Printers are essential peripherals in many work and home environments. However, there are times when uninstalling a printer from your Windows 10 system becomes necessary — whether you’re replacing it, troubleshooting issues, or simply cleaning up your devices list. Windows 10 offers several straightforward methods to remove a printer from your computer.

This blog provides a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough on how to uninstall printers on Windows 10. It covers different approaches, from using system settings to command-line methods, ensuring you have the knowledge to manage your printer devices effectively.

Why Uninstall a Printer?

Before diving into the process, it’s useful to understand why one might want to uninstall a printer:

Removing old or unused printers: Clearing out obsolete devices reduces clutter and simplifies device management.

Replacing a printer: When upgrading or switching to a new printer, uninstalling the old one avoids conflicts.

Fixing printing problems: Sometimes uninstalling and reinstalling the printer driver can resolve errors.

Freeing up system resources: Unnecessary device drivers can take up space and system resources.

Method 1: Using Windows 10 Settings to Uninstall a Printer

The easiest and most user-friendly method to uninstall a printer is through the Windows 10 Settings app.

Steps:

Open Settings: Click the Start menu and select the gear icon or press Windows + I on your keyboard.

Go to Devices: In the Settings window, click on Devices.

Select Printers & Scanners: From the left sidebar, choose Printers & scanners.

Find the printer: Scroll through the list and locate the printer you want to uninstall.

Click on the printer: Select the printer name to reveal options.

Remove device: Click the Remove device button that appears.

Confirm removal: A prompt will appear asking if you want to remove the printer; click Yes.

After following these steps, the printer will be uninstalled from your Windows 10 system.

Method 2: Uninstall Printer via Control Panel

The classic Control Panel interface also allows for printer removal.

Steps:

Open Control Panel: Search for Control Panel in the Start menu and open it.

Navigate to Devices and Printers: Click on Hardware and Sound and then select Devices and Printers.

Locate your printer: Find the printer icon under the “Printers” section.

Right-click on the printer: Choose Remove device from the context menu.

Confirm: When prompted, confirm you want to uninstall the printer.

This method provides an alternative for users who prefer the classic Windows interface.

Method 3: Uninstall Printer Driver via Print Server Properties

Sometimes uninstalling the printer device does not remove the printer driver. To fully remove the printer, including its driver, use the Print Server Properties.

Steps:

Open Devices and Printers: Use the Control Panel method above or type control printers in the Run dialog (Windows + R).

Click on any printer icon: This enables the Print server properties option in the toolbar at the top.

Open Print Server Properties: Click on Print server properties in the toolbar.

Go to Drivers tab: In the Print Server Properties window, switch to the Drivers tab.

Select the printer driver: Locate the driver associated with the printer you want to uninstall.

Remove the driver: Click Remove...

Choose removal option: You may be asked whether to remove just the driver or driver and driver package; choose accordingly.

Confirm removal: Follow prompts to complete the uninstallation.

This ensures the printer’s driver files are fully deleted from the system.

Method 4: Using Command Prompt to Uninstall a Printer

For those comfortable with command-line interfaces, Windows 10 offers command prompt commands to remove printers.

Steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for cmd in the Start menu, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

List all printers: Type the following command and press Enter:

pgsql

Copy

Edit

wmic printer get name

This will display a list of installed printers.

Uninstall the printer: Use this command to remove the desired printer, replacing <PrinterName> with the exact printer name:

bash

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rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /dl /n "<PrinterName>"

Confirm removal: If the command executes without error, the printer is removed.

This method is powerful, especially for administrators managing multiple devices.

Additional Tips and Considerations

Restart your computer: After uninstalling a printer, restarting Windows 10 can help clear any remaining files or system references.

Check for leftover files: Occasionally, uninstalling leaves residual driver files in system folders. For thorough cleanup, manual deletion may be necessary, but proceed carefully.

Reinstalling printers: If you intend to reinstall the printer later, downloading the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website is recommended for optimal performance.

Network printers: For printers connected over a network, uninstalling from your PC only removes your local connection; the printer remains available on the network unless removed from the print server.

Multiple user accounts: Printers installed for one Windows user might still be accessible by others on the same machine.

FAQs

Can I uninstall a printer without administrator privileges?

Generally, uninstalling a printer requires administrator rights. Standard user accounts might be restricted from removing devices.

Will uninstalling a printer delete its drivers automatically?

Not always. Sometimes, drivers remain installed. Use Print Server Properties to remove drivers if needed.

How do I remove a printer that is currently in use?

Ensure no documents are pending in the print queue. Clear the queue or cancel print jobs before uninstalling.

Can I reinstall a printer after uninstalling it?

Yes. After uninstalling, you can reinstall the printer by adding it through Settings or downloading the latest drivers from the manufacturer.

What should I do if the printer doesn’t uninstall?

Restart your computer and try again. If the issue persists, using command-line methods or third-party device managers might help.

Conclusion

Uninstalling a printer on Windows 10 is a manageable task that can be accomplished through multiple straightforward methods. Whether you prefer graphical interfaces like Settings or Control Panel, or command-line utilities, Windows provides versatile options to manage your printer devices.