Printer Stopped Working After Windows Update
A printer worked normally before a Windows update, and afterwards either disappeared, shows errors when printing, or produces garbled output.
Quick answer: This is a known pattern — Windows updates occasionally replace or reset printer drivers, causing a previously working printer to stop functioning correctly. Reinstalling the printer driver, rather than just the printer itself, is usually the fix.
Likely causes
- Windows Update replaced the printer driver with a generic version that doesn't fully support all the printer's features
- The update reset default printer settings
- A driver conflict introduced by the update itself
What you can safely check yourself
- Remove the printer entirely from Settings > Printers & Scanners, then add it again fresh, allowing Windows to reinstall the driver
- Check the printer manufacturer's website for an updated driver specific to your printer model, rather than relying on the generic Windows one
- Confirm the correct printer is still set as default after the update
When it needs a proper look
If removing and re-adding the printer with a manufacturer-specific driver doesn't resolve it, that's worth a proper look.