How to Fix Cannot Remove Printers on Windows 10

So, you cannot remove printers on Windows 10 PC?

Many users have reported experiencing compatibility issues with external devices and their computer systems, especially when removing printers in Windows 10 systems. While the exact cause of this problem is unknown, this can be a major hindrance to your work productivity.

In addition, users who frequently move from one place to another may feel the need to keep their devices more organized and free up some space by removing printers from their PC. 

Cannot remove printers in Windows 10

Also, deleting the printers you do not need from the Settings app does not delete its driver. While this allows the PC to store these devices in an inventory in case it is needed again, your priority may be to keep things organized, free up some space, and prevent possible driver problems. 

Thankfully, there are solutions that you can implement to eliminate this nuisance and get back to your job. In this article, we’ll look into where this error may be found and how you can fix it.

We’ll also be looking into other measures that you can take to ensure that this can be avoided in the long run. Here’s a compilation of methods to remove printers in Windows 10 systems.

Let’s get started!

1. Make Sure Applications Are Not Using Your Printer.

You may run into problems uninstalling your device if other programs are connected to the driver. With this in mind, prepare your PC for removing an external device by going through these three quick steps first:

  1. Head over to Programs and Features and uninstall any programs related to the device drivers.
  2. Next, go to Devices and Printers. Remove the printer by right-clicking and choosing Remove Device.
  3. Make sure your system does not prevent standard users from removing printers.

These steps will clear the way for deleting the printer drivers. If you don’t start with these preparations, your system may show an “Access Denied” or “Printer in Use” error message. 

2. Remove Printer Using Settings.

Before trying any other steps, try and see if removing the printer from settings helps your system operate faster. The rest of the suggestions mentioned in this article may take some more time and effort.

Here’s what you need to do to remove your printer through the Settings screen:

  1. Start by going to your Settings menu.
  2. Next, click on Devices.
  3. From here, navigate to Printers and Scanners
  4. Choose the printer you want to remove.
  5. Select Remove Device from the drop-down menu.
Printers & Scanners tab

This should erase the printer from the menu. However, this may not always solve the problem. If you are still experiencing problems with the printer even after it has been deleted, you may need to search for the driver.

3. Delete Through the Control Panel.

This is the most straightforward way to access all the printer drivers your system has stored. Unlike the previous step, you can use this to delete any trace of the printer. 

Removing the printer driver will free up space and solve any compatibility issues its presence may be causing behind the scenes.

Here’s what you need to do to get rid of all your drivers in stock:

  1. First, open the Start menu. 
  2. Next, search for the Control Panel and open the application.
  3. Then, click on System and Security.
  1. Head over to Administrative Tools and double-click the Print Management option.
  2. Now, expand the Custom Filters branch.
  3. Choose All Drivers from the navigation pane on the left side.
  4. You are now viewing all the printer drivers that have been saved on your PC. Right-click the driver you want to remove and select the Delete option.

Once these steps have been accomplished, the unwanted printer driver should be removed from the computer. Repeat these steps to take care of any other drivers you no longer have any use for on your device.  

4. Remove the Printer Using Print Management.

Another possible alternative for restoring your system’s functionality is to go to the Print Management section. This will take you to your PC’s local print server, which has its own copy of previous printers and devices. 

Here’s how you can access your system’s Print Management settings:

  1. Open the Run command box by pressing Win + R
  2. Type in printmanagement.msc and select Run
Cannot remove printers in Windows 10
  1. Now that you are at the Print Management menu, expand the Print Servers drop-down menu and open your local print server. 
  2. Open the Printers section, found on the left management pane. This should lead you to a list of all the printers you’ve ever connected to your system.
  3. Right-click the printer you want to remove and tap Delete.
  4. Confirm the operation and exit Print Management.

After finishing all these steps, the offending printer should be removed from the Print Management section’s local print server. If this works for you, you can redo this as many times as you need for all the printers you need to disengage from your PC.

5. Use the Device Manager to Remove the Printer.

If you are having difficulties removing the printer driver from the Control Panel and Print Management, approaching the problem differently may help you solve the problem. In this step, you’ll be using the Device Manager to try and remove the printer in question.

Here is how you can quickly remove your printer through Device Manager, in just four steps:

  1. First, open the Win + X menu and go to Device Manager.
  2. Next, look under Print Queues or Printers. Right-click the printer that you want to remove.
  3. Now, select Uninstall Device.
Cannot remove printers in Windows 10
  1. Finally, confirm the uninstallation and exit the Device Manager.

There are multiple ways to approach removing printers on Windows 10. The Device Manager is one of these methods. It’s a quick and simple approach to viewing all the printers you have saved in your queue.

6. Go Through the Printers Folder.

The last alternative we have on this list that you can implement is to open the Printers folder and remove the printer drivers. 

Here is how you can access the folder:

  1. Begin by pressing Win+R to open the run command box
  2. Type in explorer shell:::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D} and select OK. This will open the Printers Folder.
  3. Right-click the printer you want to be removed and hit Delete.
Cannot remove printers in Windows 10
  1. Confirm the operation and close the Printers folder. 

If you are still having problems when trying to remove printers in a Windows 10 system, try restarting your computer and going through the steps again. You may need additional assistance from an IT professional if the problem persists. 

That’s all for now. If you have any questions, please let us know down below in the comments.

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • Mako Young

    Mako is a staff writer at Saint. He's been writing about tech for more than a decade. When he isn't reading about the latest news on Apple, he's busy studying cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, cloud computing, and other IT-related sectors. His exceptional work graces technology and Apple-related blogs like How-To Geek, VEED.io, Macgasm, onMac, PhotoWorkout, GameRant, and many more. He also has a Bachelors in Computer Science and has been writing since 2018, with over 400 posts published. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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