Why and when to delete a printer driver

Delete a printer driver when you no longer use that printer, when you're replacing it with a newer model, or when a driver is causing problems like print jobs getting stuck or your computer running slowly. Removing the driver frees up disk space and prevents conflicts if you install a different version later.

You might also delete a driver if you're troubleshooting a malfunctioning printer — uninstalling and reinstalling it can clear out corrupted files. The process is straightforward on both Windows and Mac, though the exact steps differ slightly between them.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click Remove Device to uninstall the driver.
  • On Mac, delete the printer from System Settings > Printers & Scanners, then remove any leftover files from the Library folder if the printer still appears.
  • Restarting your computer after deletion ensures the driver is fully removed and prevents conflicts when you install a new one.
  • If a driver won't uninstall through normal settings, use Device Manager on Windows or check the Applications folder on Mac for manufacturer-provided uninstallers.

Removing a printer driver on Windows 10 and 11

Open Settings and navigate to Devices, then select Printers & Scanners from the left menu. Scroll through the list of printers until you find the one you want to remove. Click on it once to highlight it, then click the Remove Device button that appears. Windows will uninstall the driver and remove the printer from your system.

After clicking Remove Device, Windows may ask you to confirm the action. Click Yes to proceed. The printer should disappear from your list within a few seconds. Restart your computer after removal to ensure all driver files are fully cleared from memory.

If the printer doesn't appear in Printers & Scanners, or if you need to remove a driver that's no longer connected to a device, use Device Manager instead. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager. Look for Printers or Print queues in the list, expand it, right-click the printer you want to remove, and select Uninstall device. Check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver software for this device" before confirming.

Removing a printer driver on Mac

Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions) and click Printers & Scanners. Find your printer in the list on the left side, click it once to select it, then click the minus button (−) below the list. The printer will be removed immediately.

On Mac, the driver files sometimes remain even after you remove the printer from settings. To clean these up completely, open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Type /Library/Printers and press Enter. Look for a folder with your printer's name or manufacturer name, and drag it to the Trash. Do the same for /Library/Caches — search for any folders containing your printer's name and delete them.

Empty the Trash and restart your Mac. This removes any leftover preference files or cached data that could interfere with a new printer installation.

Using manufacturer uninstallers for stubborn drivers

Some printer manufacturers include their own uninstall programs that remove drivers more thoroughly than the built-in system tools. If you still have the installation disc or downloaded the driver file, check whether it came with an uninstaller application.

On Windows, look in Control Panel > Programs and Features (or Add or Remove Programs on older versions). Scroll to find your printer manufacturer's name — you may see entries like "HP Printer Driver" or "Canon Printer Utility". Click it and select Uninstall. Follow the on-screen prompts to remove the driver completely.

On Mac, open Applications in Finder and look for a folder with your printer manufacturer's name. Inside, you may find an uninstaller application — double-click it and follow the prompts. If you can't find an uninstaller, the standard method of removing the printer from System Settings and deleting the Library folders is usually sufficient.

What happens if you don't restart after deletion

Your computer may still try to use the old driver even though you've removed it from settings. This can cause error messages when you try to print, or the printer may reappear in your device list unexpectedly. Restarting clears the driver from your computer's active memory and prevents these conflicts.

If you're installing a new printer right after removing the old one, restart before plugging in or connecting the new printer. This gives your system a clean slate and helps the new driver install without interference from leftover files.

Troubleshooting when a driver won't delete

If you see an error message saying the driver is in use or cannot be removed, the printer may still be connected to your computer. Unplug the USB cable or disconnect the wireless connection, wait 10 seconds, then try removing the driver again.

On Windows, if Device Manager shows the printer but you can't uninstall it, restart your computer in Safe Mode. Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, go to the Boot tab, check Safe boot, and click OK. Restart, then try uninstalling through Device Manager again. Safe Mode loads fewer drivers and services, which often allows stubborn uninstalls to succeed.

On Mac, if a printer won't delete from System Settings, restart your Mac and try again immediately after it boots up. If that doesn't work, you can manually delete the printer's files from the Library folders even if the printer still shows in settings — the next time you restart, it should be gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting a printer driver affect other printers I have?

No. Each printer has its own separate driver. Removing one printer's driver does not affect any other printers connected to your computer. You can safely delete drivers for printers you no longer use without touching the ones you still need.

Can I reinstall a printer driver after I delete it?

Yes. You can download the driver again from the manufacturer's website or use the installation disc if you have it. Deleting a driver is not permanent — reinstalling it later works the same way as the first installation.

What if I delete a printer driver by mistake?

Simply reinstall it. Go to the printer manufacturer's support website, search for your printer model, download the latest driver, and run the installer. Your printer will work normally once the new driver is installed.

Does deleting a printer driver free up a lot of disk space?

Usually not much — most printer drivers take up between 50 and 200 megabytes. If you're trying to free up significant space on your computer, deleting old drivers helps but won't solve a full hard drive. Removing large files, old applications, or duplicate photos typically frees up much more space.

Should I delete printer drivers for printers I'm not using right now?

Only if you're certain you won't use them again soon. If you might print to that printer in the future, leaving the driver installed is fine — it takes minimal space and saves you the time of reinstalling it. Delete drivers only for printers you've permanently replaced or no longer own.