.

Step 2:Select your printer.

Step 3:Click onRun the troubleshooter.

Windows should automatically detect any issues with the printer and fix them. Following that, you should be able to get rid of the printer.

Fix 2: Remove the Printer From the Print Server Properties

There are several ways to remove a printer in Windows 11. So, if you can’t remove the printer from the Settings app or Control Panel, remove it from the Print Server Properties in Windows.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Sto open the search menu. Typeprinters & scannersand pressEnter.

Step 2:Under Related settings, click onPrint server properties.

Step 3:Go to theDriverstab, select your printer, and clickRemove.

Step 4:SelectRemove driver and driver packageand hitOKto confirm.

Fix 3: Stop Print Spooler Service

Print Spooleris a critical service that handles printer interactions on Windows. If that service interferes with the removal process, disable it temporarily to see if it helps.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Rto open the Run dialog. Typeservices.mscin the box next to the Open field and pressEnter.

Step 2:In the Services window, scroll down to locatePrint Spooler. Right-click on it and selectStop.

After stopping the Print Spooler service, remove the printer again.

Fix 4: Uninstall Printer Driver

Device Manager is a useful tool that lets you manage and troubleshoot all your hardware devices from one place. You can also use it to delete an old printer from your PC. Here’s how.

Step 1:Right-click on theStart iconand selectDevice Managerfrom the menu.

Step 2:Open theViewmenu at the top and selectShow hidden devices.

Step 3:Double-click onPrint queuesto expand it. Right-click on your printer and selectUninstall device.

Fix 5: Remove Printer Software

If you’ve installed a dedicated app or software for your printer, it could also obstruct the removal process. To avoid this, first uninstall that app or software before trying again.

Step 1:Right-click on theStart iconand selectInstalled appsfrom the list.

Step 2:Locate the printer app on the list. Click thethree-dot menunext to it and selectUninstall.

After removing the app, you can remove the printer from the Settings app or Device Manager.

Fix 6: Use the Registry Editor

Windows may not remove the printer due to corrupt registry keys associated with it. To fix it, remove those corrupted registry keys by following the steps below.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Rto launch the Run dialog. Typeregeditand pressEnter.

Step 2:Paste the following path in the address bar at the top and pressEnter.

Step 3:Locate the printer you wish to remove and click onDelete. Then, selectYesto confirm.

Restart your PC after this, and you should be able to remove your printer without a problem.

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 09 April, 2024

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked*

Name*

Email*

Comment*

Δ

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

More in Windows

4 Ways to Ungroup Taskbar Icons in Windows 11

How to Fix Windows 10 Invisible Taskbar Icons Issue

JOIN THE NEWSLETTER

Get Guiding Tech articles delivered to your inbox.

© 2024 Guiding Tech Media. All Rights Reserved.