Microsoft released the Windows 11 2022 update (or version 22H2) last week, September 20, and it should be available for most devices that are already running Windows 11. As usual, there are backup hangs on specific devices that might have issues with updating it. Now, Microsoft has acknowledged an issue that could prevent some printers from working properly with Windows 11 2022 Update, and it’s blocked the update for devices with those printers.
According to the company, some PCs may experience issues with printers that use a Microsoft IPP class driver or Universal Print Class driver that have connectivity issues with the PC. These printers require connectivity for Windows to recognize the full suite of settings they offer, and if configured without connectivity, they only allow you to use the default settings. This means that many features may not work, such as the ability to print in color, use duplex printing, and other custom settings you can set for each print job. This could make printers basically useless for some, so naturally that’s a major issue.
Microsoft says it is working to fix the issue in a future update, but in the meantime the company has suspended support for devices that have printers installed using these drivers. This means that your PC will not be able to detect Windows 11 2022 Update through Windows Update while these printers are installed. If you wish to upgrade, you will need to uninstall the affected printers from your PC, and after that the update should appear within 48 hours, assuming no other compatibility holds are in place for your device. Otherwise, you will just have to wait for the problem to be resolved.
If you have already upgraded to Windows 11 2022 Update and are experiencing the issues described above, Microsoft says you can work around the issues by uninstalling and reinstalling the printer, which should help you to use it normally again. While Microsoft is working on a resolution, the company is warning users not to use tools like the Windows 11 Update Assistant to force upgrade to version 22H2. While the update is installing, it may trigger the above issues which may take some time to resolve.
Earlier this month, Microsoft released a fix for an issue where USB printers may stop working when you restart or reinstall them on the original version of Windows 11. This is a separate issue, however. , so the issues mentioned above are still valid.
Source: Microsoft
